Mark's Learning Log- Harvard Data Wise Institute in Melbourne January 28, 2024Last week 19 school teams came to Melbourne during the last week of school holidays to attend a 5 day Harvard Data Wise Institute. There were long 8 hours days of intensive learning where participants shared their ‘why’ stories with … Continue reading →mwalker
- Jez – the old chestnut – ability grouping or streaming – is still being touted as a solution to falling standards! January 5, 2024Sorry Natasha, education editor for the Australian Newspaper, wrote a recent article on the state of education in Australia using the results of the recent PISA tests to say that our students are bored out of their brains at school, … Continue reading →mwalker
- Harvard Data Wise Institute in Melbourne January 28, 2024
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Category Archives: Assessment
Data Wise at Elsternwick, a Harvard perspective.
Last month David Rease Jnr from Harvard visited Elsternwick to view our progress in implementing the Data Wise: Inquiry Approach to Improving Instruction in schools. We were quite chuffed at David’s visit and recorded this clip to capture some of his … Continue reading
Is there a social agenda that pushes the use of data in schools to a more summative view?
Over recent weeks I have pondering concerns raised by teachers and a few parents on the use of data to report to parents (summative assessment). Last week three of my staff attended a briefing on the new National Curriculum due … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Personalising is really an outcome of differentiation: points to note for educators
At a recent regional Principal conference I heard Vic Zbar, an educational consultant based in Victoria; speak about personalising teaching and learning. Personalising learning he put it was really an outcome of differentiation. Vic then made a number of points I … Continue reading
A few challenges to the idea of “life long learning.”
Last week I was privileged to spend 3 days interacting with James Nottingham and others around the topic of life long learning. He made to me some valuable points worth exploring a little further. “tests show only what a child has … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Conference, school, Teaching, Uncategorized
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Everett Kline challenges our assessment beliefs and practices.
Ever been to a professional learning workshop or presentation and felt discomfort, challenged, empowered and an overwhelming sense relief all at the same time? Well I have several times (lucky me some might say) and this session led by Everett … Continue reading
Posted in 2011 ASCD Conference, Assessment, Feedback, Instruction, Teaching
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Carol Tomlinson: an encounter to remember!
This year in our Instructional Rounds group within the local network of schools we purchased Carol Tomlinson’s book “Leading and Managing A Differentiated Classroom” to use as a base text for understanding our observation of instruction in classrooms. Last year … Continue reading
University Entrance a maze to be understood.
I recently read a blog post by Jenny Luca which was critical of the way universities select entrants based on a single score. In Victoria the score is called an ATAR score. The post attracted a few comments saying it was a … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Family
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A new Internet paradigm for learning.
Last month I was fortunate to hear Mark Treadwell [pictured above] speak to a group of aspirant leaders I am mentoring. He had some I think important things to say about learning and I think leadership. He began the morning … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Assessment, Instruction, school, Teaching, Technology, Uncategorized
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Three improvement strategies to make a difference to relationships and learning.
Over the past 2 months we have focused on preparing our teachers to differentiate instruction. I’m writing this post to explain to readers within my own community why this emphasis on preparation and why we need to adopt three different … Continue reading
Race to Nowhere – a film about the pressure to get good grades – coming to you.
I stumbled on this clip from Scott Mcleaod’s blog to a movie that touches on an extreme, that if normalised in schools would spell disaster for a generation of students. The pressure to perform on tests – to get high … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, reflections, school, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Yong Zhao speaks about the limitations of test scores to define good schools
Yong Zhao a University Distinguished Professor at the College of Education at Michigan State University and international consultant to many governments talks here about the dangers of the narrow use of national test scores to define what students need. I … Continue reading
Data Teams: the ongoing quest to improve teaching and learning and not just the latest fad!
As our second semester begins we at Elsternwick have planned a series of 8 professional learning team meetings [PLT’s] on Monday nights to focus on the use of data to improve student learning. This carries on from the 6 PLT’s … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Instruction, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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Personalising Learning and Assessment in the 21 Century
This little clip talks about using technology to personalise learning and record individualised assessments online. Its a timely reminded as we move forward with the Ultranet here in Victoria and the power of technology to personalise learning for students. … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, Instruction, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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National Tests for students next month [NAPLAN] – so what?
Next month all year 3, 5 7, and 9 students in Australia embark on a series of National Tests over a 3 day period in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and number. Teachers have been encouraged to better prepare … Continue reading
Posted in Assessment, politics, school, Uncategorized, Video Clips
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