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Program

 

Speakers             

 

Summit Summary

SiMERR Summit


Ways to improve educational outcomes

in rural and regional Tasmania

 

10am - 4pm on Wednesday 4th June 2008

 Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre, UTAS, Newnham Drive, Launceston

 

 

Possible ideas for future projects (in process)

 

Contact Dr Andrew Fluck andrew.fluck@utas.edu.au

 

 

Developing Robotics, Game-making and Interactive Media Pathways

Currently robotics (SMARTBOTS) and Game Making are part of successful extension programs in primary schools through the CELO outreach program within the DoE. Also, courses are also offered at Hobart College and Newtown High School in Game Making and Interactive Media. TAFE is interested in Virtual Worlds as a vehicle for enhanced learning experiences in many different courses.

How can we create student pathways leading to diploma accreditation and entrepreneurship from primary through to Polytechnic to revitalise ICT learning and develop ICT innovation in the state? How can we develop a program of accreditation for teachers? How can robotics be offered at lower primary in the form of BBOTS? What role might business take, what are their needs and what employment/training opportunities might be created?

Interested parties so far include Andrew Fluck, Faculty of Education, UTAS; Roger  Stack, College/polytechnic courses in Interactive Media; Margaret Meijers CELO Game-making; Rob Torok, CELO SMARTBOTS; Angela Cook, CELO BBOTS; Graeme Kirkwood, TAFE virtual worlds. We are looking for further collaborations with TASICT, ACA, DoE, TAFE, Tasmanian Leadership Program, and Faculties of Science, Engineering and Technology, UTAS.

 

  

 

Contact Dr Jaci Brown at Jaci.brown@csiro.au

 

 

Creation of Climate Change teaching sequences, resources and Professional Learning program for high school science teachers. 

How can we design quality resources which engage teachers and students, building on what we have learnt about the danger of creating resources without embedding strategies? What might be the different phases and who could be involved? What resources are already around and who is already engaged in a process of development and delivery? How can we tap into the leading edge research in the Climate Change field that is being done at the local CSIRO?

This project has been proposed by scientists at CSIRO, Climate Change Research Section. We would be seeking collaborations between Department of Education, Science Teachers Association Tasmania, Academy of Science, UTAS Faculty of Education, and various UTAS Scientists.

 

  

 Contact Prof Joan Abbott-Chapman at J.AbbottChapman@utas.edu.au

How can we engage the community through parent – school relationships?

Rosebery District High School and Kempton Primary School are engaged in highly innovative programs with long term aims to re-engage the community in education. What can we learn from these? How could these projects benefit from bringing on board new partners?

Prof Joan-Abbott Chapman, researcher at Faculty of Education, UTAS is keen to explore possibilities with interested parties such as Parents and Friends, ICPA, Rural and Regional Health, Department of Education, UTAS Faculty of Education, TCCI Education and Training, CWA.

 

 

  

 

Contact: Kim Beswick

Kim.Beswick@utas.edu.au

Student Retention on the North West Coast

Student Retention on the North-West Coast is still a concern with many embedded cultural issues as well as physical barriers to continuation. Over the last 4 years some innovative programs have commenced that have made a difference to the communities involved. What can we learn from these? What research might be useful to assist communities understand their issues and help develop and monitor intervention strategies?

We would be looking for collaborations from communities who have trialled approaches and those who are interested in developing approaches. For example, Central Coast Council, Northern Development Task Force, ICPA, DoE.

 

  

 

Contact Dr John Kenny  at  John.Kenny@utas.edu.au

Professional Learning (PL) of teachers who act as mentors for pre-service teachers

How can pre-service teachers provide teachers in schools with latest science teaching techniques? How can teachers in schools follow this up with PL that may be part of graduate accreditations? This is an extension of a SiMERR project which showed the mutual benefits of pre-service teachers and their supervisory teachers developing “partnerships”.

 

  

 

Contact Dr Andrew Fluck at Andrew.fluck@utas.edu.au

 

 

Industry Providing Professional Learning (PL) for teachers

A key idea coming from the summit was the notion that Professional Learning of teachers is not just the responsibility of the Department of Education – rather the role of the whole community, whether through induction into life of communities, induction into what local business do or specific provision of skills.

How might business be more involved in Professional Learning for teachers and what might it be for? What might be the mutual benefits? This proposal suggests funding a person to determine what PL industry could offer to teachers and what teachers want to experience. What does it mean to embed such a program sustainably?

We are looking for collaborations with TCCI Education and Training, DoE, and industry bodies.

 

  

 Contact Dr Helen Bound at Helen.bound@utas.edu.au

 

What generic skills does industry want their future employees to have?

Exploring possible collaboration between Launceston Chamber of Commerce, TCCI, TAFE

Developing a program to introduce an ICT product which helps people with disabilities engage with learning and training.

 

 

  

 

Contact Sue Stack at Susan.Stack@utas.edu.au if you would like to propose a project

Science, Information and Communication Technology and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia

 

 

 

Web-site URL=www.simerr.educ.utas.edu.au              Last update =29Apr2008

Please send comments about this web-site to: Andrew.Fluck@utas.edu.au