THE TWITTER FEED FROM MYSA CONFERENCE 2013 – says it all

What is it about the Middle Years of Schooling Association International Conference that makes it somewhat of a highlight in my Professional Development Calendar?  Is it the fact that I am part of the Management Committee and the Conference Committee? Well, that is what makes it something dear to my heart, but no that is not the real reason.  It is simply due to the fact that  it brings together over 600 delegates from Australia, New Zealand and a number of other countries who have their hearts and souls focused on creating engaging, inspiring and challenging learning environments for middle years students. Educators who are passionate about the students and are dedicated to a cause.

Mark McCrindle kicked it off with a data driven account of where we are now in Australia (and the world) – what are the current realities for us as teachers in this century? What are the current realities that must drive our decisions and directions?

• Trend 1 – Tween Town – Bigger baby boom now, than at the birth of the baby boomers!
• Trend 2 – Digital integrators – born into it!
• Trend 3 – XYZ schools – Baby boomers almost out, X and Y gen teachers, educating Z gen.
• Trend 4 -School at the crossroads – funding for the futre and community
• Trend 5 – New Local – From micro to macro – mobility of everything and everyone today.
• Trend 6 – Fragmentation – recognition of diversity.
• Trend 7 – Big Education – student increase by 64906, schools decreased by 325 in 15 years.  Education is now ranking as an export.

So, the need to understand and work in a new paradigm is essential; education must move.

Mark McCrindle’s Slides/presentation

Heidi Hayes Jacobs as always provided us with an inspiring Opening Keynote. She challenged us as educators to lead with the new literacies – digital, global and media.  To maintain the classic ways of teaching of course, but to ensure that we are preparing our students for this century.  If not, we should change our mission statement to include the fact that we are preparing our students for the 80s or 90s?  But of course, we cannot do that, if we truly consider education as a key to the future.  The sharing of tools and ideas was valuable and motivating; which only continued into her workshop, where we were able to play and learn and collaborate.  A more than excellent beginning to what was shaping up to be valuable experience that not only I, but the six staff who had accompanied me, and ultimately our students – who are the ones we are doing all of this for – will gain such a great deal from. The seven of us passionate educators truly began to fire up – the tweets were flying.

Some useful tools – Famous in boxes, 3D timeline, filmeducation trailers and of course Curriculum21 clearing house  .  All tools that can be incorporated to ensure 21st century skills are the focus.

For me (and my staff), we are not unfamiliar with Heidi. She has worked with us at our school on a number of occasions( and just following the conference, visited again) – our goal is on Curriculum Mapping and she continues to work with us on a global scale as well.  The need to replace, reconsider and redesign curriculum for today’s learners is our clear goal, which was also reflected in my own presentation at the MYSA Conference.  The journey is never without some pitfalls and blocks, but the journey continues nevertheless.  At times there may be casualities, but with a clear purpose and goal in mind, that purpose and goal does drive us to continue.  Thank you Heidi for rebooting our journey.

MY PRESENTATION – CURRICULUM MAPPING –  The focus of my presentation was that curriculum mapping should be a school wide approach and that the theory behind is the most imprortant component of the process.  There are many aspects in the learning proces and obstacles that can occur of which I was very mindful- I definitely presented all sides of the journey.    A presentation that outlined all of the benefits, pitfalls and processes that can assist in the development of a culture in a school. I trust that it was useful for others considering or on the path of curriculum mapping.  I believe that it helped some.

 

 

So, the first two days really provided some motivation for continuing to engage with and embrace change, to ensure that we continue to think creatively, to be student centric and to ensure that we are educating with today’s learner at the forefront of our thinking.  The educators present, all dedicated to empowering and engaging with middle years learners throughout our country, New Zealand and abroad, were set on ignite.  Collaboration was palpable and the stage was well and truly set for a conference truly focused on learning – for all.

To be continued… In the meantime – Heidi’s TED TALK is a great place to start.

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