Nathan Mulhearn
I am an educator from the Gold Coast who teaches year 5 at a P-12 Catholic School in Logan, Queensland, Australia.
I studied a Bachelor of Education degree at Griffith University in 2006 and specialised in Physical Education in my 3rd and 4th year. I graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree with a specialisation in Physical Education.
I began my teaching career at St Peter's, Caboolture. in 2010 I floated around the school filling contracts for maternity leave and long service. This enabled me to learn from structures put in place by experienced teachers. 2011 saw me take on the role as Physical Education teacher 4 days a week and Year 2 teacher 1 day a week. St Peter's is a wonderful school that is very progressive in the professional development of teachers. A program called Critical Mass Mentoring which developed teachers knowledge and skills in certain areas. I was involved in the differentiation group learning how to develop learning that caters for all students.
A desire to be closer to my residence on the Gold Coast saw me continue my teaching journey in 2012 at St Francis College, Crestmead. in 2012 and 2013 I taught year 3, I also became Curriculum Leader in 2013 for years 3-6. St Francis is a multicultural school with a variety of student needs and interests.
In the middle of 2013 I received a scholarship to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Christian Leadership which will ultimately lead to a Masters in Educational Leadership. Beginning this study sparked my interest in authentic learning and I came across Project Based Learning. I dabbled with it at the back end of 2013 through some inquiry questions and Genius Hour, I was amazed at what the students could produce and their engagement.
In 2014 I hope to share my experiences and reflections on Project Based Learning. I hope we can all enter a new paradigm for education that is student centred.
I am an educator from the Gold Coast who teaches year 5 at a P-12 Catholic School in Logan, Queensland, Australia.
I studied a Bachelor of Education degree at Griffith University in 2006 and specialised in Physical Education in my 3rd and 4th year. I graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree with a specialisation in Physical Education.
I began my teaching career at St Peter's, Caboolture. in 2010 I floated around the school filling contracts for maternity leave and long service. This enabled me to learn from structures put in place by experienced teachers. 2011 saw me take on the role as Physical Education teacher 4 days a week and Year 2 teacher 1 day a week. St Peter's is a wonderful school that is very progressive in the professional development of teachers. A program called Critical Mass Mentoring which developed teachers knowledge and skills in certain areas. I was involved in the differentiation group learning how to develop learning that caters for all students.
A desire to be closer to my residence on the Gold Coast saw me continue my teaching journey in 2012 at St Francis College, Crestmead. in 2012 and 2013 I taught year 3, I also became Curriculum Leader in 2013 for years 3-6. St Francis is a multicultural school with a variety of student needs and interests.
In the middle of 2013 I received a scholarship to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Christian Leadership which will ultimately lead to a Masters in Educational Leadership. Beginning this study sparked my interest in authentic learning and I came across Project Based Learning. I dabbled with it at the back end of 2013 through some inquiry questions and Genius Hour, I was amazed at what the students could produce and their engagement.
In 2014 I hope to share my experiences and reflections on Project Based Learning. I hope we can all enter a new paradigm for education that is student centred.
Belinda Ciuffetelli
I first stemmed an interest in the education, teaching and learning field at a young age when I was provided with teachers who were inspirational role models and facilitators in my learning, development and growth as a child and person. From here, I dreamed of adopting a bit of everything from everyone in order to one day become as inspirational as what these teachers were to me.
On completion of year 12 I attended university - a Bachelor Of Education specialising in Health and Physical Education. Through this, I also studied electives of the brain and learning-which interest me most.
Once I completed my degree, I was working back where my journey began at St Francis Xavier. Not long after a short term contract I received a position at Star Of The Sea in which I moved four hours from home to endure a challenge I hadn't experienced before. After a year here, I was then fortunate enough to gain a position at St Mary's in which I taught there for three years. Here, is where I consolidated a lot of my learning and pedagogical practices. I explored and experimented under the guidance and support of admin as well as alongside an enthusiastic teaching partner. Achieving a myriad array of positive results within students and at times, unconsciously providing students with PBL and inquiry opportunities, proved to be successful and extremly valuable in a classroom for every student to find their niche and love for learning.
As a person and educator, you don't ever stop learning! Next year in 2014, I continue my journey at St Francis College; having read, explored and researched PBL and other learning approaches in a contemporary classroom setting, I aim to introduce these into students learning experiences. I hope to enrich the lives of students I am in contact with and foster, develop and nurture their love for learning and excellence in all they say and do. Let's plant the PBL seed with the guidance of the environment, sunlight and water and observe what blossoms.
I first stemmed an interest in the education, teaching and learning field at a young age when I was provided with teachers who were inspirational role models and facilitators in my learning, development and growth as a child and person. From here, I dreamed of adopting a bit of everything from everyone in order to one day become as inspirational as what these teachers were to me.
On completion of year 12 I attended university - a Bachelor Of Education specialising in Health and Physical Education. Through this, I also studied electives of the brain and learning-which interest me most.
Once I completed my degree, I was working back where my journey began at St Francis Xavier. Not long after a short term contract I received a position at Star Of The Sea in which I moved four hours from home to endure a challenge I hadn't experienced before. After a year here, I was then fortunate enough to gain a position at St Mary's in which I taught there for three years. Here, is where I consolidated a lot of my learning and pedagogical practices. I explored and experimented under the guidance and support of admin as well as alongside an enthusiastic teaching partner. Achieving a myriad array of positive results within students and at times, unconsciously providing students with PBL and inquiry opportunities, proved to be successful and extremly valuable in a classroom for every student to find their niche and love for learning.
As a person and educator, you don't ever stop learning! Next year in 2014, I continue my journey at St Francis College; having read, explored and researched PBL and other learning approaches in a contemporary classroom setting, I aim to introduce these into students learning experiences. I hope to enrich the lives of students I am in contact with and foster, develop and nurture their love for learning and excellence in all they say and do. Let's plant the PBL seed with the guidance of the environment, sunlight and water and observe what blossoms.