I teach because I want to improve the standard of living for all Australians regardless of their cultural or socio-economic background and educate students to live sustainably. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to discover themselves and their talents through education. I believe that it’s essential for every child to have somebody to care for them and guide them. I also believe that every student in Australia should learn to grow and cook their own organic whole foods (one reason why we are now a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden School).
Education to me should contain as many authentic experiences as possible. Learning opportunities that mirror the real-life situations and allow students to develop skills required in the 21st Century. Schools can better prepare students to make choices that will equip them to live a more fulfilled life and be a valuable contributing citizen to their community and society, by exposing students to learning opportunities that require them to explore ways in which they can solve problems based on their ethical and moral standards. These ideas align with the General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum including critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical understanding, and intercultural understanding. The integrating of subjects also allows for Literacy, Numeracy and Information and Communication Technology Capabilities to be embedded.
Currently I am studying a Masters of Educational Leadership and in the near future I look forward to moving from the classroom into leadership positions. As I see it the importance of being an authentic educational leader goes far beyond what happens within a school. Educational leaders influence the aspirations and outcomes for students, not only whilst they are at school but long after they have left their formal schooling. Educational leaders can do this by creating engaging, deep and rich learning environments that inspire students to make moral and just decisions based on their own values and ethics. Creating these environments is important for an ever changing society that is constantly facing changes similar to those of education. We are after all educating children to be our next community leaders and participants so we best prepare them with the skills to be able to make the world a better place than what they have inherited. In 2014 I have been lucky enough to have two educational leaders who have these same values and empower staff to seek new practice and encourage experimentation and risk taking in order to develop classroom learning. I hope to one day emulate the support that has been provided to me when I move into administration positions.
So that’s a little about why I teach and why I wish to become an educational leader in the future. Now stay tuned for why I use PBL in my teaching practice. AUTHENTIC, AUTHENTIC, AUTHENTIC. Project Based Learning aligns with my vision of education and educational leadership by providing students with authentic real-world tasks that develop their 21st Century skills. PBL allows for differentiation to occur meaning that all students are learning which is much more desirable than all students being taught the content in exactly the same way. This access to a broader range of learning opportunities in the classroom is also a great strategy for engaging students from culturally diverse backgrounds.
The year 2014 has been a revolutionary one in terms of my teaching practice. Project Based Learning has taken me from controlling classrooms as a ‘Sage on the Stage’ to managing the class as a ‘Guide on the Side’ and finally to a ‘Meddler in the Middle’. It has allowed me to engage a potentially difficult class from culturally diverse backgrounds in learning experiences that allow them to develop their areas of need while having the opportunity to display their gifts and talents and be proud of work they have created. I look forward to further developing my PBL practice in 2015 and further providing opportunities for students to engage in authentic learning experiences that build their 21st century skills. I wish all my teaching colleagues a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year, remember to rest and recharge with some personal time. Your students do need you, but the planning can wait, a happier teacher is always a better teacher.
Lastly, thank-you, the number of readers of this blog has blown both Belinda and I out of the water. I look forward to sharing with you again in 2015.
Nathan