Our Learning Matrix is designed to support teachers in the delivery of quality evidence based teaching and learning practices with the intent of improving student learning. The Matrix will encourage consistency and engender greater student engagement.
The Learning Matrix is based on six elements:
Educational Data: Teachers reflect on a range of data sets to inform teaching practices, influence change and improve student outcomes. Teachers utilise developmental skill focused models of assessment where assessments are framed with clearly calibrated competencies.
Formative Assessment: Involves frequent, interactive assessments of students’ progress and understanding to identify learning needs and adjust teaching methods in real time.
Visible Learning: Visible Learning enhances the role of teachers as they become evaluators of their own teaching. Visible Learning and Teaching occurs when teachers see learning through the eyes of students and help them become their own teachers.
Visible Learners are students who can:
- Articulate what they are learning
- Explain the next steps in their learning
- Set learning goals
- See errors as opportunities for further learning
- Know what to do when they are stuck
- Seek feedback
Literacy: In the first phase, a set of explicit teaching strategies will be used by teachers across most curriculum areas to help students to develop strategies that good readers use to make meaning from text.
Years 7 to 9 Project Based Learning: This involves:
- The application of Understanding by Design involves curriculum mapping to identify curriculum overlap. Where natural relationships exist, we will plan course integrations
- Giving students the choice to explore learning in a collaborative way
- Student centred learning where teachers facilitate rather than explicitly direct projects and student learning
- Students learning to work in teams and problem solve
- The presentation of findings in an authentic environment where stakeholders serve as an audience
- The teaching and development of real world employable skills of communication, negotiation, problem solving and team work
Year 10 Problem Based Learning: Problem Based Learning is a teaching approach that presents students with a case study or scenario housing an open-ended hypothetical problem. It is based on one subject area and has an emphasis on both the process and a proposed solution.
On Wednesday 1 May, we presented our Learning Matrix at our weekly Staff Professional Development Seminar. Each element was unveiled and explained to all staff. As a teaching team we will be implementing and phasing in all elements of the learning matrix. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with staff to improve the learning outcomes of our boys.
Mrs Kamila Bielinski
Director of School Improvement – Pedagogy
