Shine Magazine, Issue 3, April 2010 - Department of Education and ...

innoVAtion
Learning from extremes at the 2010
DEECD Innovation Showcase
The annual Innovation Showcase is just around the corner and this year, internationally acclaimed
innovation expert and former Blair advisor, Charles Leadbeater, will be the keynote speaker.
Charles Leadbeater is one of the
most innovative education thinkers in
the world and has an original message for
improving education systems by learning
from developing nations. In his recent
publication, Learning from the Extremes,
Mr Leadbeater examines the way
developing nations are attracting children
and parents to the education system
through unconventional methods such as
learning through dance and play, learning
outside the classroom and through a
curriculum that helps to solve problems in
the community.
Mr Leadbeater discusses strategies
for meeting the challenge to improve,
reinvent and transform learning and
education. He talks about successful
programs from around the world that are
making learning attractive to children
and families; programs that rely on peer
learning; create learning spaces where
they are needed; and focus on learning
that stems from real challenges faced by
the community. Most of the examples of
this kind of transformational innovation
Mr Leadbeater found in the developing
world. His research focussed on social
entrepreneurs in education in India, Brazil
and Kenya.
Learning from the Extremes brings
together inspiring examples of innovative
education under the extremes of poverty
and skills shortages, such as The Ruchika
Social Service Organisation, which runs
schools on railway platforms for the
thousands of children who live and work
around Indian railways. These railway
platform schools use games and music to
attract children to learn.
In developing countries throughout the
world innovative and passionate people
are making space for learning under
the most severe of circumstances. The
Ugandan Tigers Club Project is one of
many that works with street children
using sport – in this case soccer – to draw
them into learning. Grassroot Soccer
has engaged 230,000 young people
since 2003. The program’s mottos are:
‘Learning is not a spectator sport’ and
‘It takes a village to provide lifelong
opportunities for learning.’
Mr Leadbeater’s presentation on
Learning from the Extremes will open the
Innovation Showcase on Monday 10 May.
Followed by keynotes from two Victorian
educators and presentations from more
than 30 of Victoria’s most innovative
educators, the showcase celebrates
innovative practices in education and early
childhood settings.
The 2010 DEECD Innovation Showcase
wil be held on Monday 10 May at Sofitel
Melbourne on Collins. This a free event
and all teachers and early childhood
practitioners are encouraged to attend.
For more information and to register to attend this free event, visit
www.education.vic.gov.au/researchinnovation/showcase
Shine APRIL 2010 73