Culminating in the AITSL Professional Learning Convention 23 ...

AITSL is funded by the Australian GovernmentNational Professional Standards for Teachers Pilot Symposium22 February 2012Professional Learning Flagship Program:Leading Curriculum Change National Collaborative Forum22 February 2012Culminating in the AITSLProfessional Learning Convention23 February 2012Etihad Stadium, Melbourne#learnactsharegrow facebook.com/aitsl www.aitsl.edu.au

Teachers share a significant responsibility in preparingyoung people to lead successful and productivelives. There is a large body of evidence that suggestsa teacher’s effectiveness has a powerful impact onstudents, 1 with broad consensus that teacher quality isthe single most important in-school factor influencingstudent achievement. 2The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals forYoung Australians, 3 asserts that improving teacherquality is an essential reform as part of Australia’s effortsto improve student attainment and ensure it has a worldclass system of education.‘The greatest resource in Australian schools isour teachers. They account for the vast majority ofexpenditure in school education and have the greatestimpact on student learning, far outweighing the impactof any other education program or policy’. 4The best educators are the best learners and alleducators should take responsibility to maintain an openand curious mind and to constantly push themselvesto be the best they can be. Nurturing a vibrant learningculture requires opportunities and commitment forlearning in all parts of the system. We all can, andshould, learn from our colleagues, system leaders,education experts and focus on the evidence of theimpact of our learning on students.The Professional Learning Convention is an excitingopportunity for teachers across Australia to cometogether with more than 500 of their peers to engagewith national and international speakers and the 2011Australian Primary Teacher of the Year to promote theimportance of effective teaching and its impact onstudent learning. Together, participants will interrogatethe challenges and opportunities for teachers offered bythe National Professional Standards for Teachers andexplore strategies for professional learning.This is a unique opportunity for teachers across Australiato learn about and share ideas and approaches toeffective practice for 21st century education both duringthe convention and beyond.Together, we can establish a community across Australiafocused on professional practices and supportivelearning environments for teachers that improveoutcomes for all young Australians.Organisation of the conventionThe convention will be held over two days.The first day is a by-invitation symposium for participantsin the pilot studies for the National ProfessionalStandards for Teachers and the Professional LearningFlagship Program: Leading Curriculum Change. Day Twoaims to support a range of professional conversationsthrough a variety of speakers and activities that celebrateteaching and focus on improving teachers’ professionalpractice.1. J Hattie, ‘Teachers make a difference: What is the researchevidence?’ Paper presented to Australian Council for EducationalResearch Annual Conference, Melbourne, 19–21 October 2003.2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD). Teachers matter: Attracting, developing and retainingeffective teachers, 6th edn, Paris, OECD Publishing, 2005.3. Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Training andYouth Affairs, Melbourne Declaration On Educational Goals ForYoung Australians, Melbourne, 2008, viewed 31 January 2011, http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/ National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf4. B Jensen, What teachers want: Better teacher management,Melbourne, Grattan Institute, 2010.The focus of the convention is teacher practice – the actof teaching. Throughout the convention, participants willbe encouraged to actively participate in professionalconversations supported by innovative technologies andsocial media. Opportunities will be provided to discusskey questions associated with teacher effectiveness andthe education reform agenda.Bring your own device#learnactsharegrow facebook.com/aitsl www.aitsl.edu.auPaperless convention

23 February 2012Time9:30am – 10:00am10:00am – 10:45am10:45am – 11:45am11:45am – 11:55am11.55am – 12:15pm12:15pm – 12.45pm12:45pm – 1:35pm1:35pm – 2:35pm2:35pm – 2.45pm2.45pm – 3.05pm3:05pm – 3:20pm3:20pm – 4:05pmActivityRegistration and Morning TeaWelcomeAnthony Mackay, Chair, AITSLAddressThe Honourable Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for School Education,Early Childhood and YouthWe know that great teaching matters more than anything else within a school.More than class size. More than school funding. More than technology. Many say“you know it when you see it.” But what does effective teaching actually look likeand how do we go about supporting teachers to be their best?Vicki Phillips, Director of Education, Gates FoundationBuzz SessionEngaging with VickiAITSL Supporting TeachersAnthony MackayMargery Evans, CEO, AITSLLunchThere is compelling evidence that effective professional learning improves thecapability, confidence and efficacy of teachers and school leaders which, in turn,has a direct impact on the quality of students’ educational experiences and theoutcomes of Australian school education. So, what makes for great professionallearning and what are the conditions in which it flourishes?Frederick Brown, Director of Strategy and Development, Learning ForwardBuzz sessionEngaging with FrederickTeachers make a differenceJo Sherrin, 2011 Australian Primary Teacher of the YearIn 2012 the way in which all of us learn, share and imagine is changing rapidly, enabledby technology and digital innovation. The impact of this reaches far beyond our rolesas educators, and touches how all of us interact and learn. Striking a balance betweenopportunities connected to globalisation and the need for the ‘village to raise a child’ hasnever been more important. We need to make sure as educators we are embracing andleading, and not reacting and playing catch up.Adam Smith, Co-founder, Centre for Public Education4:05pm – 4:30pmAnthony Mackay, Margery Evans, Vicki Phillips, Frederick Brown, Adam SmithBring your own device#learnactsharegrow facebook.com/aitsl www.aitsl.edu.auPaperless convention

Keynote speakersFrederick BrownDirector of Strategy and DevelopmentLearning ForwardFrederick Brown is Learning Forward’sdirector of strategy and development.Prior to joining Learning Forward, Fredserved as a senior program officerfor the New York City based WallaceFoundation where he guided the workof several major grantees, includingthe Southern Regional EducationBoard; the Institute for Learning at the University ofPittsburgh; and the states of Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin,Oregon, Kansas and New Jersey.Prior to joining The Wallace Foundation, Fred wasDirector of the Leadership Academy and UrbanNetwork for Chicago (LAUNCH), an organization whosemission was to identify, train, and support principalsfor the Chicago Public Schools. In 2005, LAUNCH washighlighted by the U.S. Department of Education as anInnovative Pathway to the Principalship.Fred’s expertise is grounded in real-world experience.He has been an elementary school teacher and principalas well as a middle school assistant principal. He alsoserved as a founding member of the Mathematics andEquity teams for Ohio’s Project Discovery, a statewideinitiative to improve mathematics and science instruction.Over the past 15 years, Fred has been a leaderin designing and facilitating cutting-edge learningexperiences for school and district administrators ontopics such as cultural competence, leadership, andprofessional learning communitiesVicki L. PhillipsDirector of Education, College ReadyUnited States Program, Gates FoundationVicki Phillips, Director of Education,College Ready in the United StatesProgram, oversees work to improveearly learning in Washington state;to ensure U.S. high school studentsgraduate ready for success in college,career, and life; and to improveaccess to college.Vicki has committed her career to increasing educationalopportunities for young people. Prior to joining the GatesFoundation, she was superintendent of Portland PublicSchools in Portland, Oregon. Before her move toOregon, Vicki was Secretary of Education and ChiefState School Officer for the state of Pennsylvania andserved as superintendent of the Lancaster, Pennsylvania,school district. She has worked with the U.S. Office ofEducation in Washington, D.C., and has been a middleand high school teacher.Vicki earned a bachelor’s degree in elementaryeducation and a master’s degree in school psychologyfrom Western Kentucky University. She also holds adoctorate in education from the University of Lincolnin England.Adam SmithCo-founderCentre for Public EducationAdam Smith is recognised andcelebrated as a young, dynamicleader, thinker and advocate.Considered one of Australia’syoungest and most prominent CEO’s,Adam has an impressive careerthat most recently included the roleof Chief Executive Officer of TheFoundation for Young Australians. He was one of thearchitects of NAB’s Schools First program, a co-founderof the Centre for Public Education and is a BoardMember of both the Australian Council of EducationalResearch and the Australian College of Educators.Adam has appeared regularly on a range of televisionprograms and in radio interviews and has publisheda range of articles and compelling opinion pieces.In 2008, BOSS Magazine identified Adam as one ofAustralia’s top young executives. The Age newspaperregularly lists Adam in the top 100 of Melbourne’s mostinfluential individuals, and in 2010 he was a finalist for theprestigious Young Australian of the Year award.Particular areas of interest and expertise for Adaminclude why and how public and private sectors mustwork better together; role of education in nation building;equity and excellence in public education; creating adynamic cross generational workforce and community.Bring your own device#learnactsharegrow facebook.com/aitsl www.aitsl.edu.auPaperless convention