Education

Professional learning
The programs described in this section relate to the
department-wide provision of professional learning.
Further professional learning occurs within individual
business units and schools.
Responsibility and funding for the delivery of professional
learning is devolved across the department. Professional
learning for school-based employees is accessed through
the School Resource Package. For other non-school
employees, professional learning is funded within business
unit budget allocations.
Professional
Learning
Institute
The Professional Learning Institute (PLI) is responsible
for high quality professional learning for the department.
PLI staff are developing, brokering and delivering
professional learning and support to schools and increasingly
supporting professional learning across the department.
Professional learning programs for teachers and principals
are based on the Australian Standard for Principals and
Australian Standards for Teachers. Other policies, guidelines
and frameworks such as the Melbourne Declaration on
Educational Goals for Young Australians, the department's
Learners First Strategy and the department’s Literacy and
Numeracy Framework underpin professional learning for
principals and teachers. Programs that focus on Aboriginal
Education and that specifically address Standards 1.4 and 2.4
have also been developed and delivered.
The PLI delivers leadership programs for experienced
and aspiring principals such as Leadership Starts from Within,
Leading Teaching and Learning and Empowering Diversity.
The Shadowing Program is an intensive spaced learning
experience designed for aspiring principals.
The Leadership Development Program was developed
for principals new to a school.
The Principals as Literacy Leaders (PALL) and Secondary
Principals as Literacy Leaders (SPALL) programs support
literacy leadership in schools. Other programs offered by
the PLI that support literacy and numeracy teaching and
learning include:
• Secondary Schools Literacy Focus
• Literacy for Learning Program
• Peter Sullivan Numeracy Initiative
• Network Inquiries that enable networks of schools to
undertake a literacy and numeracy inquiry.
Working with Data is a program offered by the PLI and
co-facilitated with Educational Performance Services.
This two staged program provides professional learning
on how the department’s NAPLAN Toolkit can support
school leaders and teachers to maximise the use of their
data, and how to use data to inform school improvement.
Many PLI programs incorporate the use of information
technology to facilitate coaching, feedback on inquiries
and engaging with international experts. Specific coaching
programs are conducted and coaching is the main driver
of Building Feedback Cultures which is being conducted in
over 40 schools. The Adaptive Schools Program, designed
to equip participants with an understanding of the
complexity of working in a team, is also based on coaching
principles. The six day spaced learning program, Leading a
Digital School and the 21st Century Learning Design (21CLD)
program are specific programs based on the use of
information technology.
Induction programs for beginning staff across the
department are being co-constructed with the PLI and
Corporate Services.
Professional
learning
support
for school
administration
staff
School administration staff receive a range of professional
learning support:
• the Corporate Service Centre offers direct and online
training and support for school administration staff
• programs specifically designed for Corporate Service
staff have been developed
• the department provides sponsorship to the
Tasmanian Schools Administrator Association (TSAA)
Conference held in July/August each year
• a pilot program for school administrative staff was
conducted in the Learning Services North-West
region in the first half of 2013 and will be further
developed and made available across the state.
Required Reporting » Employee Performance and Development Programs
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