Learning Conversations News

Marie has returned from her trip to England which included several exciting days in Barcelona, enjoying the wonders of Gaudi architecture and otherwise celebrating her sister’s 40^th birthday. While she was away Anna went to Melbourne to attend a one day Masterclass in governance and meet with other people in Melbourne interested in the complex (but never boring) issue of governance. Since then we have been to Margaret River to talk with the south-west participants in the Small Schools History Project and Anna has had a wonderful week on the edge of the (very dusty) Great Sandy Desert visiting three small remote Aboriginal Independent Community Schools with the Accelerated Literacy Project consultant for the area. In between, Marie has been doing numerous workshops including workshops about play for schools, early childhood education for principals in the Catholic sector, and facilitation skills for business lecturers at ECU. There are two new small projects we are about to embark on – one investigating the feasibility of establishing a ‘Courts Ministry’ for the Uniting Church in the City, and a second evaluation of the Enhancing Access Project for VWA (Anna conducted an initial evaluation of the project last year). Marie has been fascinated by the research work she is now collating into a training package for ASeTTS, which has gathered information about Good Food for New Arrivals. One of the wonderful things about the work we do is its great variety. It is such a pleasure – and privilege - to work with so many amazing people doing extraordinary things.

Reflections

We continue to puzzle and think about professional learning. What makes it effective? How can we support people in their professional learning?