Learning Conversations News

Life is never dull at 272 Oxford St Leederville, the home of Learning Conversations! Over the past month Marie has been busy writing and editing materials for the Good Food for New Arrivals, Nutrition Training Package for ASeTTS, in between conducting more workshops for schools focussing in many instances on the importance of play as the basis for all learning in early childhood settings. The MALA (Mature Adults Learning Association) classes for 2^nd semester this year start shortly and we have been very pleased, as has the committee, with the response to this semester’s program. We have also begun work on the development of a curriculum package for the Office of Crime Prevention on Graffiti Reduction. It seems that Marie’s interest in the graffiti of Barcelona was well justified! We have also been involved in reviewing and, in Marie’s case, assisting others to review, the National Professional Standards for Advanced Teaching and Principalsand a paper on The Future of Schooling in Australiawhich is a precursor to a revision of the National Goals of Schooling. Anna has enjoyed finding out more about the courts of Perth as she’s investigated the feasibility of establishing a Courts Ministry for the Uniting Church in the City. If we had any doubts from our previous peripheral encounters with the law about the thoroughly horrible process (as one judge who was interviewed described it) involved if one is unfortunate enough to end up in court, this has been well and truly dispelled. We’re now looking forward to a few days in Geraldton for several workshops with the Library there, and then Anna heads off to Karalundi Aboriginal Community School, a remote school north of Meekatharra, on what is probably the last visit in the NALP project.

Reflections

As we’ve developed the 2^nd Semester program for MALA and seen the excitement of the adults who attend in the learning opportunities provided and challenged NALP consultants exploring new ways for delivering professional learning sessions we have been struck by the enjoyment these people are finding in learning. This has been in somewhat stark contrast to the response Marie has found in many schools recently. Teachers are so overwhelmed by how much they feel they need to teach and assess that they seem to have lost sight of learning let alone any joy or fun that they or their students might find in it. Unfortunately, The Future of Schooling in Australia paper with yet another emphasis on accountability does little to suggest that any of this will change soon. We are most troubled by this. Certainly learning can be taxing and of course it requires effort but that does not mean it needs to be joyless.

So we’ve been thinking about setting up laughing metres in schools and places of work. You know the sort of thing - a light that flashes, a thermometer/barometer contraption. Perhaps it would be a good thing for children to design, make and appraise! Then we thought, we need something to trigger the metre, something to ensure it is working. So, how about these:

·   Morning greetings – shake someone’s hand, smile and laugh ‘hello’ (not words, laughter), find someone else, smile and laugh ‘hello’ to them, keep moving, shaking hands, smiling and laughing ‘hello’

·   Reframing – when you or someone else says something negative (like “this room is a mess and no one seems to care!”), stop and put a picture frame in front of your face (put your fingers together to form a rectangle) and reframe it (“let’s see how beautiful we can make this room in ten minutes!”)

·   Starting a difficult part of the day with a positive message (“Maths is fun!” “Meetings are great!”)

·   Unusual objects – put something unusual somewhere in the room each day as something to be found. Give clues about what the object might be.

·   Play – find a way to play more. If you are teaching, you know the power of play – so why don’t we use it more, with adults and with children? If you are not teaching, have a look at some of the brain research talking about the addictive qualities of laughter, the way laughter ignites brains.

·   Celebrate when you finish something or things go well.

What are you doing to add fun, laughter and joy to your life and to the lives of others?

Interesting Connections

AFN e-mail list, moderated by Bob Dick at QUT, provides an interactive and responsive vehicle where network 'members' may raise issues and queries relating to facilitation, community engagement, planning, and the role, integrity and accreditation of facilitators. To subscribe, e-mail to: afn-l-request@lists.scu.edu.au with subject subscribe or visit the web page http://lists.scu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/afn-l

The current issue and extracts of past issues of Putting Children Firstare available on the NCAC website.

Children's sense of safety: Children's experiences of childhood in contemporary Australia Drawing on the responses of 600 children, the findings of this research suggested that although the vast majority of children surveyed believe Australia is a good place to grow up in, many of them have an undercurrent of worry and concern for their own safety and the protection of other children.

The corporatization of child care in Australia: Not as easy as ABC  by Deborah Brennan provides an overview of ABC Learning's Australia-wide influence on child care.

2007 Longitudinal Study of Australian Children Research Conference A number of the presentations from the inaugural Growing Up in Australia research conference, held in December 2007, are now available to download from the Growing Up in Australia website.

The final report to the Federal Government from the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) Taskforce was released 20 June 2008. The report outlines NTER achievements during the 12 months since it was launched on 21 June 2007 and sets out its recommendations for future services for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a technical paper which specifies the operational definitions and primary data sources for the key national indicators of children’s health, development and wellbeing. It identifies the best currently available data sources for the key national indicators as identified by the AIHW, in conjunction with the National Child Information Advisory Group.

Australian children are far worse off than 20 years ago in terms of obesity, substance abuse and depression, according to new research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies which compared behavioural issues for two- to three-year-olds and six- to seven-year-olds, then and now.

The girl who silenced the world at a United Nations conference - a young girl speaking on behalf of the ECO – Environmental Children’s Organisation http://youtube.com/watch?v=NZvlQwjVOKw

Every year Save the Children-USA prepares a Mothers' Index, using the latest data on health, nutrition, education, and political participation, which ranks 146 nations to show where mothers and children fare best and where they face the greatest hardship. In State of the World's Mothers 2008, the best countries are Sweden and Norway. Australia is sixth.

The design of this flexible school for early childhood education in Milan, Italy, as described in a paper by Georgio Ponti, takes into account children’s development and the different ways they experience space according to their age. The facilities will include not only a nursery school and kindergarten, but also a drop-in day-care centre, a play centre and outdoor areas to develop the senses. (not Reggio Emilia – but somewhere else in Italy!)

Big hART’s Ngapartji Ngapartji is a long-term intergenerational language and arts project based in the Central Desert which haslaunched a paper on the need for a concerted federal focus on indigenous languages .

Interesting Resources

If you want to check for the accepted pronunciations of English in various parts of the world like the U.S., U.K., and Australia try Sound Comparisons.

AsPaper Tigerssay ‘Literacy is not just about learning to read and write, although that is a central part of it, of course. It is about learning to love learning; it is about seeking to understand our own lives within the context of our own culture; and it is about working to communicate across cultures.’

ReadWriteThink is a partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the Verizon Foundation who are working together to provide educators and students with access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction through free, Internet-based content.

PHYSCLIPS – a multi-level, multi-media resource - a truly amazing way to learn about Kinematics and dynamics (assuming you want to, that is!!)

The Iterative Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) programme, is a collaborative knowledge building strategy designed to strengthen the evidence base that informs education policy and practice in New Zealand.

Granted is a not-for-profit organisation that provides advice to community sector organisations that are developing funding applications. It focuses on assisting organisations that aim to make a positive social or environmental impact but which have limited resources to seek funding. The service is free, independent and confidential. Their experience comes from working with funding bodies (particularly government departments) and community sector organisations.

INC. A Guide for Incorporated Associations in Western Australia is a comprehensive operational guide that builds on the research and consultation previously undertaken by the Gosnells Community Legal Centre in 2005. It provides information on the process of incorporation in Western Australia and highlights key legal provisions under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987; introduces the various aspects of managing an association, including conducting meetings, employing staff and engaging volunteers; is a reference for good governance practices; and includes links to other sources of relevant information.

The Welfare Rights Centre has just completed the first major re-write of its Independent Social Security Handbook – 6th edition.

The Game – on ABC Green at Work website. According to the ABC ‘It's TOUGH but ADDICTIVE’…to play

Ways to Make a Difference

The National Quality Framework for Early Education and Care: Consultation Forums. To register for the forums call 1800 220 425 or email ECECQualityReformRegistrations@deewr.gov.au The consultations in Perth are on August 12^th and 13th.

Inquiry into the disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations, a Senate Inquiry examining the relevance and appropriateness of current disclosure regimes for charities and all other not-for-profit organisations; models of regulation and legal forms that would improve governance and management of charities and not-for-profit organisations and cater for emerging social enterprises, and; other measures that can be taken by government and the not-for-profit sector to assist the sector to improve governance, standards, accountability and transparency in its use of public and government funds. Submissions close 29 August 2008.

The newly established Westpac Community Treasurer’s Awardsaim to support the work of local community groups and community treasurers. Nominations close 10 September 2008.

The Magical Memory Tour Take part in a scientific study about memory. Your memories about the Beatles can help the British Association for the Advancement of Science (the BA) learn more about how the brain functions and the way we relate to our memories.

Sustainable September is a communication campaign that celebrates activities that create a just, sustainable and prosperous Western Australia. Sustainable September is an opportunity to experience sustainability and to put it into action. This year’s theme, The Climate is Right for Sustainability makes the link between the sustainable practices we employ and the positive impacts they can have on climate change and our quality of life.

Make Poverty History needs your help to reduce climate change. You can send a letter to the Garnaut Review Secretariat commenting on a report which they have released in response to the draft Garnaut Climate Change Review released in early July. The Review will be used the by the Government to help develop Australia’s response to climate change. To see the bigger picture of the impact of climate change on poor communities around the planet visit.

School Aid has launched an opportunity for Australian school students to connect with, and support, children affected by the Sichuan Earthquake - the worst natural disaster to strike China in over 30 years.

'Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign is the National Prescribing Service's awareness campaign to encourage people to recover from colds without using antibiotics, which do not work on cold viruses.

The Library Project works primarily in China's Shaanxi Province, to provide isolated primary schools and communities with quality books.

A National Australian Compact between the voluntary sector and Government. The community and welfare sector and the Federal Government are currently looking at ways to develop a new and stronger relationship with each other, based on partnership and respect. Submissions on the Compact can be made through http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/An_Australian_Compact.htm.  A draft outline of a National Compact is expected to be developed by mid-2009.

Up and Coming Conferences and Events

Connecting Children with Nature, 14 August at Yanchep National Park, and 15 August at Bold Park Community School. For registration form email mandi@boldpark.com or visitwww.boldpark.com

National Science Week 2008 16–24 Aug 2008 provides children, carers and families with a huge range of activities and events that explore science, technology and innovation.

National Child Protection Week 7-13 Sept, raises awareness of child abuse and neglect. Events will be happening across Australia which highlight child abuse and inspire individuals to take action to prevent it. http://www.napcan.org.au/WA/index.htm

Quality Education for All, Australian Association of Special Education National Conference, 19-20 Sept, Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle http://www.aase.edu.au/2008_nat_conference.html

Early Childhood Australia Biennial Conference, Children: A nation's capital – Investing in our children 3–6 Oct National Convention Centre, Canberra, http://www.ecaconference.com.au/

Anti-poverty week 2-18 Octapw@antipovertyweek.org.au or 1300 797 290

8th Biennial National Early Childhood Intervention Australia Conference Where's the Proof? Evidence-based Practice and Practice-based Evidence 19-21 Oct Sydney Convention Centre http://www.eciavic.org.au/ECIA/Conference2008.html

Australasian Facilitators Network (AFN) Conference 26-28 Nov Pushing the Boundaries: Facilitation Frontiers , Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW http://www.markbutz.com/afn/afn_08_conference/

The World Indigenous Peoples Conference: Education (WIPC:E) 7-11Dec, Melbourne, Australia http://www.wipce2008.com/

11th International Conference on Experiential Learning The Identity of Experience –current and future challenges for experiential learning. 8-12 Dec, University of Technology Sydney, www.education.uts.edu.au/icel/index.html

11th NZ Early Childhood Research Conference 22-23 Jan 2009, Wellington NZ http://www.childforum.com

The 6^th International Conference of the Middle Years of Schooling - Connecting in the middle years: Switch on! Jump in! Take off! 21-23 May 2009, Brisbane  http://www.mysa.org.au/

Thinking Minds: Nurturing the Design of a Better Future, 14^th International Conference on Thinking, 22-26 July, 2009, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Learning Conversations’ Professional Development Opportunities

The remaining Reggio Inspired Weekend Workshops for 2008 will have the focuses of:

·         How Do I Teach When I am ‘Reggio Inspired’? – 23/24 August

·         Working Together – involving Parents, Principals and system Consultants – 8/9 November

In the third RIW How Do I Teach When I am ‘Reggio Inspired’? we will explore together some of the pedagogical choices made by educators in the educational project of Reggio Emilia. We will consider the meaning of Loris Malaguzzi’s statement “The aim of teaching is not to produce learning but to produce the conditions for learning, this is the focal point, the quality of the learning.” We will think together, using multiple languages, about connections between:

·                Theory and practice

·                Teaching and research

·                Work and play

·                Reality and imagination

·                Reason and emotion

·                Creativity and rationality

·                Individual and group

So, how do you book your place in a Learning Conversations Reggio Inspired Workshop?

1. Email Marie to express your interest (marie.martin@learningconversations.com.au)
2. Complete and return a Reflection on My Teaching and Learning Journey which Marie will send to you

Marie will send you an invoice for $165/person/weekend and details of where to come

Supporting schools and community organisations

We can create a learning opportunity for your staff or volunteers, whether it be facilitating a conversation about your school or organisational vision, developing a school or organisational plan, or developing a workshop to help you address a matter of educational or community interest. Please contact us to discuss your interests and strengths!

Contact Us

Anna on 0438 902 586 and Marie on 0409 034 692 - or email to anna.alderson@learningconversations.com.au or marie.martin@learningconversations.com.au

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