DattaQueensland's podcast

What if behaviour management isn't really about managing behaviour at all?

In Episode 90 of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen Anderson speaks with Caroline Blackley about a different way of understanding classroom behaviour — one grounded in human decision-making, cognitive load, and the relationships that shape learning spaces.

Caroline brings a wealth of experience from education, disability support, autism advisory work, prisons, youth detention, and years of professional learning with teachers. In this conversation, she explains her 4 Dimensions framework, which focuses on expectations, reinforcement, redirection, and follow-through.

The discussion is particularly relevant for teachers working in practical classrooms such as design and technology, manual arts, engineering, and food spaces, where students are not simply sitting still at desks but actively moving, making, using equipment, and interacting with others.

Stephen and Caroline explore:

• why practical subjects need behaviour conversations that reflect their reality

• how teacher cognitive load influences classroom responses

• the idea of an 80/20 balance between reinforcing and redirecting behaviour

• why student apathy can be harder to address than disruption

• how consistency and interaction can support both engagement and teacher wellbeing

This is an insightful episode for any teacher wanting practical ways to build stronger learning environments while reducing frustration and increasing clarity.

In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen chats with Emil Zankov, President of DATTA South Australia and a driving force behind the explosive growth of VEX Robotics competitions across the state.

Emil shares his journey from an early-career teacher discovering the power of robotics to leading a statewide movement that now involves more than 20 schools and over 100 teams. He discusses how robotics competitions provide belonging, motivation, and purpose for students who might otherwise disengage — often transforming attendance, confidence, and learning habits.

We also look at what makes VEX both accessible and scalable, why teachers shouldn't fear starting small, and how associations like DATTA SA help isolated tech teachers find their people.

Key Topics:

• The real value of competitive robotics

• How collaboration flourishes even in a competitive environment

• Strategies for getting school leadership on board

• Ways robotics connects students across schools, sectors, and backgrounds

• Advice for teachers considering starting a team

Links Mentioned:

• VEX Robotics: vex.com

• Robotics Education & Competition Foundation: Search "RECF Foundation"

In this episode, we explore a powerful idea emerging from Victoria: placing industrial design students into school workshops as paid technicians to support teachers, enrich student learning, and build a new pipeline of future Design & Technologies educators.

Stephen Anderson, QCHDF, speaks with Peter Murphy from RMIT about how the program works, why design students are so eager to participate, and what this model could mean for addressing the national teacher shortage. Peter also discusses his long-term vision for the learning area — including university partnerships, teacher training pathways, the need for more research in Design & Technologies, and what it will take to build a sustainable future workforce.

This episode is essential listening for school leaders, teachers, and anyone passionate about strengthening our subject.

Key topics:

• How university design students are supporting school workshops

• Speed-dating for schools: matching students with schools

• Why young designers are seeking stability and meaningful work

• The changing nature of the design profession

• Teacher shortages and long-term workforce solutions

• The role of Masters programs and PhD pathways

• Building intergenerational change within Design & Technologies

Listen now and explore how your school could start a similar partnership.

Join Stephen Anderson in conversation with Primrose Kombanie, an inspiring design educator at Glasshouse Christian College on the Sunshine Coast.

Primrose shares her remarkable story — from her upbringing in Zimbabwe and studies in textile sciences, to her transition into design teaching in New Zealand and Australia. She speaks passionately about changing classroom culture, connecting with industry partners, and helping students see design as a way of thinking, not just making.

It's a warm, engaging, and thought-provoking episode about education, creativity, and courage in teaching.

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform.

In this conversation, host Stephen Anderson speaks with Danielle Ruddock, Design and Technology Teacher at Beenleigh State High School, about her work bringing design thinking into the primary classroom.

Danielle shares strategies for integrating design thinking into HASS and Science, drawing on the Eight Ways of Learning and principles of Universal Design for Learning. She reflects on how introducing students to creative problem-solving early helps them transition into secondary design subjects with greater confidence and flexibility.

As part of DATTA QLD's Professional Learning Series, Danielle will be leading an in-person workshop, Design Thinking in the Primary Setting, at Beenleigh State High School in Week 6, Term 4.

Key themes:

• Design Thinking in primary education

• Linking HASS and Science through design processes

• Embedding Indigenous perspectives using the Eight Ways of Learning

• Universal Design for Learning and inclusive classroom strategies

🎧 Listen now to discover how design thinking can help students become lifelong learners who think critically and creatively across every subject.

In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson sits down with Andrew Scott, co-author of the Design for QCE textbooks and an experienced industrial design educator.

Andrew unpacks the challenge of helping students use their time productively in design projects—whether in high school or university. Drawing on years of teaching first-year design, he explains why structure, constraints, and collaboration are key to unlocking creativity and progress.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to structure design projects to keep students moving forward

• Why constraints actually fuel creativity

• The importance of peer feedback and collaborative idea generation

• Practical classroom strategies that can be adapted from university to high school

Links and Resources:

• Explore DATTA Queensland: dattaqld.org.au

• Email the podcast: [email protected]

Connect With Us: Host: Stephen Anderson Email: [email protected]

Host: Stephen Anderson Email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson chats with Mark Agnew, a former industrial plumber now teaching Industrial Technology and Design at Mabel Park State High School through Queensland's Trade to Teach program.

Mark explains how the program helps experienced tradespeople transition into teaching, the challenges and rewards of working in a diverse school community, and the importance of building relationships with students. He also shares an extraordinary story about creating adaptive tools for a legally blind student—demonstrating that inclusion and ingenuity go hand in hand.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Trade to Teach supports tradespeople moving into education

• The step-by-step process from industry to classroom

• Why strong student relationships are essential for learning

• Creative approaches to inclusion in workshop settings

• Why Mark believes now is the perfect time for tradies to consider teaching

Links and Resources:

• Explore DATTA Queensland: dattaqld.org.au

• Email the podcast: [email protected]

Connect With Us: Host: Stephen Anderson Email: [email protected]

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we celebrate the extraordinary career of DATTA QLD's 2025 Teacher of the Year, Terry Grieger. With over three decades of service to Design and Technologies education, Terry has turned classrooms into creative workshops where theory meets real-world problem-solving.

Terry shares how he brought CNC milling to Far North Queensland in the 80s, built working printing presses with his students, and even ran radio-controlled yacht regattas—all while nurturing critical thinking and ingenuity. As he approaches retirement, Terry reflects on the joys and challenges of teaching, his hopes for the future of the subject, and the legacy he leaves behind.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Terry's journey from Pittsworth to Cairns to Ipswich and beyond

• How he introduced CNC technologies to Queensland schools in the 1980s

• Why meaningful, hands-on projects matter—like student-built cannons, wind chimes, and working yachts

• His philosophy on teaching: embracing absurdity, sparking joy, and fostering growth

• What's next for Terry in retirement (hint: trees and tinkering)

Links and Resources:

• Explore DATTA Queensland: dattaqld.org.au

• Email the podcast: [email protected]

Connect With Us: Host: Stephen Anderson Email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we sit down with Tracy Sheen, a digital innovator and author of AI and You: Reimagine Business. Tracy shares her incredible journey from tinkering with electronics as a child in rural Queensland to becoming a mentor for businesses navigating the AI revolution.

With AI transforming industries from hospitality to education, Tracy offers insights into how teachers can equip students with the skills needed for a workforce where roles are rapidly evolving. She challenges us to rethink traditional education, emphasizing adaptability, critical thinking, and responsible AI use to prepare students for a future where jobs may last just six months.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Tracy's journey from a tech-savvy kid to a leader in digital innovation

• The impact of AI on industries and the workforce, with up to 50% of jobs at risk in the next decade

• Why penalizing students for using AI tools like ChatGPT misses the mark

• Practical strategies for teaching critical thinking and adaptability in the classroom

• Tracy's vision for reimagining education to prepare students for an AI-driven world

Links and Resources:

• Visit Tracy Sheen's website: aiandyou.com.au

• Follow Tracy Sheen on LinkedIn

• Purchase AI and You: Reimagine Business (available from June 16, 2025)

• Explore DATTA Queensland: dattaqld.org.au

Connect With Us:

Host: Stephen Anderson, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

In Episode 81 of the Bridge Building Podcast, host Stephen Anderson previews two inspiring sessions from the 2025 DATTA QLD Conference.

Margaret O'Brien, CEO and co-founder of Young Change Agents, is our Friday morning keynote. She shares how design and technologies education can be a springboard for young people to solve real-world problems and create social impact. Margaret offers a powerful call to action for teachers as mentors, changemakers, and facilitators of "FLARN"—failing and learning.

Natasha Ratajczek from the Queensland State Library joins us to discuss their free, state-wide programs that bring research skills, cultural artefacts, and design thinking into the classroom—no matter your school's location. She previews her Live at the Library demo and Friday tours, connecting educators with resources designed for creative problem solving and empathetic learning.

This episode will spark ideas, elevate your teaching, and get you excited for the upcoming conference.

Margaret O'Brien (Young Change Agents)

• Design thinking for social innovation

• Empowering students with agency and confidence

• Real school case studies & free classroom resources

• Bridging schools with industry and social enterprise

• The mentor role of design and tech educators

Natasha Ratajczek (Queensland State Library)

• Live at the Library: free online workshops for QLD schools

• Promoting information literacy, research skills & empathy

• Connecting students with real design stories and artefacts (e.g., the Queen's Baton)

• State-wide outreach to regional and rural classrooms

• Guided tours & professional learning at the Library

Date: June 19–20, 2025 Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 🔗 Register Here

Deadline: May 31, 2025 🔗 Submit Nominations

• Apple Podcasts

• DATTA QLD Podcast Hub

• Stitcher

• MyPodcast