Jake Plaskett is an innovative, self-confessed project-based learning evangelist who has been living in Australia since 2013. In his time here he has worked at MLC School in Sydney at a PBL Specialist Teacher, with the Department of Education in NSW, as the Coordinator of Innovation and Learning at Rosebank College, and at the time of interview, was the Director of Learning Innovation at Ruyton Girls’ School in Melbourne. Jake’s experience as a former student at High Tech High and then a teacher of Maths and Music at High Tech High ignited his passion for PBL pedagogy, and in this episode we unpack the benefits and a few of the challenges involved in project-based teaching and learning.

Jake Plaskett: Former student and teacher at High Tech High

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Beth is currently the Technologies and Innovation Specialist at Coomera Anglican College, and previously worked with ACARA, and was responsible for the implementation of Australian Curriculum in Digital technologies for the North Queensland cluster of schools.  We spoke with Beth earlier in the year about about how we teach technologies well, what is happening at Coomera Anglican College, and about her experiences of working with ACARA.

Beth Claydon - Teaching technologies well

Last week, the Victorian Government announced a school banking ban over accusations the banks were using inappropriate tactics in the programs. With calls for other states to follow, this week on The Educhange Podcast we're talking about financial literacy. We're joined by Fiona Guthrie, the Chief Executive of Financial Counselling Australia, and we discuss how we, as educators, can be be preparing our students for the real world. 

Financial Literacy with Fiona Guthrie

Tony Vallance is a Learning Specialist at Lilydale High School. Tony is passionate about bridging the gap between theory and practice, and developing learning opportunities rooted in the real world with practical applications. In this episode, we talk to Tony about STEAMWorks - a tech learning space he created at the school. We also hear about Tony's mantra in education. 

Engaging students in STEAM with Tony Vallance

Our guest today is Phil Cummins. Phil an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Tasmania, an integral part of the School for Tomorrow and the managing director of the Circle Education group.  The collective conversation this week is: 'Do we spend enough time educating for our students' character?' Charles chats with Phil about character education pedagogy and how we embed character education into all the learning and teaching that’s going on at our school.

Dr Philip SA Cummins on Character Education

Our guest today is Yasodai Selvakumaran. Yaso is a Humanities Teacher and Relieving Head Teacher in Professional Practice at Rooty Hill High School in Sydney’s west. In 2019 Yaso was named as one of the world’s top 10 teachers in the Global Teacher Prize, an award that recognises exceptional teachers who have made outstanding contributions to the teaching profession. In this episode, we talk about why we teach, and what is it that drives our teaching philosophy. You're also going to hear from a few EC community members who shared with us why they teach and what drives them.   Join our collective conversations on our socials to join the conversation. 

Jake Plaskett: Former student and teacher at High Tech High

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