Professor John Quay is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education

Rhian ap Rees is the Assistant Principal at Auburn South Primary School

Darian Hunte is the Year 4 Teacher at Auburn South Primary School

For the first episode of season 9, Dr Sophie Specjal explores curriculum design and unit planning with Auburn South Primary School’s Rhian ap Rees and Darien Hunte, alongside Professor John Quay from the Faculty of Education. They unpack a framework designed by Professor Quay, that blends backward design with inquiry-based learning to centre on student interests and teacher agency. Rhian and Darien share practical classroom examples, highlighting how creative, collaborative planning can boost students’ motivation and engagement.

Guests:

Professor Sandra Milligan is the Executive Director of Melbourne Metrics and expert in Assessment Research

Jonathan Walter is the Principal of Carey Baptist Grammar School

Description:

In our final 2024 episode, Talking Teaching explores how Melbourne Metrics is transforming student assessment by going beyond academics. We speak with Professor Sandra Milligan from the University of Melbourne, leading Melbourne Metrics, and Principal Jonathan Walter of Carey Baptist Grammar School, an early adopter. They discuss the limitations of traditional metrics like ATAR and the development of alternative tools like the 'ATAR Plus' model. This approach balances academic rigor with personal growth, offering a more holistic view of student achievement. Hear how this new model is positively impacting students, parents, and schools, shaping the future of assessment.

Links:

Melbourne Metrics

New Metrics

Australian Learner Competency Credential

Breaking the ATAR mould: A vision for change – The Educator 2024

A future without exams? It's closer than you think – ABC Brightside 2024

Could Victoria replace the ATAR? – ABC Radio 2024

School-university partnership aims to boost students’ key life competencies – The Educator 2024

Future proofing Australian students with ‘new credentials’ – Pursuit 2020

Guests:

Dr Lara Mossman is a Wellbeing science expert and Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Wellbeing Science

Dr Rachel Colla is a Teaching and Learning Innovation Lead and Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Wellbeing Science

Description:

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Rachel Colla and Dr. Lara Mossman from the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Education about teaching for wellbeing. They discuss the difference between teaching wellbeing skills and creating a classroom environment that fosters motivation and wellbeing. They share their "Wellbeing Integrated Learning Design" framework, offering practical tips on incorporating choice, fostering connection, and using theories like flow and achievement goals.

Links:

Self-Determination Theory in Education

Coursera - Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson's class on Positive Psychology

Centre for Wellbeing Science at FoE

Colla, Rachel HH, and Lara H. Mossman. ‘Wellbeing Integrated Learning Design Framework: A Multi-Layered Approach to Facilitating Wellbeing Education through Learning Design and Educational Practice’. FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION, vol. 8, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1216658.

Colla, RH, and CF Kurtz. ‘Storying Research: Exploring the Benefits of Participatory Narrative Inquiry as a Methodology for Wellbeing Research’. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-024-00147-4.

Oades, LG, and L. Mossman. ‘The Science of Wellbeing and Positive Psychology’. Wellbeing, Recovery and Mental Health, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316339275.003.

Guests:

Professor Nikki Rickard is a professor of Wellbeing Science in the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, with a focus on digital mental health and emotional regulation.

Dr David Bakkar is a clinical psychologist, researcher and the Founding Director of MoodMission.

Description:

In this episode, Professor Nikki Rickard and Dr David Backer explore the effects of digital technologies on student mental health. They discuss the risks and benefits of apps, gaming, and social media, emphasising the need for balance. With a focus on digital hygiene education and teacher training, they call for a collaborative approach, including young people, in shaping healthier digital environments for students.

Helpful Links for Teachers and Parents:

Research:

Guests:

Dr Sarah Young  is a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood (REEaCh) Centre in the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne.

Nicole Pilsworth is the Executive Manager, Early Learning at Gowrie Victoria and the Chair of the Victorian committee of Early Childhood Australia.

Description:

This episode explores the power of play in early childhood education. Learn how play supports brain development, enriches learning, and connects generations through new innovative projects. Learn practical strategies to enhance play in the educational setting without disrupting children's motivation, as well as how to navigate the challenges of new policy reforms and the rollout of universal funded three and four-year-old kindergarten in Victoria.

Links:

The use of digital education and artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the new norm. In this episode, we are joined by Carlo Perrotta, an Associate Professor of Digital Education, and Dr. Matthew Fyfield, Deputy Principal of Mazenod College, who explore the intricate world of educational technology and its impact on teaching and learning. Together, they tackle ethical concerns, pedagogical responsibility, and the need for clarity in understanding digital tools, while envisioning what this all means for teachers.

In this special episode, we sit down with distinguished guests Professor Jim Watterston, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Professor Yong Zhao, Foundation Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas. Together, they discuss their recent co-authored book, 'Focused: Understanding, Negotiating, and Maximizing Your Influence as a School Leader,' offering a practical guide to educational leadership. From navigating challenges to enhancing student engagement, Watterston and Zhao provide strategic advice grounded in research and experience.

The release of the Universities Accord earlier this year marks a pivotal moment in higher education policy. Its recommendations address crucial aspects of the evolving higher ed landscape, including equity, funding, HECS/HELP, and living costs. These changes could profoundly influence the decisions of first-year students transitioning from school to higher ed, emphasising the pivotal role schools play in shaping their future trajectories.

In this episode, Associate Professor Gwilym Croucher, an expert in Higher Education Policy, joins Principal Annette Rome of St. Margaret's Berwick in a dynamic dialogue. Together, they explore the potential impacts of the Accord, strategies for preparing school students for making decisions around their future, and how we ensure good outcomes for everyone.

Australian schools are recognising the growing importance of fostering inclusive spaces for neurodiverse students. Teachers play a vital role in creating belonging for these students. But how can we support teachers, to support neurodivergent students in the classroom?

We speak to experts Jess Rowlings and Dr Matt Harrison, co-directors of Next Level Collaboration and passionate researchers in neurodiversity, about how teachers can support the learning of their neurodivergent students. We explore what neurodiversity is, how it presents in young people and practical strategies teachers can use in their classrooms.

In a world abundant with content, how can we harness literary education as a form of social change? How can we re-invigorate schools to be spaces to engage with uncomfortable truths and delicate subject matter in a respectful way?

In this episode, Faculty of Education Deputy Dean and co-founder of the Literary Education Lab, Professor Larissa Mclean Davies, and English teacher and PhD candidate, Allayne Horton, help us uncover the vibrant world of literary education and explore how schools and teachers can effectively engage with texts to mould future perspectives.