What do schools need to learn from year nine programs? – Panel Discussion
Details:
1:45 – 3:00 pm
6th of December
Room: 4N-120
Dr Josh Ambrosy
Alex Prins
Kim Ali
Matt Davey
Brett Easton
Phil Dennis
Schools are complex socio-political places. Where the fight for what matters in education, how and what is taught and assessed, is increasingly being prescribed to teachers. Among this push towards the ‘highs’ (stakes testing/’impact’ teaching strategies/etc.), alarming trends are emerging for many students in the middle years, including disengagement in education and absenteeism. In response to these trends, many schools in Victoria and Australia have established specialised year nine programs to cater to students’ developmental, emotional, and educational needs during year nine.
These programs typically embody much of what has been called for over 30 years in research into the middle years of schooling and offer students opportunities for outdoor education and outdoor learning. Despite the success of year-nine programs, in many schools they remain a stockade of research-informed practice and starkly contrast the shifting educational experiences to students’ experiences of other year levels.
Through an interactive panel discussion, we will briefly explore the current socio-political tensions impacting schools and hear examples from accomplished teachers of year nine programs before discussing what schools need to learn from year nine programs.
About the Presenters
Josh is a lecturer in the Institute of Education, Arts and Community at Federation University. His teaching interests include outdoor education, science education and professional practice. Josh is also heavily involved in multiple professional associations related to his work in the outdoor and broader education sectors.
Alex Prins is an early career researcher who has worked in outdoor and physical education for over a decade and is currently Lecturer in health and physical education at Federation University Australia. Alex has a passion for teaching & learning outdoors, active lifestyles and being outside. He is particularly interested in outdoor education, learning on the coast, the subjective experience of the learner and helping to guide future outdoor and physical educators into the profession.
Kim has been working in Experiential education for her entire career now, after completing BA Nature Tourism at La Trobe University Bendigo in 2002. After completing teaching studies, Kim worked at Caulfield Grammar’s Yarra Junction campus, before travelling extensively with her husband Chris and living abroad in both Canada then New Zealand. Kim is the Director of Christian College Geelong’s, Back Creek, Rural Studies program near Ballarat, approaching 11 years. Proud mum to 2 teenagers, her passions include as much travel as possible, camping, hiking and everything homesteading related (garden, chooks, bee-keeping and preserving).
I am a high school Maths and Science teacher of 14 years. I am passionate about building positive relationships with students, and having them experience joy and success with Maths. In particular, for students to see the real world application of Maths, to their world. For the last two years I have worked in an outdoor education setting, embedding Australian Curriculum Mathematics into an alternative, urban campus set in a beachside suburb of the Gold Coast, QLD.
Brett is a founding member of the Gnurad-Gundidj Campus team, prior to that studied Outdoor Education and spent a number of years coordinating a large school based Outdoor education program. Brett is also a member of Outdoor Victoria’s Schools Advisory Group.
Phil is an experienced and passionate Outdoor Education teacher who strives to build community partnerships and links to nature to support student learning and wellbeing. Phil worked at Gnurad Gundidj, The School for Student Leadership for over a decade and currently heads up Outdoor Education at Warrnambool College. Phil is also a member of Outdoor Victoria’s Schools Advisory Group
