PLP Project Description PLP Project Description

PHASE 1 - Meeting the Needs of the 21st Century Student• The purpose of phase 1 was to

encourage ownership for all Parramatta Marist teachers to make changes in their teaching practices to better cater for 21st century students.

• This was a one day workshop that focused on the following outcomes:

Outcome 1

• Staff buy in to become 21st century educators.

• Staff were required to look at emerging teaching pedagogies and suggest a model that would better engage and equip our PBL graduates when they enter year 11.

Staff Comments

• “There should certainly be more of such inservices and it was excellent that it was led by our peers. Since they are part of the school they are able to address our needs”

Outcome 2

• Provide a number of workshops to help staff facilitate a 21st classroom.

• A variety of workshops were offered for staff which included:

• Team teaching (Lucy Gresser)

• Group Dynamics (Bruce Carr)

• Scaffolding (Karyn West)

• Classroom management (Gavin Hays)

Staff Comments

• “This was the most engaging pupil free day for staff development that I have experienced. May we continue to collaborate in this positive and productive environment”

PHASE 2 - Project Simulation

• The purpose of phase 2 was to provide staff with the opportunity to participate in a simulated project.

• This allowed staff to feel the frustrations that students experience especially when they are not given the answers.

Outcome 3

• Simulate participation in a project based framework.

• Staff worked on a authentic project regarding predicting where the government should focus their economic stimulus package spending.

Staff Comments

• “I don’t think this day could have been better facilitated. It was excellent. I liked the way the facilitators adopted techniques adopted from other professional development opportunities”

Outcome 4

• Provide a variety of web2.0 tools that can be used.

• Staff were immersed in an online learning environment (Moodle)

• This provided them with access to wide range of useful web2.0 tools that could be used in their own classroom.

Outcome 4

• These included:• Discussion forums

• Ning

• Journals

• Blogging/wordpress

• Shoutbox (Twitter)

• Skype

• Wiki’s (Group mnagement)

PHASE 3 - Project Integration

• The purpose of phase 3 was to provide staff with the resources to create their own projects.

• All staff were given access to range of resources and previous projects in order to construct their own projects.

Outcome 5

• Provide staff with 21st century teaching strategies.

• Staff looked at a range of successful strategies and previous projects to identify and include successful teaching strategies.

• Some of these include: cooperative learning strategies, critical thinking activities, web2.0 tools integrated etc.