Page 3021 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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A deputy principal coordinator has been appointed to manage the program. This position is jointly funded by the colleges involved. The colleges are currently mapping their staffing needs for 2008 with a view to offering more flexible cross-campus opportunities for staff and students. Canberra businesses, through the chamber of commerce and the master builders association, have strong partnerships with the department and its schools.
In addition, and as a result of the capabilities being rolled out through the government’s upgrade of ICT facilities in schools, the collegiate has undertaken an innovative learning project. This has allowed for an exchange of resources via myclasses and online lessons and for multimedia to be shared using ClickView. Teachers are using the quality teaching framework and are collaboratively designing units for maths, science and English.
The ANU secondary college program continues as a successful opportunity for students in years 11 and 12 across the whole of the ACT. The program is in its second year and delivers highly challenging maths, physics and chemistry courses for gifted students enrolled in both government and non-government schools. The courses are delivered on the ANU premises by teachers employed by the ACT government school sector. This is a unique program across Australia, because it delivers to both government and non-government students in the same classroom.
The government is also addressing other report recommendations. The third annual all-colleges professional development day will be conducted in February 2008, addressing recommendation 2. A revised approach to the development of courses has been adopted in 2007, which ensures the participation of staff from all colleges, addressing recommendation 6.
Colleges across the ACT are beginning the implementation of a tool called transformation of learning. This is a student feedback mechanism which identifies for teachers areas in which they might improve their practice to ensure greater student engagement. This explicitly addresses the part of the report which reflects on the relevance of courses and course delivery to students.
The report gives considerable attention to vocational education and training. One of the first steps that the minister has undertaken is to ensure that the department’s structure reflects the importance of VET in the college system. Recommendations 1 and 7 propose the development of a career and transitional framework. I am happy to report that this is underway.
The department has been working closely with the CIT to promote more extensive and effective collaboration as outlined in recommendation 7. Significant work has occurred in the past 18 months. Early this year a joint professional development activity was conducted. College and CIT teachers travelled to Newcastle to view WorldSkills mock international competition and Try’aTrade event. It is hoped that schools will begin to be involved in the WorldSkills program in the future. A new certificate IV in training and assessment has been introduced which involves college and high school teachers attending CIT to gain this qualification. Additionally, a certificate III in plumbing has been introduced for students in 2007.
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