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ACCENT ESDPITEICOINAL
---------- on Music & Media in Education ---------- Print Post Approved: PP531725/00058
Music Education Network - PO Box 1013 Blackwood SA 5051 - Ph 1300 723 700 Fax 08 8270 1366 November 2010
Creative MLC School, Sydney 11 - 13 April 2011
logic... or
logical Dr Tom Rudolph
creativity? delivers keynote at
MTEC 2009
Dear Educator,
You only have to see Sir Ken Robinson in action
to get a clear impression that our education
system needs a paradigm shift... to coin a trendy
phrase. But how do you change a system that
is entrenched in 200 years of public education
history? ... very slowly!
But change it must, and I believe that the
arts and the explosion of information and
communications technology (ICT) will and
should be major influential drivers of this
change.
Educational leaders and decision makers are Collaborative Learning
constantly referring to terms such as “engaging”, PD is only the beginning
“inclusive”, “collaborative” and “multiple
literacies”... and at the same time we hear Almost every day that we are out visiting
terms like “vocational”, “academic” and “non- schools around the country we get asked
academic”. Keeping students “engaged” to time and time again... “Where can we go
produce oustanding “academic” results is still to learn more about this?” ... “Where can I see how
a fundamental goal of many... but it is getting this is used in class?”… “What are other schools
much harder to achieve and students are (quite using for such & such?” ... “Are there any courses I
rightly) seeking something more. can do?” …and so on.
I am certainly not suggesting that academic If you have been reading your issues of ACCENT visit each term. Whenever possible we try to visit
goals and standards should be discarded or over the years you will know that we get a real buzz several schools in close proximity, but this can be
lowered... but, as Sir Ken points out, students seeing what various schools are doing... and are more difficult in country and regional areas.
are being educated in a way that tends to narrow always motivated by teachers exploring new ideas,
their development and at the expense of their trying different approaches, different teaching Increasingly however, we find ourselves meeting
considerable creative skills. This is reinforced by styles and challenging the thinking of the past. Yes, with larger groups of teachers who decide to come
a longitudinal study published in a book called we also have our not-so-exciting experiences, but together at a host school... sharing perspectives,
Breakpoint & Beyond: Mastering the Future they are very few... and it makes us appreciate the ideas and participating in some training. This is
Today by George Land and Beth Jarman. The diversity even more. But most of our time is spent particularly convenient for teachers in regional
study tested Divergent Thinking (an essential working with teachers and IT staff with the plan- areas and such sessions add vitality and inspiration
capacity for creativity) and involved 1500 young ning and implementation of technology, answering to professional learning.
children over 10 years. These children were all questions and providing specific training.
tested while at preschool, then again 5 years If you would like to host a PD session with Music
and 10 years later. The amazing results showed An invitation to collaborate with EDnet in your school, please contact us. We are
98% scored “genius” level at pre-school. Five your colleagues and Music EDnet open to requests from anywhere in Australia and
years later the result was 32% and just 10% after can tailor sessions to meet the specific needs and
another 5 years (then aged 13-15). Interestingly When asked those frequent questions we are often interests of participants. This can include hands-on
they conducted the same test on 200,000 adults able to provide some instant answers or advice... workshops, presentations or planning discussions
(aged 25+) as a control group... and only 2% such as sorting out some specific software or tech- and cover a wide range of technology related topics
were at “genius” level! nology, referring to the various PD sessions that we and curricula.
are aware of, sharing our knowledge of what other
Through the arts and the evolution of ICT, schools are doing or providing the contact details of But wait, there’s more...
including mobile devices, web 2.0, video etc other teachers with whom they can network. There
there is no shortage of opportunities to engage are of course limits to how many schools we can In addition to school visits, you will be able to
students more creatively. Logical really. participate in collaborative learning with colleagues
and Music EDnet in many ways in 2011.
Enjoy. Music EDnet
is here New Website
Keith Huxtable A long time in development, but it will finally be
Managing Director launched in early 2011. The new website will allow
keith@musicednet.com educators to join a Music EDnet Professional
Learning Community. This will mean 24/7 access
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