Standard+5.3.3

=Assist colleagues to develop positive learning environments that encompass open-mindedness, curiosity and honesty. =

One of my colleagues was having some difficulty with one of her classes and asked my advice on how to improve the learning environment. After some discussion she asked whether I would come in to observe this class and provide some feedback. My [|observations] and further discussion gave my colleague a number of options to pursue that would lead to enhancement of the positive learning environment in that class.

In planning the program for yr 7, I wanted to not only provide a solid background in building students’ science skills and knowledge but also enough time to investigate their interests and ‘discover’ new interests. In ‘[|My World and Beyond]’ students worked at their own pace and their teacher was their guide and mentor. Students were able to pursue their interests within the framework of the course work.

In an earlier section on [|classification], students were asked to look around the school grounds to find and photograph as many different examples of living things as they could. After they had learned methods of classification, they were asked to classify the organisms they found on the class Wiki. A number of students really engaged with this activity and observed their organisms e.g. grasshopper over a period of time. Others set up a tadpole aquarium after completing research on what conditions tadpoles required in order to survive.

Over the past year I have flipped some of my classrooms. I have found that this has enhanced the learning environment where students value the content that they have gained. Lessons now have greater student involvement through discussion and student initiated investigations. The positive student feedback has filtered through the school and I have been asked to present this teaching practice at our next [|School Development Day]. I also submitted an abstract for consideration to [|Conasta 61] the annual conference of Australian Science Teachers’ Association and my workshop proposal has been [|accepted].

In this way I believe that I consistently assist my colleagues to develop positive learning environments that encompass open-mindedness, curiosity and honesty.