By Leanne Joyce
Quality education is built around partnerships. At least, that was much of the thinking that underpinned the recent open day held at Kolbe Catholic College on June 28.
With a passion for establishing conversations and sharing ideas around how to transform learning and teaching to better cater for today’s kids, Kolbe’s open day was centred around opening the doors to classrooms and curriculum to spark discussion and ideas amongst the assembled educators.
Participants from Albany, Bunbury, Manjimup, Moorine Rock, Geraldton and Tokyo joined educators from Perth schools from across all systems to talk about the importance of transforming learning – not just what that could look like and but how to go about making it happen.
Principal Robyn Miller’s opening words conveyed the notion that successful classrooms were built on the back of positive relationships.
The importance of partnerships was made clear with the collaborative efforts of many teachers and students showcasing what the day-to-day business of learning looks like at Kolbe with focus on personalised learning, collaboration, peer teaching, quality assessment, flexible learning spaces and innovative technologies.
Jeff Allen’s keynote address further set the tone for the day when the importance of a clear vision was established: that learning opportunities at Kolbe strive to be “engaging, innovative and authentic.”
In this spirit, Sugatra Mitra’s words were echoed in Kolbe’s belief that teachers and schools shouldn’t make learning happen, but rather let it happen by building the right environment and with the open-mindedness that allows creativity to flourish – amongst the teachers, the wider community and the students.
The day was a terrific success and proof that incredible things can happen when like-minded educators get together and talk about the possibilities.