Edited by Keith Redman

Topics covered in this edition include:

• DigiKids workshops launched in Brisbane and Melbourne
• Want to know more about Bee Bots?
• More reading about using technologies in the early years classroom
• Using protocols to get the most out of materials
• Dimensions of Learning (DoL) workshop in Adelaide
• Update on CLL
• ANSN Networkers March workshops
• Changing role for John Hogan
• Reminders of ANSN activities

DigiKids workshops launched in Brisbane and Melbourne

Early childhood teachers have come together in Brisbane and in the western suburbs of Melbourne, for the first 2 days of their DigiKids workshops. They meet for another 3 days later in the year. Hanan Harrison and Kate Seabrook delivered the workshops, which focus on exploring ways to integrate technology into a meaningful, play-based curriculum. (See below, l to r, Hanan, whole-group work, and Kate)

Working in groups (below left) with support from the presenters, participants unpacked the notion of ‘2D to 3D’, exploring ‘open’ and ‘closed’ software programs, identifying how they could tap into the engagement that students have when working on computers, and extending this into a 3D activity to enhance the learning of key concepts. (Below, right, a Brisbane teacher works on a related task.) Hanan reports that this approach challenges the notion of having computers as a stand-alone activity within a classroom, and should be another tool for teachers to integrate knowledge and skills.

Another highlight was the session on robotics for the early years, using Bee Bots (below, left). Teachers worked through a number of tasks, exploring ways to use Bee Bots as an open ended resource in their classrooms. Tasks included the challenge of programming their Bee Bees in a synchronised dance routine (below centre and right).

Participants also explored how the Bee Bots could be used to teach key concepts within the curriculum, ranging from numeracy, oral language, narrative, story telling, sequencing and classifying. (See examples below, left and centre).

In Melbourne, Tracey Beagley (above right), an early childhood sales consultant from Educational Experience, attended the Melbourne workshop, providing resources and materials for participants to explore, and offered discounted prices for participants who wanted to purchase Bee Bots.

Want to know more about Bee Bots?

Did you miss out on DigiKids this time round? Look out for ANSN’s new 1-day workshops on Bee Bots, which will be ‘Play, Make and Take’ sessions, where participants will each get a Bee Bot to take home. For more information email the ANSN DigiKids Co-ordinator at hanan.harrison@ansn.edu.au or call her mobile at 0407 464472.

More reading about using technologies in the early years classroom

If you haven’t already explored them, check out the eleven Snapshots of teacher practice from the KidSmart program, which helped inform the development of DigiKids. These short papers make an excellent resource for early childhood teachers to obtain ideas about integrating technology within the curriculum.

To purchase the set in downloadable .pdf format, for $12 ($15 for non-members) click here.

The snapshots will be available soon as printed bookletts.

To view or download a sample Snapshot, click here.

Using protocols to get the most out of materials

One suggested way to maximise the value of reading resources, for example the KidSmart Snapshots mentioned above, could be to use them with the Final Word Protocol, within a staff or team meeting. Click here to download instructions for this strategy. Protocols are valuable tools for engaging in professional dialogue. They provide educators with a tool that focuses discussions on student work samples and other stimulus material, which directs our attention back to our core business of teaching and learning.

To find out more about using protocols or attending a training course contact your ANSN state networker. If you don’t know who that is, click here. Alternatively you can use the link at the end of this E-News to download a flier.

Dimensions of Learning (DoL) workshop in Adelaide

As reported in the previous E-News, ANSN developed a partnership with Central Queensland University (CQU) in 2007 to deliver professional development around Dimensions of Learning (DoL). A key initiative that has developed from this partnership is the introduction of DoL Hubs (a 5-day action research approach to investigating DoL).

In a new venture, ANSN is offering a 2-day introductory workshop for Dimensions of Learning. South Australian readers will be pleased to hear that the next of these has been scheduled for 19 and 20 May at Blackwood Primary School in Adelaide.


For more information about the introductory session, or to register, click here and download the flier.

If you or your school would like further details of this exciting opportunity, feel free to email hanan.harrison@ansn.edu.au or call her on 0407 462272.

Update on CLL

Andrew Bills, the Adelaide-based Co-ordinator of the Connecting Lives and Learning (CLL) Hub, was in Melbourne recently for the ANSN Networkers workshops and provided the following update on CLL.

For the last three years, the CLL project, sponsored by the Australian Research Council, has joined teacher researchers, students-as-researchers and university researchers to investigate building new forms of pedagogic practice in the middle years of schooling. In 2008, the CLL project continues to evolve through new work initiated by the ANSN.

A National Hub, as well as regional hubs, will be pursued in 2008 through the work of an ANSN CLL Hub Alignment team, made up of Associate Professor Rob Hattam (University of South Australia), Andrew Bills (ANSN CLL Hub Leader), Gavin Grift (ANSN Vic), Ann King (ANSN NSW) and Robyn Paterson (ANSN SA).

The launch of the CLL Website will take place at the International Middle Schooling Conference in Adelaide on 4 August. The website will be available for education systems, schools and teachers to use as a resource for middle schooling reform with professional development activities on offer. More information will be published in ANSN E-News throughout the year.

ANSN Networkers March workshops

ANSN Networkers met in Melbourne on 13 and 14 March. The first day focused on presentations, sharing, discussing and planning, related to projects and Hubs from around the country, between Networkers who rarely get to meet or who are new to their role. (eg, below, for example, l to r, Andrew Bills (SA), Hanan Harrison (Qld), Meg Parker (Vic), Gavin Grift (Vic), Tina Doe (Qld), Robyn Paterson (SA).


On the second day, Networkers continued their collaborative work and sat in on an ANSN Interactive Whiteboard Hub session, after which they provided feedback to the presenters. As part of the program Tina and Robyn explained their evolving projects, about which we’ll hear more in future editions of E-News.

Changing role for John Hogan

John Hogan (below, pictured at the March Networkers workshop) is taking on a new role networking within ANSN and is no longer Chair or a member of the ANSN Board.


Network members will be grateful for John’s work with the Board and look forward to working with him in new ways on a variety of projects.

As one example, following the call for expressions of interest in recent editions of E-News, in the first week of March John ran an Action Learning course in Sydney. He has another one coming up in the first week of April and will then write a report for E-News about the outcomes.

Reminders of ANSN activities

The following activities have been reported in detail in previous editions of E-News.

April and August 2008, Cognitive Coaching Course

In 2008, ANSN is delivering an intensive 8-day leadership development course in Art Costa and Robert Garmston’s “Cognitive Coaching”. The course will be presented by Sue Presler in two 4-day segments, from 7-10 April and 4-7 August, 2008, at the Metro in Melbourne. To download the brochure and registration details, click here.

For details of opportunities for Cognitive Coaching training in Adelaide, in 2008, click here and email Gavin Grift.

Opportunities for training in Action Learning and Protocols

As mentioned earlier in this edition of E-News, in 2008 ANSN continues to offer opportunities for training in both Action Learning and Protocols, through either introductory workshops or more advanced courses. For information about the possibilities for Action Learning click here.

When you have considered the options and decided what is appropriate for your school or group of schools, click here to contact John Hogan, and express your interest. He is gathering details of what schools want to organise and will explore the possibilities with you.

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