Topics covered in this edition include:

• ANSN Networkers March workshops
• ANSN Board meeting
• Dimensions of Learning (DoL) – the CQU Partnership
• Dimensions of Learning Hub in Victoria – workshop on 11 and 12 March
• The ANSN DigiKids Hubs
• The Habits of Mind Hub
• How does E-News look on your screen?
• Some challenging reading
• Reminders of ANSN activities

ANSN Networkers March workshops

ANSN Networkers will be meeting in Melbourne for two day of workshops, on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 March. Planned activities include a visit to St Albans South Primary School, to experience the work of ANSN Interactive Whiteboard Hub members. Andrea Federico (below, left) and Kate Seabrook (below, centre), who co-ordinate the Hub, will host the session and facilitate discussion.

There will also be an interstate phone hook-up with Leith Hogan (above, right) in WA, to explore current ANSN work on Cognitive Coaching. Networkers will provide updates on their Hub work and directions for 2008. Throughout the two days, Networkers will have opportunities to work together on planning of courses, further development of links within and between their Hubs, and the collaborative design of educational materials.

Participants at the workshop are advised that parking in the streets around the venue (the AEU building, 118 Trenerry Crescent in Abbotsford) is time-limited.

ANSN Board meeting

Following the Networkers workshops, ANSN Board members will be meeting in Melbourne on Friday 14 March.

Dimensions of Learning (DoL) – the CQU Partnership

In 2007 the ANSN formed a formal partnership with Central Queensland University (CQU) to deliver professional development around Dimensions of Learning (DoL). One of the key initiatives that has developed from this partnership is the introduction of DoL Hubs (a 5-day action research approach to investigating DoL). Hanan Harrison, ANSN’s DoL Co-ordinator, reports that participants are integral to the learning process, with teams and individuals reflecting on their own practice and being supported in the exploration of DoL in their own context. The aim of the Hubs is for participants to develop knowledge, strategies and skills to allow them to engage their own community on a curriculum, pedagogy and assessment journey based on DoL. The Hubs are aimed at primary and secondary educators, and participants do not need to have any prior knowledge of the dimensions. All DoL facilitators for the Hubs are fully accredited trainers. The photo below shows part of the team.

From left to right they are Susan Richardson, Tina Doe, Sue Davis and Hanan Harrison.

To download a flier and find out more about DoL click here: http://www.ansn.edu.au/dimensions_of_learning_hub

If you would like to register interest in having a DoL Hub in your area email Hanan Harrison at hanan.harrison@ansn.edu.au or contact her by phone on 0407 464 472

Dimensions of Learning Hub in Victoria – workshop on 11 and 12 March

On 11 and 12 March, a Dimensions of Learning 2-day introductory workshop will be held at St Albans Secondary College, in Melbourne. It is designed for educators (primary, secondary and tertiary), to explore an instructional framework based on the comprehensive research and theory base of Dr Robert Marzano. The workshop aims to provide participants with tools for building a truly learner-centred approach to schooling, and will explore the 5 Dimensions of Learning, which are:

• Dimension 1: Attitudes and Perceptions about Learning
• Dimension 2: Acquisition and Integration of Knowledge
• Dimension 3: Extension and Refinement of Knowledge
• Dimension 4: Meaningful Use of Knowledge
• Dimension 5: Productive Habits of the Mind

This work is based on the premise that students need to learn how to think, to take part actively in constructing their own knowledge and skills. The Dimensions address the type of thinking skills and dispositions that are essential for this to occur.

For further general material about DoL workshops, click here. Participants seeking to confirm details of the St Albans workshops, click here.

The ANSN DigiKids Hubs

The Digikids Hub that is being established in the southern suburbs of Melbourne still has a few places, but you’ll have to be very quick if you want to register. For further information click here.

For further details, or to express interest in future Hub activities, email the Hub Co-ordinator at hanan.harrison@ansn.edu.au or call her on 0407 462 272. Also contact Hanan if you are interested in joining the Brisbane Hub, where the last few places have been filling.

As advised in the previous edition of E-News, the first sessions for this Hub are on 14 and 15 April. The western suburbs Hub is full.

The Habits of Mind Hub

It’s not too late to participate in the ANSN Habits of Mind Hub’s activities this year. For details of how to register, contact James Anderson, National Co-ordinator of the Hub (below), by clicking here.

For general information about the Hub click here.

Hub activities are now being advertised around the country, in educational publications, in school newspapers, in principals associations’ newsletters and in the HawkerBrownlow school mailout. For details of the dates for HoM Hub activities in 2008, click here.

Some challenging reading

Why do the world's top performing school systems perform so much better than most others? And why do some educational reforms succeed spectacularly while many others fail? The McKinsey Report, How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top, published in September 2007, looks at these questions and some of the answers from around the world. The full text is available by clicking here but be warned that the downloadable pdf is fairly large at 9.47 megabytes.

Another interesting report, Student progress 2006: accelerated literacy NT schools, comes from Bruce Dunn, at Charles Darwin University. Accelerated literacy is a teaching methodology designed to accelerate students' reading, writing, and comprehension skills by using narratives that are age-appropriate. At the end of the 2006 school year, there were 50 participating schools. Of these, there were 36 schools with recorded assessments. Student progress for the year is reported to have shown some encouraging results. The text of the report (a 20-page pdf) is available for download at by clicking here.

Both these items came to the editor’s notice via Australian Policy Online (APO).

How does E-News look on your screen?

There was feedback from one subscriber, after E-News #1 for this year, that there appeared to be some unintended changes of font size and spaces between items. The original document looked fine on the machine that generated it. Did anybody else have problems? If so, please contact the E-News editor with details at keith.redman@ansn.edu.au

Reminders of ANSN activities

The following activities and opportunities were reported previously in E-News during 2007.

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 James Anderson.

Opportunities for training in Action Learning and Protocols

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, ANSN National Networker, and express your interest. He is gathering details of what schools want to organise and will explore the possibilities with you.

How to subscribe to E-News

To complete a subscription application and receive E-News regularly, click here.

Send us your news

To send us information or reports about news and events in your area, click here. If you do not wish to receive future issues of ANSN E-News, click here