Habits of Mind Hub FAQ

The Hub is a network of several hundred schools from all over Australia working with Art Costa's Habits of Mind. The Hub provides ongoing high level professional support to schools working with Habits of Mind. A full description of the Hub can be downloaded here.

How do I join the Habits of Mind Hub?

Simply complete the membership application form and email to james.anderson@ansn.edu.au Memberships are generally received during October, November and December to start at the beginning of the following school year. Where there is sufficient interest we will begin a group mid year.

Where does the Hub operate?

The Hub operates across Australia, and will support schools in New Zealand and Asia. Professional Learning is run in any location where there are more than 10 schools interested in joining the hub. In 2008 we expect there to be multiple groups in Victoria, NSW (including the South Coast), ACT, South Australia (Adelaide) and Queensland (Brisbane and the Sun Shine Coast). All other locations are possible depending on level of interest.

What resources are available to hub members?

Teachers in the Hub generate and share resources, lesson plans and activities. This has resulted in the Hub accumulating a large library of resources that is made available to Hub members.

In addition to this, Hawker Brownlow offers a discount to Hub members on the Habits of Mind Books.

The Australian National Schools Network has developed a Resource kit for Australian Schools. (link to kit flyer)

There is also a very powerful and useful email discussion list that Hub members use to discuss ideas, share resources, ask for support etc

What costs are involved?

Membership to the Habits of Mind Hub, including the 5-day professional learning program for 3 people, costs $1600 for ANSN members, or $2000 for non-members.

Note: membership to the ANSN is generally around $220.

How do small schools get involved?

Small schools are encouraged to share a Hub membership with other local schools. Please contact us with any concerns.

What support does the Hub offer to schools after the first year.

After the first year, and the 5-day professional learning program, many schools have wanted to stay involved in the work of the Hub. A second and subsequent year membership offers schools the opportunity to send more teachers to the 5-day professional learning program and/or other focus workshops aimed at extending learning in a number of areas. There is a small membership fee and then discounted access to workshops.

Professional Learning

What professional learning is involved?

In the first year, Hub membership offers a team of three teacher's access to five days of professional learning. This professional learning is described more fully in the hub flyer.

Where is the professional learning held?

The location of professional learning is determined by the location of schools that join the Hub. We seek to minimize and share travel between schools. In the past it has been only in rare circumstances that any teachers have been asked to travel more than 1 hour to professional learning (usually much less). Exact locations of professional learning will only be confirmed after the location of interested schools is known at the begining of the year.

How many people attend the professional learning in one location?

Generally groups are kept small enough to allow for meaningful exchange and collaborative work to take place: typically no more than about 50 people.

When is the Professional Learning run?

The professional learning is spaced across the year to give teachers a chance to build understanding and engage in classroom practice. Exact dates are determined before the beginning of term one.

Can a school send more that a 3 person team?

Yes. Many schools have chosen to have more than 3 people attend professional learning activities. Costs for this are calculated on a pro rata basis.

Can non-hub members attend professional learning?

The Hub operates in a collaborative way that relies on building relationships over time within the Hub. The professional learning is also sequential and developmental. For these reasons the professional learning package described as part of the Hub membership is not available in an ad hoc way. However, there is a great depth of experience within the Hub and consultancy or school based Professional Learning can be arranged.

Can school based professional learning be arranged?

Yes, the Hub is happy to arrange school based professional learning. Hub members receive preference when booking times and discounted rates. Please contact James Anderson for more information.

Art Costa

Do Hub members get to work with Art Costa?

Art Costa takes an active interest in the work of the Hub and contributes to the email discussion list. When in Australia Art chooses the Australian National Schools Network to manage his time, which always includes opportunities for Hub members to attend workshops / conferences or leadership opportunities etc.

Will Art Costa be working with the Hub in 2008?

Yes. Art will be in Australia in April 2008 and we anticipate a number of opportunities for Hub members to work with him. This will be an additional, but discounted cost to Hub members.

Other questions

We already have experience with Habits of Mind. Is the Hub going to be of any use to us?

Generally speaking the answer is yes. We've found that schools working with Habits of Mind value the sharing and collaborating with other teachers working with the Habits.

We also find that the diversity of experience, combined with the new learning generated by the Hub, supports and extends experienced schools.

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