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2017 - Inaugural Meeting of the Giraadji – Teaching, Learning and Research Group at Barker College.

13 November 2017 by Dr Brad Merrick

Wednesday and Thursday November 8-9

Over these two days, the following representatives:-

  • Mr Adrian Camm -  Director of Teaching and Learning. The Geelong College - Victoria
  • Dr Brad Merrick - Director of the Barker Institute. Barker College - NSW
  • Mr Ben Evans - Director of Teaching and Learning. Prince Alfred College - SA
  • Dr Greg Cunningham - Director of Teaching and Learning. Barker College - NSW
  • Mr Graham Lawson - Head of Catalyst. Guildford College - WA
  • Dr Terry Byers - Director of Innovation in Learning. Churchie - QLD

met to discuss emerging trends in educational practice, research and approaches to curriculum, assessment and teacher development.

Each of the various Directors from the five schools shared their insight and current roles within their learning communities, and over the two days there was great deal of commonality evident albeit with a consistent sense of system based nuance in the way various schools were operating. 

It was evident during the course of the meeting that there is a heightened emphasis on the development, tracking and use of data for both student learning and teacher development, combined with a heightened awareness of the need and importance of developing staff capacity through a coaching and the ongoing use of reflective practice.

Possible areas to develop collaborative projects for research in the future were also discussed, as a means of drawing on the collective capacity of the group and the various schools involved. Next year's meeting will be hosted by PAC in term 4 and those involved look forward to developing regular contact in the year ahead as we work to develop the role of this Giraadji group.

We thank the respective Heads of the Schools involved for supporting this initiative and look forward to continuing this collaboration in the year ahead.

About the Author : Dr Brad Merrick

Brad Merrick is the immediate past Director of the Barker Institute & Director of Research in Learning at Barker. He has a keen interest in emerging technologies, professional learning and creative pedagogy. His doctorate investigated the relationship between student self-efficacy and self-regulation in creative learning environments. His professional experience in education has also involved casual academic roles at the University of Sydney, University of NSW, UWS and the UQ. He has held the post of President of the Australian Society of Music Education and also sits on the Committee of the International Commission for Music in School Teacher Education. He is now a Senior Lecturer in Performance Teaching at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.