Ambarvale Cluster

Schools context

The schools involved in this project are four comprehensive high schools (Ambarvale, Camden, Thomas Reddall and Picton High School) situated to the south west of Sydney, in the Campbelltown and Southern Highlands areas. A total of eighteen new scheme teachers were involved in this project.

Project outline

The purpose of the project, Pedagogy and professional learning communities, is to implement a multi-school based professional learning strategy. The project provided opportunities for professional growth for new scheme teachers Follow this link to view a template
that enables new scheme teachers to reflect on Element 5
content and professional learning processes. by establishing a professional learning community. In all aspects of the project, the participants engaged in purposeful professional dialogue.

• access to teaching resources: student centred activities, units of work, assessment tasks and lesson observation
• opportunity maintain a learning journal Follow this link to view the learning journal and to observe lessons being taught in their subject area by experienced teachers teachers observed a skilled practitioner component outline for specialist teachers .
  this informed skilled practioners about the aim of the project.
• observe and work with teachers who share the same class across Key Learning Areas to develop a team approach to behaviour management issues
• workshop sessions with specialist support to plan, assess and revise lessons and behaviour management strategies
• new scheme teachers, supervisors regularly meet to engage in professional dialogue, trialling new ideas and focusing on innovative practice. Follow this link to view the Ambarvale cluster Action Plan
  

Collegial team approach

Opportunities to observe more experienced teachers in the classroom, focusing on the way they manage issues relating to Element 5 helped to develop a culture of collegiality. Professional partnerships and learning communities were formed between the schools Camden and Picton and between Ambarvale and Thomas Reddall high schools. It is expected that these partnerships will continue beyond the completion of the project. Areas in which the schools had varying degrees of weakness such as: team teaching; collaborative lesson planning; contribution to school and committee meetings and the formulation of professional learning plans were able to be addressed through a collegial team approach.

Project outcomes

Pre and post questionnaire was devised to measure value of the project to new scheme teachers and their mentors. The survey revealed that all participants benefited from the strategy. Filmed interviews of participants also supported the notion that this was a meaningful professional development experience.