What's newAITSL Statement of IntentAITSL's newly released Statement of Intent refines and outlines the institute’s mission, aspirations, ways of working and areas of focus: initial teacher education, school leadership and practising teachers. Forty preschools selected for language education trialForty preschools across Australia have been selected from more than 1000 applicants to take part in the Abbott Government’s trial of a second language in the year before school in 2015. Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley has unveiled the full list of successful preschools for the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) trial, which will use play‑based apps to help generate interest in language studies that can be built on in later schooling. See report on ABC News 8 November 2014. New national resource to aid children's transition to schoolThe Assistant Minister for Education, Sussan Ley, has launched a new publication, Continuity of Learning – A Resource to Support Effective Transition to School and School Age Care. The publication is a practical guide for early childhood educators who work with children in areas such as long day care, family day care, preschool, school and outside school hours care. A hard copy of the resource will be sent to all child care and early learning services across Australia. Sharp rise in home schooling in CanberraThe number of home schooled students in Canberra has risen by 50% in two years. The decision to teach children in the home is often thought to be made on religious grounds, but a number of parents have indicated they chose home schooling due their children's troubles at school. See article in the Canberra Times 8 November 2014. Academics query evidence for popular teaching methodsTwo academics in England challenge the evidence base for a range of popular teaching methods. See article 31 October and related article 7 November in The Conversation 2014. Options for managing a school social media accountAn article in EducationHQ 29 October 2014 discusses a range of social media management systems that may help schools run their social media accounts. Students 'learn better when they think they're going to have to teach the material'Students' learning is improved when they believe they will have to teach the material themselves, according to a study reported in the Research Digest of the British Psychological Society. See article 8 October 2014. Follow Curriculum and Leadership Journal on TwitterFor news updates between editions of the journal, follow Curriculum and Leadership Journal on Twitter. |