Title: Learning Walks
1 Learning Walks
2What is a Learning Walk?
- Learning Walks are a collegial activity where
teams collect evidence of progress to determine a
focus or improvement in learning and teaching. - They are intended to be constructive and help
school communities better understand how teachers
teach, learners learn and how best to progress
learning.
3Rationale
- Learning walks are part of our professional
practice at St Peter's school. They are an
essential component of our strategic plan that
provides learning and professional growth for all
teachers. Learning walks form a cycle of
collaborative inquiry related to teaching and
learning foci identified in our school Annual
Action Plan. They provide an opportunity to
gather data about teaching practice and student
learning and are evidence based to allow for
collegial conversations. - Learning walks allow for continuous improvement
through feedback and therefore the school
revisits previous foci, observations and
wonderings - All teachers will have the opportunity to be
walkers or hosts as we work towards our goal of
improving learning outcomes for all students - The observations and wonderings in the feedback
letter will inform the future direction in
literacy learning to be developed at literacy
PLTs with Literacy leaders, level planning and
incorporated into the professional learning
opportunities. Observations and wonderings from
numeracy learning walks will form foci for
numeracy staff meetings, level planning, PLTs and
school closure days and facilitated by the
numeracy and TL coordinator. - Learning Walks have been developed in RE and
Contemporary Learning.
4Process
- Learning walks are scheduled 2-3 times a term
with the focus related to identified learning
areas in the schools Annual Action Plan. - Teachers are invited to host other teachers
(walkers) to observe practice in the classroom
related to a specific focus. There is a
continuous cycle of teachers being either hosts
or walkers. - After the learning walk is completed the lead
walker writes the feedback letter and sends it to
all staff members
5Process (contd)
- Feedback letter to all teachers. Leaders are to
be familiar with the observations and wonderings
and ensure these are understood and being
actioned by class teachers. - Opportunities to implementation of wonderings-
level planning, individual conversations/planning
with teachers, induction of new teachers process,
classroom walkthroughs, PLTs, WMH (observation
sessions, goal setting), professional learning
wheels. - Evidence of learning for continuous improvement
and professional development will be through
improvement in student learning outcomes as
identified in data tracking, PATR and PATM
testing, SINE screening tests and interviews,
classroom teacher monitoring and peer
observations, classroom programs, NAPLAN data,
observations from related learning walks.
6Learning Walks 2013
- Term 1
- Focus Religious Education
- Date Thursday 14 March, 9-1.10pm
- Focus of the observations (Arising from
wonderings in previous RE learning walk) - In what ways can we personalise learning for our
students in Religious Education using the
Contemporary Learning Schema to support, enable
and engage our students Catholic identity within
an evolving globalised world? - Links to AAP
- To engage all students in contemporary learning.
- Professional learning for all teachers in
engaging, contemporary learning opportunities in
Religious Education (St Peters is part of
professional learning in CEOM initiative-
Learning and Teaching in a Contemporary Catholic
School - Enhance Religious Education using Contemporary
Learning Framework - Teachers capacity to plan, implement and assess
RE will be expanded. - Ensure assessment for learning opportunities
aimed at developing students understandings of
our Catholic faith story are part of the planning
cycle in RE -
- Walkers Teresa, Emily, Alison H, Olivia
- Hosts Sarah P, Maj, Narelle, Chris
7Learning Walk Term 2
- Focus Oral Language/ Listening and Speaking
- Date Day 1 Monday 3 June Prep- Year 2
- Day 2 Tuesday 4 June Years 3-6
- Focus of the observations for this walk
- How do we ensure the engagement of all students
through powerful teaching and learning
opportunities that incorporate contemporary
tools, technology and developmental thinking
strategies in authentic and purposeful oral
language/ speaking and listening experiences that
support reading comprehension? - Links to AAP
- Develop teachers understandings of instructional
strategies in literacy with a particular emphasis
on Reading - Provide a broad range of developmental listening
and speaking activities - Develop teachers capacity to provide students
with opportunities for differentiated learning by
rigorous analysis of data - students in Years 3-6 learning tracked using
AUSVELs learning focus as basis of developing
foci - Pat R online formative assessment analysed at
PLTs and used to set foci and matched learning
experiences. - Data tracking wall P-2 in reading to ensure
student progress. - Learning walks focused on contemporary literacies
in reading
8 Learning Walk- Term 3
- Date Day 1- Tuesday 6 August
- Day 2- Wednesday 7 August
-
- Focus of the observations
- How do we effectively use contemporary learning
opportunities to differentiate
the learning for students in
Maths by effectively tracking, recording,
monitoring and using student learning to direct
and inform future teaching and learning? -
- Rationale- Links to Annual Action Plan
- Develop clear understanding of the curriculum
demands across each year level from Prep to Year
6 to direct our planning - SINE data, PatM online and assessment schedule
tasks as a means of being evidence informed about
students learning - Data tracking in numeracy using visual model.
- Whole school mathematics approach is implemented.
- Learning walks P-6 to continue supporting peer
observation and goal setting from wonderings. - Contemporary units of work include directed, real
life problems, games, structured activities and
open ended problems
9Learning Walk-Term 4
- Contemporary Learning Pedagogy vs Practice
- Date Wednesday 30 October, 2013
- Focus of the observations
- What evidence do we have that the Contemporary
Learning Framework is supporting and enabling
students in powerful teaching and learning within
a flexible learning environment? - Rationale- links to AAP and CL wonderings
-
- To explore pedagogy within the context of the
Contemporary Learning Framework - To observe and identify elements of the
Contemporary Learning Schema within everyday
practice - To discuss how learning experiences are optimised
through the use of technology within the flexible
learning spaces. - To further develop teacher knowledge and
expertise so that they are confident users of
contemporary tools. - To promote opportunities that allow student voice
to personalise learning. - To utilise iPad minis to capture vision and audio
during the walk -
10Where does it fit?
- Learning walks are used at St Peters to monitor
our Annual Action Plan and to ensure improved
student outcomes in all areas. - They are focused on a range of areas and a range
of year levels (at some stage all teachers will
have the opportunity to be involved as both a
walker and a host). - Each walk will lead us on to another focus the
wonderings become the focus.
11What is it really like?
- What was it like when the walkers were in your
room? - How did you find the feedback session?
- Did the feedback letter give you future
directions or get you thinking about your
teaching and learning in your classroom? - Was the process a positive and worthwhile
experience?
12INSIGHTS
Very focused with a strong evidence base that
provides future direction in teaching and
learning. It is an affirming experience that
promotes collegiality
WOW! A positive experience where I learnt so much
from what others are doing in their classrooms!
Being a walker first helped me feel comfortable
with being a host!
I was nervous at first about being a host but the
feedback was so positive. I felt supported by my
peers in what I am doing with my students. The
strong protocols made it a safe experience for me.
13Protocols and Anti Harassment
Thoughts, Feelings, Wonderings?