Quality Teaching Equals Quality Learning

The ongoing challenge for teaching staff at Scotch College is how to ensure that quality teaching directly impacts on quality learning in the classroom. In an educational paradigm that is shifting at light speed, the need for our staff to remain vigilant in their desire to provide the highest quality teaching to our students is a difficult, yet ultimately rewarding challenge.

Over November 18 and 19 leaders of teaching and learning from across Senior, Middle and Junior school participated in a series of workshops focused on one goal; improve the quality of teaching and learning at Scotch College. Within these two days our teachers focused on engaging with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Professional Standards for Teachers. The Standards provide a framework for teacher development and offer a structured way in which staff can reflect on their practice with a view to continually improve. The College mirrors AITSL in its aim to ensure that teachers, 'know what is expected of them; receive frequent, useful feedback on their teaching; and access high quality support to improve their practice'.

During these workshops the teachers grappled with questions such as 'How can teachers effectively collaborate with colleagues to share their professional learning?' Or other questions including, 'How could you help to develop a shared understanding of effective teaching at Scotch College?' By considering the way in which our teachers deploy their skill set in our classrooms, our aim is to support staff through their careers to develop into highly accomplished and ultimately leading teachers in their respective fields.

Staff were fortunate to spend time with Professor Alec Cameron who holds the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) at the University of Western Australia. Professor Cameron is a Rhodes Scholar and among many other academic accolades, holds a University Medal from the University of Sydney. In a presentation to staff, Professor Cameron highlighted the changes that Universities were making regarding their teaching and learning models and how this translates to schools. He illustrated the shift away from traditional didactic style of teaching to a model based on self-directed learning and interactive experiential opportunities for students. The implications for organisations such as Scotch, who play a part in the preparation of students for tertiary institutions, is to equip our boys with the ability to thrive in this new teaching and learning environment.

It is of vital importance to recognize the already incredibly talented staff we have at the College, our aim is for continual improvement, as Professor Dylan William of the Institute of Education in London suggests, 'Every teacher needs to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better,'.

Mr Peter Allen

Director of Teaching and Learning