Term 4 Conference and recourses

On 26th November, we met at the Highway Inn for our Term 4 conference with a heavy focus on Inclusion. All of our guest speakers touched on the 1:4 reforms and the focus for 2022 with inclusion at the forefront.

 

Ian May and Darren Humphreys shared the latest updates coming out of DPP as well as hope they are working on growth in ALL children in classrooms. Darren presented data that highlights areas that need improving. Ian and Darren shared the 7 key domains and priority measures. The complete presentation is available for download on the right hand side of the page. 

 

Lorna presented on UDL - Universal design for learning and spoke of planning for EVERYONE'S engagement, not most and how it is also about not expecting all students to do everything but more so about adapting the curriculum to be more inclusive of their interests and abilities. Not the other way around. Never ask everyone to do everything, offer different activities, offer choice!

 

Lorna used the Slido Survey with members to help develop the words which students could/would learn in each categories relating to the water cycle. Members were then asked to list some creative and/or different ways in which we may teach or demonstrate the water cycle. Quite a high number of members suggested experimenting/hands on teaching methods, Sensory exploration, YouTube/videos, song and dance as well as role playing.

 

While Lorna explained the research behind how physical activity and movement imbeds learning, members got up and showed what dance moves they would use to create actions to the water cycle song. It was not much different to the concept of key word signing or jolly phonics in the way that the words of the song, along with actions to reinforce the words help to imbed the key information from the song. 

 

India presented on moving towards inclusion. 

India asked everyone what inclusion meant to everyone and got everyone thinking about what inclusion is at its very core. How it is about adapting, belonging, education for all, constant review of functional needs, providing the widest range of opportunities. A more inclusive society starts in schools!

 

India had everyone thinking about what IS inclusion, what it COULD BE and what it SHOULD BE. How moving towards a more inclusive environment would mean, no more use of the word 'special', no more 'special' units, teachers teaching everyone.

 

India went through the history of inclusion in order to gain a true understanding and the knowledge to develop what we are moving towards and knowing what to avoid. India went through broad historical events to unpack what exactly inclusion is. 

 

India explained how Inclusion and quality is about 

• Presence 
• Participation
• Progress

and NOT

• Exclusion
• Segregation
• Integration

40 years of research shows that inclusion offers superior outcomes. 

 

India spoke of a 5 year partnership with Flinders University. They will be tracking what progress is bein made with the inclusion model and develop a blue print, if you will, to create the structure for others to follow. This will all be evidence based, with data collection. 

 

Sarah Anstey from support services spoke of their 3 year business plan in world class education. Sarah touched on the 1:4 reforms and their focus for 2022 while going through their performance framework and their preliminary data. 

 

Recourses and articles from the day can be downloaded on the right side of the page, including:

• Muted Voices
• General comment 4 article 24
• One in four reforms presentation

You can also follow this link to find The Alana Report and visit this link to see the QLD Policy Lorna went through QLD Policy