Reflecting on learning – same song, different tune
Reflection, refinement, renovation – producing a good cover song, and good academic outcomes, have something in common writes Mr Trent Driver, Dean of Academic Development.
The business of being social
In the aftermath of the British riots, the innate dichotomy of social media is being extensively highlighted. On one hand there was the mobilisation of masses that the technology reportedly enabled. Apparently, akin to a military invasion, rioters weaponised social media, identifying soft targets to loot, pillage, incite violence and destroy public and private property. Alternatively, social media played a large part in the organisation of cleanup activities following the riots – many “good news” stories received more coverage through social media than the traditional media outlets that chose to continue a discourse of panic in relation to social media.
A Good Night’s Sleep
Term III is a busy term for both academic and co-curricular activities, a term many consider to be the most important for our Year 12 students. It therefore seems pertinent to focus on a vital part of our daily lives that is essential if we are to perform at our best – sleep. Despite its biological and physical necessity, sleep is often low on our list of priorities. We all know that eating nutritious food and exercising regularly is essential for the maintenance of good health, but bedtime too often gets ignored. Sleep researchers insist that a good night’s sleep is crucially important, while the anecdotal information we gather from the girls here at school suggests that this is a point worth reiterating.
“Did you mean: Sportsmen Role Models?”
A unit of study in the Year 9 Health Studies curriculum is concerned with the history of women in sport. The girls are often surprised at what women were prepared to tolerate in order to play sport.The long dresses in tennis and the woollen swimming costumes were only some of the sporting challenges that women in the 20th century endured. The search for female sporting role models over the years has revealed some very gutsy, brave and daring women – Boyle, Court and Stephenson; achievers in sport and in life. These were not household names, unlike those of Bradman, Norman and Laver. So, upon further classroom investigation, the girls proceeded to research current day sports women for examples of role models. Perhaps, they would find some names that they knew? In true ‘Gen Y’ form, the girls used the Internet search engine ‘Google’ and in response to their search, (Sportswomen role models), Google suggested: “Did you mean: Sportsmen role models?” The all-round look of astonishment and indignation was a clear indication that the current status of female athletes as role models is lagging far behind our male counterparts. The idea that equality exists in the sporting world is erroneous, especially when it comes to showcasing the fine accomplishments of our female athletes in all forms of media. This statement and the response from the girls led me to look more closely at the significance of having role models (and particularly sportswomen role models), some reasons as to why our sportswomen are not household names and ways in which we can, as a school and a community, go about correcting this imbalance.
Beyond the balloons and fairy floss
Balloons, lights, bands and fairy floss are the outward trappings of Open Day at Girls Grammar. This is part of what we present to the public as we showcase our school, but is this what we are made of? Girls Grammar is a special place, where a young girl of age 12 enters and develops into a mature and capable young woman, ready to face the world as she leaves the School. The process of education begins as we help each girl to realise her potential academically and to develop her talents in many co-curricular areas ... but it is often the unsaid and unwritten lessons that have the most impact.
Language learning under the Lens
From the Director of International Studies Last month, while perusing my e-mail, I received a link to a YouTube clip with the comment that this promised to change the way we teach other languages. The clip was for ‘Word Lens’, an application (app) for the iPhone now available from the iTunes store. The accompanying description read: Instantly translate printed words from one language to another with your built-in video camera, in real time! (Word Lens, 2011) This app allows a traveller to use an iPhone to focus on a street sign or notice and have the app automatically translate any Spanish text into English. It creates this on the actual picture taken. The app may also be used to translate English text into Spanish. At this stage English and Spanish are the only two languages available but it will not be long before we see more language options for iPhone users. After my initial excitement at…
In search of a kindred spirit
From the School Psychologist "Marilla", she demanded presently, "do you think that I shall ever have a bosom friend in Avonlea?" "A--a what kind of friend?" "A bosom friend - an intimate friend, you know - a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I've dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too. Do you think it's possible?" (Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables). When I was a girl I would read Anne of Green Gables over and over again. The adventures of Anne, Diana and Gilbert of Avonlea captivated me and the angst and joy of their relationships seemed to leap off the pages inviting the search for my own kindred spirit. So it was perhaps no surprise that recently I found myself mesmerised one afternoon observing two…
From the Chair of the Board
It is in many ways an invidious task to steer such a well established, high performing and much-loved institution as Brisbane Girls Grammar School into new waters. But it is certainly not an option to allow this vessel to ride the fast-running waters without carefully planning the journey.
Games-based learning: creative steps to a digital future
Digital game playing is increasingly popular among teenagers and adults today. Engaging graphics immerse players in virtual worlds where the challenge to ‘level up’ can be simultaneously pleasurable and frustrating. The creativity and technological skills required for the design and development of games are admirable, complex and now serious international business for those who have them. Yet, as our School’s 2010 Education Futurist, Professor Erica McWilliam, asserts, “creativity is everybody’s business and creativity turns into employability”.
It’s not me, it’s you.
This reversal of George Costanza’s patented break-up line sums up the premise of this article: that effective communication is not about the “me” in a situation, it’s about understanding and accommodating the “you” by a process of what could be considered strategic or pre-emptive empathy. This is not the Clintonesque, hand-on-heart, “I feel your pain” variety of empathy we get from those on the hustings; rather it is a process of disciplined imagining which enables writers and speakers to communicate effectively with their readers and listeners.