Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership

Hosted by Academy Principal in Residence Simone Eirth, this episode delves into all things instructional coaching with internationally recognised thought leader Dr Jim Knight.


This is a great episode for principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders as it provides practical strategies and insights into supporting and empowering educators and school staff, and how to better understand yourself as a leader. They also touch on compassion and the importance of treating yourself as you would a friend, and how self-criticism can negatively impact not only educators but people in general.


Jim joined the Academy for a 5-day instructional coaching program at our East Melbourne site – 41 St Andrews Place. In partnership with Growth Coaching International, educators from across the state delved into globally significant ideas and techniques aimed at deepening their leadership understanding and skillsets.


Who is Dr Jim Knight?


Dr Jim Knight is a Senior Partner of the Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) and a research associate at the University of Kansas Centre for Research on Learning.


He is renowned for his expertise in instructional coaching and has authored several influential books on the subject - including "Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction" and podcast series "Better Conversations." With extensive experience in professional learning, Jim Knight works to empower educators and promote instructional excellence.


Learn with the Academy


With online programs and sites all over Victoria, professional learning has never been so accessible. Explore our professional learning to find the training and support you need at your career stage to lead change and improve student outcomes. You can use the filter function on our website to find your closest Academy site. academy.vic.gov.au/professional-learning


This podcast series explores, challenges and considers insights into education, school leadership and classroom learning. Views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not represent the Academy.

Academy Principals in Residence, Kendra and Simone, have been working on embedding the Academy Leadership Excellence Framework (ALEF) and to develop resources for schools to foster excellence in educational leadership.

In our latest podcast episode they are joined by Distinguished Professor Emeritus Viviane Robinson, to discuss the ALEF how it can be used by school leaders and leadership teams to identify, develop and support educational leadership excellence across our system. Viviane collaborated with the Academy to create the ALEF and is a thought leader in education and leadership development.

Aimed at school and system leaders, middle leaders, teacher leaders and anyone who aspires to leadership, this episode will help you consider the capabilities, dispositions and domains required to be an effective, excellent leader.

The Academy’s Leadership Excellence Framework sets out the capabilities and dispositions for excellence in leadership, from teacher leader to principal.

The ALEF sets our 3 capabilities and 4 dispositions that enable excellence in leadership:

Capabilities:


Using relevant knowledge
Solve complex problems
Build relational trust

Dispositions:


Interpersonal courage
Open-mindedness
Empathy
Perseverance

Find out more on the Academy website: www.academy.vic.gov.au/academy-leadership-excellence-framework

This podcast series explores, challenges and considers insights into education, school leadership and classroom learning. Views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not represent the Academy

Principals in Residence Samantha Jeacle and Justine Mackey are joined by Chris Varney and Rachael Hamilton of the I CAN Network. In this episode, they discuss practical ways educators can support students with autism in the classroom. Chris and Rachael provide insights into how the I CAN Network assists teachers in aiding neurodiverse students and share personal examples of work avoidance.


The I CAN Network

The I CAN Network is an organisation founded by Chris Varney in 2013, with a mission to challenge negative perceptions of autism. Through respectful, peer-based programs, the I CAN Network aims to shift young individuals from an 'I CAN'T' to 'I CAN' mindset by celebrating neurodiverse strengths, passions, and shared experiences. https://icannetwork.online/


Learn with the Academy

With online programs and sites all over Victoria, professional learning has never been so accessible. Explore our professional learning to find the training and support you need at your career stage to lead change and improve student outcomes. You can use the filter function on our website to find your closest Academy site. academy.vic.gov.au/professional-learning

This podcast series explores, challenges and considers insights into education, school leadership and classroom learning. Views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not represent the Academy.

This episode is 3 of 3.

Valuing maths positively impacts student learning outcomes and determines whether a student will continue to engage with maths at school and beyond. This episode discusses a particular type of maths – utility value – and the research backed way to improve it. Hosted by Teaching Excellence Program Master Teacher Ben Allen with guest Dr Sarah Buckley (Australian Council for Educational Research -ACER), this episode is great for both teachers and parents to help support students develop more positive attitudes towards maths. Resources: https://go.vic.gov.au/3TlxyKX

Time stamps:

(01:03) – MAES (maths anxiety engagement strategy) definition and history.

(03:19) – What is positive maths talk?

(04:35) – What does positive maths talk look like at home?

(06:00) – Why is positive maths talk essential?

(08:32) – Dispelling maths myths.

(10:10) – Research and student outcomes.

(14:17) – Resource ‘Why Maths?’

(17:41) – What is different about this resource?

(22:25) – Where is math in our lives and careers?

(25:42) – Presenters key take-aways.

This podcast series explores, challenges and considers insights into education, school leadership and classroom learning. Views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not represent the Academy.

This episode is 2 of 3.

Valuing maths positively impacts student learning outcomes and determines whether a student will continue to engage with maths at school and beyond. This episode is hosted by Teaching Excellence Program Master Teacher Emma Moore and features Dr Sarah Buckley from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

This episode covers types of maths (eg., utility value) and discusses research backed ways to improve it. The episode will also introduce a new publicly available information resource for teachers, co-developed by ACER and the Academy. This episode may also be of interest to parents to help support their children develop more positive attitudes towards maths. Resources: https://go.vic.gov.au/3TlxyKX

Time stamps:

(01:36) – MAES (maths anxiety engagement strategy) definition and history.

(03:52) – Motivation definition in MAES and Expectancy value theory.

(07:25) – What is maths utility value?

(12:45) – Intervention in this context.

(14:40) – How to build utility value and use the resources in the notes.

(17:30) – Examples of how to build utility value in a primary and secondary context.

(27:05) – Finding the value in mathematics resource (from the notes).

(30:06) – Presenters key messages.

This podcast series explores, challenges and considers insights into education, school leadership and classroom learning. Views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not represent the Academy.

This is episode 1 of 3.

Maths anxiety is an emotion experienced by students all over Australia and can significantly impact learning. Hosted by Head of Mathematics at Albert Park College and Teaching Excellence Program (TEP) Alumni Rachael Gore, this episode will discuss a model for understanding Maths anxiety and strategies for addressing causes and symptoms. Featuring the Australian Council for Educational Research's (ACER) Senior Research Fellow Dr

Sarah Buckley, this episode and associated strategies complement techniques that are widely used in classrooms. Resources: go.vic.gov.au/3TlxyKX

Time stamps:

(01:12) – MAES (maths anxiety engagement strategy) definition and history

(02:32) – Key barriers to learning and participation in maths

(03:33) – What is maths anxiety?

(05:35) – Symptoms of maths anxiety: physiological and cognitive.

(08:50) – Causes of maths anxiety.

(13:08) – Strategies to help students with maths anxiety.

(18:12) – Strategies to give students control over the symptoms of anxiety.

(20:57) – What do we mean by mindfulness?

(21:44) – Expressive writing and drawing as a strategy to control symptoms of anxiety.

(23:37) – Positive reframing as a strategy to control symptoms of anxiety.

(25:21) – Addressing the causes of maths anxiety.

(26:23) – Maths metaphors to identify types of thinking.

This podcast series explores, challenges and considers insights into education, school leadership and classroom learning. Views expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not represent the Academy.