searching for purpose: one teacher’s journey of discovery dr. gary simpson head of science faculty...
TRANSCRIPT
Searching for Purpose:Searching for Purpose:One Teacher’s Journey of One Teacher’s Journey of DiscoveryDiscovery
Dr. Gary SimpsonDr. Gary Simpson
Head of Science FacultyHead of Science Faculty
Coordinator of Curriculum Coordinator of Curriculum Initiatives (Independent Learning)Initiatives (Independent Learning)
Woodleigh SchoolWoodleigh School
The MagpieThe Magpie
The Magpie is a quintessential The Magpie is a quintessential Australian bird – raucous, a Australian bird – raucous, a scavenger/collector and very scavenger/collector and very social.social.
Living Educational Living Educational TheoryTheory Jack Whitehead (1989) believes Jack Whitehead (1989) believes
that a systematic reflection on that a systematic reflection on one’s practice provides insight one’s practice provides insight into the nature of the descriptions into the nature of the descriptions and explanations which we would and explanations which we would accept as valid accounts of our accept as valid accounts of our educational development. This he educational development. This he claims will produce a ‘living claims will produce a ‘living educational theory’. educational theory’.
Living Educational Living Educational TheoryTheoryThere are five steps in the action/reflection cycle There are five steps in the action/reflection cycle
which is a living educational theory:which is a living educational theory:1.1. I experience problems when my educational I experience problems when my educational
values are negated in my practice.values are negated in my practice.2.2. I imagine ways of overcoming my problems.I imagine ways of overcoming my problems.3.3. I act on a chosen solution.I act on a chosen solution.4.4. I evaluate the outcomes of my actions.I evaluate the outcomes of my actions.5.5. I modify my problems, ideas and actions in I modify my problems, ideas and actions in
the light of my evaluations.the light of my evaluations.……and the cycle continuesand the cycle continues
Purpose for TeachingPurpose for Teaching
Being InspiredBeing Inspired UtilitarianUtilitarian Being InspirationalBeing Inspirational Proselytising ZealProselytising Zeal The Perfectionist’s DilemmaThe Perfectionist’s Dilemma Role ModelRole Model Partner in the JourneyPartner in the Journey
Being a Science Being a Science StudentStudent I studied Science in a Melbourne I studied Science in a Melbourne
Government Secondary School Government Secondary School during the second half of the during the second half of the 1970’s. This was a time of 1970’s. This was a time of educational change -almost educational change -almost revolution.revolution.
But not in Science Education!But not in Science Education!
Purpose No. 1 – Being Purpose No. 1 – Being InspiredInspired.. Many teachers teach because Many teachers teach because
they were very successful as they were very successful as students and had inspirational students and had inspirational teachers who successfully teachers who successfully engaged them in learning for the engaged them in learning for the sake of learning.sake of learning.
Becoming a Science Becoming a Science TeacherTeacher I did not wish to teach Science. I did not wish to teach Science.
Becoming a teacher was an Becoming a teacher was an accident. I had undertaken a accident. I had undertaken a Bachelor of Education to study Bachelor of Education to study Environmental Studies so I could Environmental Studies so I could work in that field (it doesn’t work work in that field (it doesn’t work that way!)that way!)
Purpose No. 2 – Purpose No. 2 – Utilitarian.Utilitarian. Teaching as a means to an end – Teaching as a means to an end –
feeding, clothing and housing feeding, clothing and housing myself, partner and family.myself, partner and family.
Purpose No. 3 – Being Purpose No. 3 – Being Inspirational.Inspirational. Helping one’s students to set and Helping one’s students to set and
achieve their goals by sharing achieve their goals by sharing one’s passion and experience.one’s passion and experience.
Many Cycles within Many Cycles within OneOne Sub-cycle 1. Master of EducationSub-cycle 1. Master of Education Sub-cycle 2. Master of ArtsSub-cycle 2. Master of Arts Sub-cycle 3. PhDSub-cycle 3. PhD Sub-cycle 4. Post doctoralSub-cycle 4. Post doctoral Sub-cycle 5. Where am I now?Sub-cycle 5. Where am I now?
Master of EducationMaster of Education
Students have different needsStudents have different needs Students have voicesStudents have voices Lots of new questionsLots of new questions You need to match the school You need to match the school
with your valueswith your values
Master of ArtsMaster of Arts
Social Construction of Scientific Social Construction of Scientific Knowledge TheoryKnowledge Theory– Explore traditions of scienceExplore traditions of science– Explore the characters and stories of Explore the characters and stories of
sciencescience– Explore the use/abuse of science by Explore the use/abuse of science by
societysociety
Doctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Philosophy
Resolution of the struggle Resolution of the struggle between my values and practicebetween my values and practice
Teaching as a team gameTeaching as a team game Individual students at the centre Individual students at the centre
of my pedagogyof my pedagogy Constructivism as referentConstructivism as referent
Post-DoctoralPost-Doctoral
Negotiated Collaborative Negotiated Collaborative Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning– Discovering what the students Discovering what the students
already know about a topic. already know about a topic. – Negotiated Curriculum. Negotiated Curriculum. – Sharing.Sharing.– Action.Action.
Purpose No. 4 – Purpose No. 4 – Proselytising ZealProselytising Zeal My parent’s legacy is to do My parent’s legacy is to do
something worthwhile with my something worthwhile with my life. life.
… … the cycle continuesthe cycle continues
Where am I now?Where am I now?– Neo-relativismNeo-relativism– Independent LearningIndependent Learning– Negotiated Collaborative Teaching Negotiated Collaborative Teaching
and Learningand Learning Assessment – reliable, accurate, Assessment – reliable, accurate,
verifiable assessmentverifiable assessment
Purpose No. 5 - The Purpose No. 5 - The Perfectionists Dilemma.Perfectionists Dilemma. Striving always to do better, but Striving always to do better, but
never fully happy with one’s work.never fully happy with one’s work.
Purpose No. 6 – The Role Purpose No. 6 – The Role Model.Model. One must live one’s values in One must live one’s values in
one’s practice to be a role model one’s practice to be a role model for one’s own children and one’s for one’s own children and one’s students.students.
Purpose No. 7 - Purpose No. 7 - PartnershipPartnership Being a partner in a students Being a partner in a students
learning journey discovering new learning journey discovering new things with one’s students things with one’s students certainly encourages me to return certainly encourages me to return to the classroom and work with to the classroom and work with my students.my students.
Purpose from Purpose from WithinWithin Being InspiredBeing Inspired UtilitarianUtilitarian Being InspirationalBeing Inspirational Proselytising ZealProselytising Zeal The Perfectionists DilemmaThe Perfectionists Dilemma Role Model 1Role Model 1 Partner in the JourneyPartner in the Journey Role Model 2Role Model 2
