The Business of Being a Learner

Last week I organised a listening forum for a number of our Year 9-12 students to provide an opportunity for their voices to be heard regarding their learning in the Senior Years. Mr Paul Herbert, acting Senior Education Leader at Toowoomba Catholic School led the forum. There was an overwhelming demonstration that this group of Senior Years students were able to reflect on their strengths as learners and the learning environment in which they would like to see at the College.

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses in all part of the business of being a learner. At our recent Senior Years assembly, the following slide was shown as a snapshot of the elements which go into being a learner at OLSCC. These elements include:

• Our College Learning Dispositions
• The Learning Pit
• The qualities of an assessment capable leaner
• Having a growth mindset

For a student in the Senior Years, it is very clear what needs to be prioritised to develop as a successful learner. The more capable that students become as learners by focusing on these elements, the more they continue to grow as young people who are on track to have significant success in their post-schooling endeavours. This success will be regardless of their pathway – tertiary, employment, further training – as they will be prepared for the challenges of life after school. However, it is our task as educators to continue to support our students to be able to identify the areas that are their strengths and the areas to grow.

With a continued focus on our learning dispositions, learning pit and assessment capability, all approached with a growth mindset, the business of learning in the Senior Years will continue to flourish. I encourage all parents to have a discussion with their child regarding how they are developing as a learner. Sharrat & Fullan, 2020, offer the following five questions that parents could ask their child to assist in this conversation:

What are you learning?

How well are you going?

How do you know?

How can you improve?

Where will you go for help?

If your child is unable to answer these questions, I encourage you to contact their teachers.

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years