Powerful Learning
Exploding the Myths of School Reform

Two of the clearest findings from the contemporary international research on school and system improvement is that above all, it is teaching quality AND leadership that count. The OECD in recent research reports comes to these two conclusions:
“The quality of a system or school cannot exceed the quality of its teachers” & “School leadership is essential for successful education reform”

It is these two themes that Professor David Hopkins addresses in practical detail during this ACEL sponsored workshop.

WORKSHOP FOCUS

David will develop a narrative around three of the myths that he explodes in his new book Exploding the Myths of School Reform and will illustrate them with implementation frameworks and strategies taken from his next generation school and system reform manuals called Powerful Learning. The three myths that provide the focus of the individual sessions are:

  • The myth that achievement cannot be realized at scale for all students
  • The myth that teaching is either an art or science - it is both
  • The myth of the contribution of charismatic leadership to school reform

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The one day workshop will be divided into three sessions focusing on:

  • Systems
  • Teaching
  • Leadership

TARGET AUDIENCE

School and system leaders in education are encouraged to attend this workshop

UNIQUE FEATURES

  1. Opportunity to engage with an international thought leader in education
  2. Practical frameworks and models for school improvement
  3. Engage with international contemporary research on school improvement

BENEFITS

Participants will:

  1. Be introduced to the theory and practice behind a successful school reform process
  2. Receive a copy of the Curiosity and Powerful Learning workbook
  3. Engage with professor David Hopkins’: his theories and practical knowledge

ABOUT PROFESSOR DAVID HOPKINS

David has recently completed his school improvement trilogy with the publication of Exploding the Myths of School Reform; the previous books being School Improvement for Real (2001) and Every School a Great School (2007).

David is passionately committed to improving the quality of education for all and has worked in policy, research and practice, in the UK, Australia and Internationally for over forty years. He has published some fifty books, helped establish the National College for School Leadership in England and among a range of educational roles has been Chief Adviser to the Secretary of State on School Standards in the UK, Dean of Education at the University of Nottingham (as well as a visiting professor at over a dozen international universities), a long-time consultant to the OECD and also as an International Mountain Guide. He is Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Education, Director of Education for the Bright Tribe Trust and founder of the Adventure Learning Schools Charity.

David was recently ranked as the 16th most influential educator in the world by the American based Global Gurus organization.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participants will develop

  • An understanding of the theory behind Professor Hopkins school reform process
  • An understanding of how the myths ‘exploded’ by Professor Hopkins can drive and support the school reform process at a system and school level
  • A working introduction to the Powerful Learning process through engagement with a number of resources

TOOLS & FRAMEWORKS

During each of the sessions David will present a series of frameworks and tools for system reform, teaching and leadership that Principals and others can use to ensure deep implementation and consistency of practice that impacts on the learning of all their students.

There will also be time during the presentations for discussion and completing an activity that links together the learning from exploding these three myths.

WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Registration Opens — 8:00 AM
Workshop — 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

SESSION 1: Systems

David will:

  • Explore the metaphor of the journey as it applies to school and system improvement and argue for the importance of narrative in initiating and sustaining change.
  • Sketch out the big picture of school and system improvement and present a model for school improvement that works from the “inside-out”.
  • Describe the four phases of the school improvement pathway that through the use of diagnostics and key questions ensure that all schools are on a journey towards excellence.

SESSION 2: Teaching

David will:

  • Make an argument for placing “curiosity” at the heart of learning and teaching excellence.
  • Following the traditions of good science in working from observations of teaching develop a series of theories of actions for teaching and learning and explore their value in practice.
  • Describe how to develop an infrastructure within the school for developing intrinsic motivation among teachers.

SESSION 3: Leadership

David will:

  • Present a practical and generic model of school leadership that is consistent with the best of global practice.
  • Explore in detail the concept of ‘instructional leadership’ as a generic leadership strategy.
  • Develop the twin notions of ‘system leadership’ and ‘networked autonomy’ as they apply and contribute to system reform.

WORKSHOP LOCATIONS & REGISTRATION

Auckland 13th March 2017 - Click here to register online
Auckland Novotel Ellerslie
72-112 Greenlane East,
Ellerslie, Auckland 1546

Geraldton 16th March 2017 - Click here to register online
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