Students as Partners

This session is all about sharing what we’ve come to know are core design principles of activating agency in students, and those who teach them to become true partners in learning. John Cleary & Summer Howarth, along with Damian O’Brien will showcase the work of the Northern Territory Learning Commission, a data-driven design initiative that has influenced policy and practice in NT schools for over 5 years. Students from the Learning Commission will be participating in a live workshop and will join us to explain in their own words the power of having agency in their learning. Alongside students of the NT, members of the NSW Minister’s Advisory Group (DOVES) will be actively participating in this session and also joining us in learning throughout the conference. This is a profound opportunity to not only learn how to embed agency in your own context, but bounce ideas off students who are leading the way for every learner at a system-leadership level..

DAMIEN O'BRIEN

Damien O’Brien has been a teacher in the Northern Territory for 15 years. He has taught in both remote and town settings in a variety of schools. Over the years he has been a HPE and classroom teacher, as well as an Assistant Principal. He is a passionate teacher who believes that building relationships with students and the school community is key to student growth.

He has worked as the Impact Coach for the last two years, where he was responsible for conversations around student data which informed the planning and delivery of learning experiences. Damien also runs the Northern Territory Learning Commission, where student leaders come together from across the territory to make positive change to learning in their school.

Damien is currently working as an Assistant Principal.