During 2023 The Learning Centre presented our Success Series - a selection of signature presentations for parents and educators in the Hills district. Outstanding presenters invited attendees to consider ways in which they could prepare and support young people to navigate a world of complexity, technology and opportunity, with creativity, resilience, and a love of learning.
Our Principal, Karen Yager started the Series with a lecturette entitled “Preparing Young People to Meet the Demands of a Complex Future with its Wicked Problems”. During this session, Karen shared her vision for enhancing the resilience and wellbeing of children and young people, which received great applause!
Hills Grammar is well known for its rigorous and strategic thinking around teaching and student learning. Our Director of Learning and Teaching, Dr Geoff Gates presented on our whole – school pedagogy - Deeper Water, Deeper Learning - including the distinctive ways in which we learn and teach at Hills. Geoff shared his insights from best practice in the literature on inquiry learning, student voice and agency and 21st Century learning. School principals and leaders from the Hills Region and beyond attended and remarked on the creativity and forward thinking embedded in Hills Grammar’s Deeper Water, Deeper Learning approaches.
Furthering our knowledge on the ways in which children and young people learn was progressed in the session by Professor Anderson from Sydney University. During the presentation entitled “Creativity: Engaging Learners for the Realities of the 21st Century” participants were able to use large posters to explore and share how opportunities to think and learn creatively boost student engagement and wellbeing.
Success today is intermeshed with our understanding and use of Technology. Our Success Series provided two sessions on how parents and educators can utilise technology as a positive influence on the learning and wellbeing of children and young people. Dr Mark Yeowell presented on “The Whole World in Their Hands”, providing insights into the use of smartphones and tweens, while deepening our understanding of digital puberty.
Our second technology focussed session was provided by Dr Kristy Goodwin, a specialist in Digital Wellbeing and Neuro Productivity. She provided insights into “Establishing Your Family’s Digital Guardrails – Realistic Strategies to Navigate the Online World”. Both sessions were followed by a rigorous Q@A, where participants were able to clarify how to apply the information presented to their particular family life or school setting.
Next year our focus will be on further enriching the learning, collaboration and capacity of teachers at Hills Grammar and beyond. We will be launching The Educator Series locally and nationally, with a focus on Educational Leadership and Teacher Excellence. You can learn more about this Series from the Hills Grammar Website under “The Learning Centre” tab, from January 2024.
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