The issue of engagement
“We will be working in groups for the next activity” …….. listen carefully as audible groans and sighs are heard all around the classroom.  What is this aversion to working in groups? It is one of the most highly sought after soft skill organisations are looking for these days as it is estimated that eight out of 10 people work in teams.The process of learning to cooperate with others begins very early in life – often it is a sandpit experience. A term I often use when asked what I do is that “I teach people how to play nicely in the sandpit”. In response to some student’s exasperation for having to be in a group, an experienced teacher will explain that students who participate in cooperative learning will acquire greater knowledge, improve problem solving skills and even build relationships with other students. Read more

Genrefication – Does it improve user engagement with Library collections?
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Sahlberg and Eddie Woo in conversation at the Opera House
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More unicorns than non-white characters in kids’ books
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RockFest a leg up for young musos
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New Victorian Mid-Career Teachers Scholarship
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Abseiling a CBD high-rise for foster kids
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UNICEF donates $100,000 to Victorian students affected by the bushfires
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