Minnis Journals

For Education Leaders

Mattering: Resurrecting this Understated Concept in School Practices

In the post-Pandemic era, there has been massive growth in interest in social-emotional learning (SEL). American educational writing has reminded us about the importance of the concept of mattering for students, staff and parents, but this word/concept is generally overlooked in the Australian educational context. In this article the authors argue for a re-examination of the role of mattering in the teacher-student-school community algorithm. A free resource for this article is available on request. Read more

Gifted Students Neglected

An absence of specialised training leaves teachers ill-equipped to identify and cater for gifted students, that untapped potential is an opportunity lost.
In fact, the gifted are among the most neglected groups in schools, it’s often assumed that these students can self-regulate and direct their own learning but that has been proven not to be the case. A very high proportion of the gifted drop out of school or fail to complete uni. Read more

Teaching Algorithms in the Primary Years of the Australian Curriculum - What’s New!

This article explores algorithms as we believe teachers may interpret this term in a more traditional sense, rather than that intended by ACARA. In short, the ACM defines an algorithm as “a precise description of the steps and decisions needed to solve a problem or a set of rules to follow in order to accomplish a task”. As such, traditional paper-and-pencil algorithms could fit within this definition.
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Easing Teacher Workloads Just a Start to Boosting Profession

Teaching is a full-time job and quite a bit more for most so the $25 million over four years from 2022–23 earmarked to establish a Teacher Workload Reduction fund will be welcome news for many.
Helping teachers with the number of tasks they are expected to complete addresses part of the issue around teacher dissatisfaction but there are many strategies that could be put in place.
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Sexuality Education for Muslim Students

A tailored child safety curriculum that focuses on relationship and sexuality education will be given to Muslim youth in Victoria.
Researchers from Monash University, together with Independent Schools Victoria, are developing the world-first personal safety and development program for Muslim students in Victorian Islamic schools.
The project will develop a program which covers topics such as relationships, sexuality and sex education. Read more

How Australian School Curriculum Can Embrace AI and New Technology

The advancement of technology such as AI and ChatGPT is a hot topic in the education sector, with much debate about the potential value or threat posed by these tools. Bruce Fuda is the Project Lead on the Schools Cyber Security Challenges Project and the Chief of Education (Curriculum) at Grok Academy - a non-profit organisation that is seeking to educate learners in transformative computing skills and knowledge.
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