Some notes on 

AFMLTA National Conference, 9-12 July, 2015

Opening - Senator Scott Ryan, parliamentary secretary to Minister for Ed, Vic

Saturday, 10 July

Keynote: Diane Larsen-Freeman - Pluralism

- language policy in Australia recognizes multiculturalism, social, economic diversity

-     how do these documents ie Australian language policy relate to pedagogy?  Theory is easy.

-     competencies of pluralism - multilingual, meditating and interpreting, using available knowledge  ie inter-comprehend

-     using pluralistic practice in the classroom, not just a goal - Elizabeth Ellis

-     averages conceal a great deal

-     language as a homogenous, static system is a normative fiction

-     language is dynamic, always changing (using language - changes it)

-     act of playing the game ie using the language - changes the language - language changes, its dynamic

-     using one language to scaffold learning another language, using one language to become pluralingual

-     hybridity with languages -  innovation - creating new words and language

-     arguing against repetition, but promoting iteration - Larsen-Freeman, 2012eg read+Youtube on the same topic

-     teaching adaptation - teach students to take their present system and mold it to a new context for a present purpose (Larson-Freeman, 2013) Stevick's idea of techniques eg 4-3-2 pair off with a partner, A talks for 4 minutes to a partner, then partner re-tells in 3, then you go to another partner and tell the same story in 2 minutes

-     semiotic agility, resources eg non-verbal

Prof Stephen Dinham - The nature and importance of instructional leadership

The Melbourne Declaration 2008

Goal 1: Aust'n schooling promotes equity and excellence

Goal 2: All young Australians become

-     successful learners

-     confident and creative individuals

-     active and informed citizens

Research shows progress

TIMSS study

PIRLS

PISA

-     Aust highly de-regulated education system and PISA test keeps going down, Germany has a highly regulated education system and the PISA is going up

-     teachers are a big influence on student learning approx 30% of learning attributed to teacher

-     Stephen's book to Four Fundamentals of student success

     - Focus on the student (learner, person)

     - leadership - adds value to the school

     - Professional learning for teachers

     - quality teaching

Leadership qualities

1.     External awareness and engagement

-     openess to change and opportunity

-     develop production

2.   A Bias towards innovation and action

-      using discretion, bending rules, procedures

-     bias to experimentation, risk taking

3.  Personal qualities and relationships

-     leaders have positive attitudes which are contagious

-     BMW bitching, whinging and moaning

-     intellectual capacity

-     moral leadership - example you set for other people

-     assist, feedback, listen to staff

-     treat staff and other professionally

-     expect high standard

-     provide professional, pleasant facilities

4. Vision, Expectations, Culture of Success

-     expect a lot, give a lot

-     clear, agreed, high standards

-     the standard things done well

-     recognition of student, staff achievement

-     creates a culture, expectation of success

5. Teacher Learning, Responsibility and Trust

-     Investment in teacher learning

-     all teachers can be leaders

-     responsibility recognition, empowerment, staff development

-     trust an aspect of mutual respect

6. Student Support, common purpose, collaboration

-     centrality of student welfare

-     teaching and learning prime focus of school

-     creates an environment of purpose

7. Focus on students, learning and teaching

-     leadership takes time

-     leaders build on what is there

-     consistency, yet flexibility in policy

-     stand for something

Workshops

CLIL Web 2 tools

App Smashing - Joe Dale

 Sunday - Joe lo Bianco

Impossiblising - the challenging of

- Tube Tongues - London tube languages spoken

-     London - 300 languages spoken in schools

-     Bianco - making schools multi-lingual

-     mother tongue based 2nd languages, ie not the national or "supra" lang eg English

-     Myanmar - home language, plus national language integrated into the school, can be up to 7 languages

-     Papua New Guinea - 800 languages as official languages of the education system (Baki 2005), local schools use local language. Decentralized language decision making

-     Malaysia - National Schools ie Malay medium and Venacular schools - non Malay Chinese and Tamil

-     To increase student numbers in NSW and Vict, offer ore languages

-     NSW 5 out of 6 discontinue lang by Yr 12

-     Principled flexibility - see photo Possibilising MLE

Tony Urban CLIL

Using technology to infuse language content in class. Practicum teachers (pre-service)

Flipped lesson

Teachers had to think about presenting 1 lesson per week using an web 2 tool. These were incorporated into their teaching pracs.

 Sample web 2 tools

-   live binder

-   print friendly

-   Read the Words (text to speech)

-   Present Me - screen record and presentation

-   22 Frames - video editor

-   LyricGaps - find lyrics and create activities

Re-purpose, re-tool, re-mix to present new content Edmodo code in photo or terban@ut.edu

Photos from the conference and around Melbourne