SA - Educating for Lifelong Learning: Can the National Curriculum deliver?

Ruth Deakin Crick (centre) with Helen O’Brien and Noel Mifsud

Dr Ruth Deakin-Crick is a Senior Lecturer at Bristol University and presented to over 130 South Australian members and guests on her Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory (ELLI) , an assessment tool which provides a framework for a mentored conversation about learning how to learn. Students use the tool to explorer their learning characteristics and their engagement with classroom learning and curriculum.  Teachers use the tool in adapting and adjusting their teaching to develop learning skills.

Ruth spoke with passion and extensive research experience of students needing to be the key focus of learning and teaching, rather than curriculum driving all teaching and learning.  She drew upon research studies across a wide spectrum of schools and student performance levels as well as varying socio-economic environments.  She also drew upon two applications of ELLI to Australian schools, one an indigenous community in the NT, and the other a group of disengaged students in a High School in the Hunter Valley of NSW. 

Ruth warned of the problems of following the UK down the path of over-focusing on national testing and a fixed national curriculum model.  Again this resonated with the experiences of many of the teachers present. 

In summary, a stimulating and informative session presenting a lifelong learning inventory that many teachers will want to explore further.  Thanks to CBC and CESA for the generous hospitality.