Is “by teachers for teachers” always a good thing?

This is an excerpt from my latest Australian Teacher Magazine column. In schools it is not uncommon for outside agencies to be brought in to consult on initiatives, but should the consultant lack a background in education they can be quickly dismissed by a less than enthusiastic staffroom. After all, what would they know? Yet […]

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3 Common Myths About Innovation in Education

1. We’re innovative. The kids all have iPads.  To do what? To do what you already did quicker, more efficiently or on a larger scale? In many schools the power of the iFad or whatever technology has been wheeled into the school is compromised by the way in which they’re allowed or – more importantly – […]

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TOP SECRET: For Principals’ Eyes Only

Are you a Principal? Yes? Read on. No? Walk away from the screen. You were never here. ——- Last year I posed a question in a blog post. Why did the principal cross the corridor? Why would the principal of your school come into your classroom? As principals, I thought it might be useful to share […]

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Do other schools think more of you than your own?

When I’m in schools, I always recognise that the teachers I’m working with are the experts on their school. As well as being expert educators, they understand the idiosyncrasies of their colleagues, leaders, students and wider community. However, what I’m finding more and more is that within schools, teacher “expertise” is often not recognised outside […]

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Your invitation to join the discussion

On Wednesday 14th November at 7pm AEDT (6pm in Brisbane, 4pm in Perth & 8am in London) I will be on the panel for the PLANE LeadMeet Education and Wellbeing Q&A Live Webinar. I’m really looking forward to it as alongside me on the panel will be 2009 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania […]

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Why did the Principal cross the corridor?

This post is not intended as a dig at principals, but I do wonder if the system sometimes stops our schools’ leaders from doing what they’d really like to be doing… Does this happen in other workplace settings too? [polldaddy poll=6636078]

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When’s the right time for change?

I was asked a great question on Twitter this week in response to a tweet I put out as part of research for a piece I’m writing. @danhaesler should teachers/ principals be circulated – fresh ideas or is 'if it's not broke don't fix it' a Better mentality?#acuedu_p — Kimberley (@kcolquhoun1987) May 25, 2012 I’m […]

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