The Importance Of Learning Experiences In Education

The Australian Government’s Productivity Commission (PC) highlights the importance of schools to minimise disadvantage in schools. It is crucial for schools to adapt teaching and learning programs that respond to the individual needs of students by recognising and addressing underachievement. In addition to quality tailored programs, quality teaching by highly trained staff is also quality learning. (PC, 12)

Brady and Kennedy (2007) explain the stakeholders that influence the curriculum are classified into two specific groups. Individuals which consist of students, parents and teachers and their concerns with the curriculum and groups consisting of government, community groups, business community and Universities all of which garner their own interest to ensure society continues to be shaped by the correct curriculum (Brady & Kennedy, 2007). This highlights the need for a diverse level of input into the curriculum. Brady and Kennedy (2007) convey that everyone in the community has a role to play to shape the curriculum and as a society we look to give the young people and adults the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to be productive and informed citizens. All individuals and groups help form and improve the curriculum and are an integral part of the future learning of

It is my sincere hope that every student should look forward to coming into the classroom ready for new adventures and a whole new world of information every day. Education continually brings us new adventures just waiting for us to experience its wonder and possibilities. I believe that students, when presented with a wide variety of interesting lessons, can become interested and motivated in a way that they never have before.

Curriculum is designed to develop successful learners. Confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens (MCEECDYA, 2008, p.13). In 2008, the Australian Government promised to deliver a fair and equitable curriculum for the national’s educational system, taking the task away from the State and Local Governments. The purpose of this was to create an even level of education throughout the country whether in Hobart of Cape York, and to ensure our nations position into the 21st century. This essay will demonstrate the Nation’s curriculum, its structure and development ready for its initial implementation in 2011.

In what ways will the content of this course help you in your quest to make your school and classroom more meaningful and effective for all students? One way in which the content of this course that will help in my quest to make my school and classroom more meaningful and effective for all students are reshaping the curriculum. According to Nieto, "Schools must take a serious look at their curriculum, pedagogy, retention and tracking policies, testing, hiring practices, and all the other policies and practices that create a school climate that is either empowering or disempowering for those who work and learn there"(Nieto,1996). The curriculum should be integrated, interdisciplinary, meaningful, and student-centered. Also, it should include issues and topics related to the students' background and culture. Moreover, it should challenge the students to develop higher-order knowledge and skills.

In exploring the Australian Curriculum, it becomes apparent that this curriculum was developed to encompass a wide range of skills and abilities that will be needed to enable young Australians to become productive and successful members of society of the future. The influence of a range of different curriculum models and education theories has bought together a comprehensive overview of what the Australian education system will deliver and how this can be accomplished.

Australian higher education establishments aim to enhance the learning experiences of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The goal is to increase access to and participation of all groups in the community.

The development of a national curriculum for Australia is not a new endeavour (Marsh, 2010). The ideal is that national curriculum across Australia would mean that students are provided with a quality education that helps to shape the lives of the nations citizens and continue developing the productivity and quality of life within Australia. The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] have the task of developing and implementing a nationwide curriculum. ACARA (n.d.-c) claims have addressed needs of young Australians while considering that changing ways in learning and challenges will continue to shape students education in the future. A look at what the Australian Curriculum is, its purpose, structure and scope,

Within the Inspiring Education document, the vision for core competencies in 21st century learning requires a “shift away from traditional dissemination of information and re-call of facts” (Alberta Education, 2010) and instead focuses on student centered learning models of inquiry and discovery. This shift in educational practice requires students to acquire new abilities and focus on “higher-order thinking skills, deeper learning outcomes, and complex thinking and communication skills” (Saavedra, 2012) and involves teachers creating appropriate instructional and assessment practices.

It is very important to meet the needs of 21st century learners in both academic settings and corporation learning centres. The main factor that influences the curriculum development is the Australian Government followed by factors including awareness of the diversity in terms of the target community socially, financially and psychologically.

I strongly believe that there is an urgent need for new pedagogies that develop 21st century learning for students as they prepare for their future. Schools should be looking at rethinking purpose, pedagogies, curriculum, structures, assumptions and expectations. The old pedagogies persisting into the 21st century are no longer relevant. What’s needed is a 21st century pedagogy which will serve as a paradigm that reflects a strong and creative commitment to relevance and quality learning and teaching (Whitby,

The declaration is aimed at promoting equity and excellence in Australian schools and ensures that all Australian citizens become educated, skilled, creative, and contribute to the national economy (Fletcher, 2008). Cobbold (2009, p.3) argues that the Melbourne Declaration retains the dual equity objective of previous declarations of minimum standards and adequate level of education to be achieved by all students. In furtherance to ensure that these goals are met, the policymakers developed Commitment to Action framework which ensures collaboration in eight inter-related areas. The declaration was more expansive and comprehensive in specifying the vision and developing a practical approach through a curriculum which will allow students to acquire knowledge in various disciplines and to understand various dimensions of life (Lovat, Dally, Clement and Toomey, 2011, p.61). It is argued that Melbourne Declaration contains a weaker commitment to social equity in education as compared to previous declarations by removing the strong explicit commitment to social justice (Adelaide Declaration), reinforces the accentuation on value in access to instruction yet diminishes significance on value on understudy results which was the disappointment in past declarations and finally, it weakens the commitment in elimination achievement gaps though the issue has been dealt with, in the declaration

One interesting thing I discovered about the Australian Curriculum is how diverse it can be. I left school ten years ago and the curriculum which has developed since then appears to be more inclusive of student’s backgrounds, interests and personal needs. The curriculum acknowledges that students of diverse backgrounds will interpret the curriculum in different, yet still meaningful ways. I believe this is an important concept that will enable me to teach more effectively as I will be able to view my students as individuals and help them experience diversity and knowledge of other cultures through my interpretation of the intended curriculum and how I enact

Utilisation of the Teaching Learning Cycle in conjunction with the NSW Quality Teaching Framework to design class programs that are specific to the needs of each individual student. Furthermore, I consistently assess student outcomes through diagnostic, formative and summative assessment, this data is then used to revise, reflect and improve my classroom practice. Successful reflection has allowed me to mould an effective teaching pedagogy that caters for each individual student.

Participations in small in-class groups which purpose was to accomplish a task assigned to us by our Professor, were the most powerful learning experiences for me. In developing common focus, as stated in Gitterman and Germain (2008), members need to establish group rules and also remember to “build on one another’s contributions, identify and focus on salient collective themes, invite expression of differences” (p. 174), as well as welcome opinions which are contradictory or different from the majority.