Brian's Blog

This post is not just for educators but is a reminder and reflection on the importance of slowing, pausing, and noticing the blessings and opportunities we each have.  Life can be a whirlwind, especially during transitions such as one I have just done like moving to a new home. Sitting amongst a sea of boxes to unpack, flatpacks to build and settling in, it is easy to let the urgent consume our attention. However, amidst the chaos lies a valuable lesson, the power of slowing down and noticing the "glimmers" around us. These glimmers aren't grand gestures; they're the subtle details that weave elements of beauty throughout our lives. The cracked tile whispering a story of the house's history, the missing step I fixed with my own hands, the gentle hum of wasps in the garden, all these imperfections become part of the unique charm of this new place I call home. Though the magic extends beyond the physical environment. It's the breathtaking view that takes my brea...

Effective teaching hinges on educators having a clear vision of student achievement. Backward design, a method pioneered by Wiggins and McTighe (2005), facilitates this clarity. It prompts educators to begin with the end in mind, identifying desired learning outcomes before crafting lesson plans, assessments, and activities. By prioritising the destination of student learning, educators can strategically shine a light on and illuminate a map of the journey to get there, ensuring each step contributes meaningfully to student growth (Grant, 2002; Fullan & Langworthy, 2014) . In this blog post, I will explore how backward design can transform learning experiences. By starting with the end goal, educators can pinpoint what students should Know, Understand, and Do (KUDo’s). This deliberate approach not only fosters engagement but also cultivates essential skills such as understanding one's learning preferences (Fink, 2003) . By equipping students with the tools to comprehend their l...

This week's post builds on the article I wrote last week on Impactful Instruction. In this, I shared the perennial debate in the field of education and how this is often characterised as a binary choice between knowledge-rich content delivery and inquiry-based discovery learning. This dichotomous view of education has led to an oversimplified understanding of the complex processes involved in effective teaching and learning. While there are merits to both approaches, it is essential to recognise that the educational landscape is not as black-and-white as this debate often suggests. Regrettably, without a balanced understanding of how to use both direct Instruction and inquiry learning, the learning we can offer as teachers can prove to be somewhat limiting.  This article seeks to extend the discussion I presented and is influenced by two educational articles I read this week by Eric Sheninger (2023) and John Hattie (2023a). My hope is to navigate a path beyond the binary position, ...

The world is changing rapidly, and the education landscape is no exception. Traditional educational systems and approaches are no longer adequate to prepare students for the future. The current era demands a shift in mindset and an openness to change. Rather than resisting or standing still, we must seize the opportunity to lead and respond to the evolving world. By embracing change, we can experience personal and professional growth, ride the wave of transformation, and become people worth following. Although change may not always be comfortable, it is through managing change that we find ourselves on a path of growth and development. Creativity is a vital skill in navigating the uncertainties of the future ( Robinson, 2006, 2013) . It involves possibility thinking and leveraging all our intelligences to envision and innovate (Craft, 2003) . By encouraging creativity, students can develop the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries, generate unique solutions, and engage in mea...