Patricia has a strong interest in Aboriginal language diversity and its effect on teaching and learning. She herself grew up as a dialect speaker and is fluent in four languages.
She has been working with Aboriginal people from across Australia since 1987 and has been involved in collaborative linguistic research into Aboriginal English since 1994. Patricia (with Glenys Collard) managed the ABC of Two-Way Literacy and Learning Project and more recently has managed the West Australian Aboriginal Literacy Strategy.
Patricia has co-authored “Bee Hill River Man” – a book written in Aboriginal English – with the late Jack McPhee, a Nyamal Elder from the Pilbara Region and numerous other educational publications.
In her workshop Patricia will present key findings from research into Aboriginal English, spoken by most Aboriginal people in Australia, and how it affects teaching and learning.
Tom has been working alongside the professional development steering group of ACE Aotearoa to develop and trial a set of draft teaching standards for the ACE sector. Over the course of 2014 he will be offering a series of workshops assisting groups of providers to consider how best to employ these standards to enhance the quality of their teaching.
At last year’s conference members heard a presentation on the draft teaching standards. At this year’s conference, members will hear how a sample of ACE providers are already addressing issues of teaching quality and how they plan to use the new standards. Those at the workshop will get the opportunity to consider their own efforts to ensure the quality of their teaching and how they might employ the standards to enhance these efforts.
Community Languages New Zealand is currently developing a professional development framework for community language teachers. Sunita will outline the organisation’s vision and strategic goals for heritage languages in New Zealand and the content of the professional development framework.
Janet’s workshop will explore the flipped classroom in which the student is required to engage in student centred activities to reinforce learning. The bulk of the learning is done independently and then homework and assessments are done in a supported environment in the classroom. She will also explore team based learning which involves a shift from content knowledge to content application and encourages the learner to become an active participant in the learning.
In 2013 Massey Employment Gateway (MEG) received ACE Collaborative Funding to develop an employment and training network in Massey, Auckland. The network was tasked with developing and implementing a collaborative employment and training programme to support job seekers in the Massey community prepare for the proposed 20,000 north west development job opportunities.
In her workshop, Maxine will share the MEG journey and provide a hands on opportunity for participants to explore how they might create their own MEG pathway for their community.