A note from Kate
We’re entering the home stretch of 2023 with plenty of workshops and events on the agenda as Term 4 gets underway!
The last four weeks have flown since starting here as a Quality Teaching Advisor and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. After being welcomed with warmth and cupcakes on day one, I was instantly immersed in the dynamic work happening within the TTRC.
You can read more about my time before joining the QT Academy in the newsletter below. Also in this month’s newsletter you can read about the QT Academy’s trip to Sweden and learn about the mathematics retraining program.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful school holidays break and I look forward to getting to know you in Term 4!
Kate Shorland
QTR Adviser
The QT Academy is (collaborating with) KOoL!
In a world where education knows no borders, the Quality Teaching Academy embarked on an exciting Swedish escapade, proving that quality teaching is a universal endeavor.
We are collaborating with Jannika Lindvall, Project Leader of Kollegial Observation och Lektionsanalys (KOoL) (Collegial Observation and Lesson Analysis) Project. The team at KOoL are working 70 teachers and four principals to establish and adapt our QTR professional development into a program to run in Sweden.
Jannika said “after doing research on teacher PD for more than a decade I can safely say that QTR is a rare … gem when it comes to teacher PD. It is one of [only a] few PD programs that have succeeded in demonstrating positive effects in several RCTs … I feel proud and excited to be a part of introducing this unique piece of teacher PD in Sweden and look forward to fruitful collaboration with professor Jenny Gore and the Quality Teaching Academy.”
QTR Adviser, Michelle jumped at the chance to participate in KOoL and teamed up with colleagues from Mälardalen University for a groundbreaking pilot QTR workshop.
The unanimous sentiment was that the workshop was an invaluable experience that left a lasting impact on all who participated. The exchange of ideas, innovative teaching methods discussed, and the passion for education that permeated the room were nothing short of inspiring.
The seeds of collaboration have been sown and we eagerly anticipate how this newfound partnership will support teaching and learning in Swedish schools in the coming years. We are excited to see the ripple effect it will have on education not only in Sweden but around the globe.
Free PD for early career teachers
Strengthening Induction through Quality Teaching Rounds is a project aimed at supporting early career teachers and their experienced colleagues.
Using the powerful processes of Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR), the project will:
- Boost teacher morale,
- Grow teacher confidence,
- Increase job satisfaction, and
- Improve retention rates of early career teachers through collaboration with experienced colleagues.
If you’re in your first three years of teaching or have early career teachers at your school, you can sign up to participate in a free QTR workshop and access ongoing support.
Access induction support for your teachers in 2024
By participating in the Strengthening Induction project, you will:
- Gain free access to a two-day QTR workshop (valued at $880),
- Build confidence and efficacy in yourself and your colleagues,
- Foster collaboration and promote powerful conversations throughout your school, and
- Participate in a research-backed approach to improving teacher and student outcomes.
Meet the team – Kate Shorland
We are delighted to introduce our newest team member, Kate Shorland, who joins us as a Quality Teaching Adviser. With a rich background in education and a passion for both teacher and student well-being, Kate brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our team.
Kate’s journey in education began with her Master of Teaching degree in secondary teaching from the University of Sydney, where she specialised in English and Modern History. Her dedication to teaching has been unwavering since she started her career in the ACT in Term 4 of 2009. Over the years, Kate has played pivotal roles in various educational settings, spending a significant portion of her career in the ACT Education Directorate, where she dedicated six years to teaching at a Year 7-10 high school and another six years at a Year 11-12 college.
Kate’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. She has undertaken diverse roles within schools, including serving as a Year Coordinator and Student Voice Coordinator and was involved in the 2012 ACT Quality Teaching Rounds Design Experiments, a partnership between the University of Newcastle and the ACT Education Directorate.
Beyond her professional life, Kate is a person of varied interests and hobbies. She is an avid reader and an advocate for staying active, often participating in activities such as netball, bushwalking, bike riding, and camping. Her family, including her two children, Rose and Hugo, hold a special place in her heart. Kate also has an enduring pen friendship with a French correspondent, spanning over two decades.
Of her first few weeks at the QT Academy, Kate says:
I’ve been thrilled to observe Beth and Rob’s online Foundational workshops, see the Advisers in action as they filmed a post-coding PLC discussion as a resource for our members, tune into Julie and Matt’s PhD webinar and Michelle’s webinar on High Expectations, visit Cessnock High School, attend the maths retraining program’s launch of the iCave, and, of course (!) commence my training in the QT Model and QTR thanks to my wonderful colleagues.
It is a privilege to join what is clearly such a passionate, supportive, and cohesive team here at TTRC and I can’t wait to experience what Term 4 has to offer.
Kate Shorland’s multifaceted background and her genuine passion for both education and life outside the classroom make her a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to her contributions and the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our mission to promote quality teaching and student well-being. Welcome aboard, Kate!
Mathematics Retraining Project and QTR
The QTA recently assisted the University of Newcastle School of Education in conducting a series of five 2-hour workshops on Quality Teaching Rounds. These workshops aimed to offer a more flexible and accessible training option for current teachers undergoing retraining in Mathematics as part of the Mathematics Retraining Program (MPR), led by Associate Professor Elena Prieto-Rodriguez and the University of Newcastle School of Education.
The workshop modules took place on Monday afternoons from August 21st to September 18th, between 4-6pm, with a total of 12 participants, including experienced teacher mentors. Cassandra Portelli (Secondary Mathematics Support Officer) and Simone Richardson (Mathematics Curriculum Officer) also actively participated in the workshop.
Additionally, the School of Education introduced an innovative tool in the form of a 360-degree video, utilising the advanced iCave technology in the V Building. QTA Advisers Kate, Beth, and Rob had the opportunity to attend the launch a few weeks ago, with a demonstration granting them insights into how this tool will enhance teacher development.
PhD scholarship opportunity
Enhancing outcomes in disadvantaged primary schools through research-practice partnership
Two scholarships are available as part of a new project being conducted by the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre (TTRC) at the University of Newcastle.
The project will investigate how building capacity for quality teaching, through the Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR) approach to professional development, supports disadvantaged schools to consistently deliver quality teaching and produce better outcomes for teachers, students, and communities.
This project has come about following a ground-breaking five-year program of research, Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools, which produced compelling evidence that the QTR approach to teacher professional development improves student academic achievement, teaching quality, teacher morale and teacher efficacy.
The goal of this new project is to support schools in low socio-economic areas with the sustainable delivery of quality teaching.
Applications close 30 November 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Drew Miller on (02) 4348 4214 or via email at [email protected].
Upcoming workshops and webinars
QT Pulse: School Health Longitudinal Survey
The QT Pulse: School Health Longitudinal Survey provides schools with powerful data that they can use to develop an empowering environment for educators and ensure a positive school experience.
The QT Pulse Survey is a 10-15 minute online survey completed by teachers each term and offers your school prompt and meaningful data on key measures. The longitudinal nature of the QT Pulse Survey means that schools see their results over time and can easily view and track changes in staff members’ perceptions about the school culture and environment.
