As we look to improve the learning experience for our students at GPCC, we launched this term the trial of a new approach to teaching and learning.

Blended learning is a collaborative approach between student and teacher involving the use of on-line, face to face and fieldwork strategies.  It incorporates elements of student control over the place, time, pace and path of learning to allow a student a more individualised approach towards explicit, formational outcomes.

This may sound very technical but is simply means we utilise both the teacher in a face to face setting and the opportunities that technology and out of classroom experiences give, to enhance the learning experience of the student.

We have a group of 25 teachers who are trying out new approaches to the delivery of their units of work so that we can adopt these across all year levels and subjects. This is part of the new approach to education that is moving away from the idea that education is simply about the transmission of knowledge from teacher to student. 

At GPCC we want education to be transformational. We are aiming to help students engage in and direct more of their own learning, under our close guidance, so that they can be learners for life. Teacher instruction is still important but helping students become better learners is as important.

The following diagram helps illustrate what a learning path might look like for a student doing a typical unit for example:

Start of unit          End of unit       Repeat path

Alternate paths            Check points

Phillip Nash

Principal