Unleashing Learning #2

Edna Sackson is the PYP Teaching and Learning Leader at Mount Scopus and an IB workshop leader. She is an active member of The Granny Cloud, interacting virtually with children in disadvantaged settings in India. She shares her vision for real learning, rather than 'doing school,' via her blog, What Ed Said. Her ongoing mission is to empower educators to be agents of change.

Lana Fleiszig is the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Leader at Mount Scopus College. She strives to create and nurture a culture of mathematical thinking and is committed to learners constructing meaning through inquiry. Lana is a passionate learner herself who has facilitated workshops in Melbourne and abroad.

Stephanie Thompson is a teacher at Nexus International School, Singapore. A passionate advocate for making learning powerful, authentic and engaging, she has also taught in elementary and middle schools in New Zealand and South Korea. Stephanie has presented at conferences in Australia, New Zealand and in Southeast Asia.

Cameron Paterson is responsible for the strategic leadership of learning and teaching, innovation, and promoting excellence in teaching practice at Shore School in Sydney. He is also the Course Instructor for Harvard’sCreating Cultures of Thinking online course and he has received the 21^st Century International Global Innovation Award for Teaching.

Shana Upiter is the ELC Leader of Mount Scopus College. She oversees the teaching and learning of children from 2-6 years of age. She is an avid researcher into how children learn and sees herself first and foremost as a learner. She has a particular interest in setting up purposeful learning environments and was instrumental in redesigning the Scopus junior campuses.

Greg Hannon is the Deputy Principal leading the three primary campuses of Mount Scopus College. Currently overseeing wellbeing in the primary school, his strengths lie in building relationships, and encouraging others. Because of his trust and belief in his people as well his capacity to make us feel valued, his staff willingly do almost anything he asks.

Jina Belnick is a passionate teacher and learner at Mount Scopus College, currently working in supporting and enhancing learning for students of all abilities. Learner agency is at the core of her work, which is driven by a strong belief that all children are capable and competent. She shares her thoughts about learning at The Space of Jeans.

Sarah Martin is the Foundation Principal of Stonefields School in New Zealand. She is a passionate, educator, committed to improving outcomes for all learners, not just those within her school community. As both a teacher and leader, her strengths lie in collectively building change momentum, enabling collaborative high functioning teams, future visioning, embracing student voice and re- imagining learning.

Kristie Gibson and her Year 6 students have been inquiring into learner agency this year. Having asked the question: "How can we create a culture of learner agency in our class?", Kristie's understanding of agency is constantly challenged and developed. Along the way she has documented their journey via her reflective blog She Learns About Learning.

Hilary Green is the Creative Technology Leader at Mount Scopus College. Her experience in Fine Art and inquiry learning has led her to value using technology creatively in education. Her strengths lie in documenting learning with tools such as film, animation, podcasting and blogs. She believes technology can be used creatively by everyone and wishes to share her insights with a broader audience.

Dean Kuran is the Upper Primary Creative Technology Leader, at Mount Scopus. He prides himself on establishing positive relationships and developing a learning environment that promotes collaboration, confidence, and care for others. Dean believes that all learners have the capacity to be creative and that our role as educators is to nurture a culture of creativity.

Tomo Harada is a teacher at Princes Hill Primary School. Born in Japan, he lived in Britain before moving to Australia in 2009. Prior to completion of his Master of Teaching at Melbourne University, he worked for 15 years in TV and film production in London. He has also studied philosophy of art and architecture. His passions include creating animations, drinking coffee and drawing funny pictures in his sketch pad.

Lisa Burman sees herself as an ‘every-day researcher’, fascinated with childhood and learning. Her highly regarded consultancy business is based in Adelaide. Lisa is passionate about pedagogies that see children as capable and competent learners who are skilled in researching life and constructing meaning. Her favourite work is side-by-side with children and educators in their learning settings.

Shaz Bailey is an Assistant Principal and PYP Coordinator at Auburn South PS and an IB workshop leader, school visitor and consultant. She’s been an educator, both primary and secondary, in a range of Australian school systems, and in Sulawesi, Indonesia. She believes in constructivism and in the transdisciplinarity of life. She is committed to inspiring teachers to create learning that is authentic, holistic and fun!

Brenna McNeil has been an international educator and leader since 2003, having lived and worked in many different cultures and school contexts around the world. Homesickness finally struck, and she returned to Australia in 2018. Her experiences abroad have shaped her beliefs about education, specifically the importance of respecting all individuals, all cultures, and all ways of knowing.

Josh Centner is Head of Product and Design Services at Elabor8. "Success goes to those who learn the fastest" is one of his favourite quotes. With over 10 years experience in product management and design work within organisations, running his own startup and as a management consultant across multiple industries, he is keen to share his favourite tip and tricks needed to "learn the fastest" and achieve your goals.

Benjamin Zonca is co-Assistant Principal and PYP Coordinator at Auburn South Primary School. He is committed to bridging the gap between the theory and practice of a critical/ democratic pedagogy in the classroom. Ben believes that engaging all learners in an education for an improved democracy will lay the foundation for a more just and equitable society for all.

Sapna Vats is an educator at Wooranna Park Primary School. She believes that children are the most beautiful creations of this world and should be given all the beautiful experiences to enrich them as people. She is very passionate about setting up spaces that provoke children’s thinking. Through documentation she tries to bring the beauty of children’s thoughts to life.

Zana Hunt is an educator at Wooranna Park Primary School. She believes that children are powerful, but often underestimated. Zana says "If we forget to listen with our whole bodies, we are at risk of missing their ideas and solutions." She believes that we are all lifelong learners. and that there is always something to learn.