Career planning mind mapping is an ongoing process that is helping me manage my learning and development in my career.

Key components of my Personal Learning Network mind map:

1. Professional Practice Experience:

Beehive Montessori:

I conducted two professional practices at Beehive where I worked with their middle (y1-3) and upper primary (y4-6) classrooms. Beehive has introduced me to Montessori Education and ignited a life long passion in the pursuit of this teaching philosophy and methodology.

Jolimont Primary:

I worked in a year 4-5 classroom with 6 special needs students under the mentorship of an energetic and truly passionate teacher. Like me, teaching has been a passion she discovered after becoming a parent; therefore, I could relate to her in many ways. My mentor was an expert in integrating subjects and programming complex units of work. At Jolimont, my first professional practice experience, I developed an appreciation for positive leadership and cordial and well-motivated staff relationships.

2. Personal Development:

While on Professional practice I had the opportunity to engage in a multitude of professional development sessions, including a two-day workshop with Dr Paul Swan.

3. IULM University:

While on my undergraduate and graduate studies, I worked in several advertising agencies in Milan as a communication and marketing strategies apprentice. I developed my skills in media and marketing communications. During my graduate studies at IUM University, I augmented my media skills with in-depth theoretical reflections and research developing a year-long published thesis in the Semiotics of the Vietnam war photography analysing the contrasts of images produced by American Media and journalists on one side and Vietnamese soldiers tasked to take images of the conflict on the other side. The thesis project ingnited an engagement and development of a life time network of passionate researches in Semiotics that I am still benefiting from.

2019: Six months collaboration with the Dpt of Education and Curtin University school of Education, dpt of Literacy.

Curtin University engaged Human Factor Films (to whom I am co-director) to create the visual communication for the Department of Education’s new initiative: the Centre for Excellence in the Explicit Teaching of Literacy. The Centre aims to promote excellence in the teaching of literacy across WA through professional development courses for teachers and Principles.

Human Factor Films was commissioned to make six short films that explored and explained the Centre’s integral principles and teaching practices. We held consultation workshops with the Centre of Excellence team that helped develop not only the films but the first professional development course for teachers held at the Centre. A small crew filmed in five primary schools chosen by the Department of Education as shining lights of Literacy in the State. Fewer people in production meant that we could embed ourselves within the classroom, providing a real student’s point of view. This was crucial in helping teachers in professional development gain valuable insight in to successful teaching practices.

Links to produced films