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South Australia – news – 30/09/07

Educating for values-based action

On Monday 27 August, over 100 South Australian teachers, students and members of governing councils had the privilege of participating in a one-day workshop with Dr Julia Atkin on educating for values-based action.

Dr Atkin explored the questions, ‘How do we design values-based education?’ and ‘How do we educate for values-based action?’ Her message was clear. She contends that the development of values-based action, whether it be in terms of designing education based on values or educating for values development, does not come about through ‘learning about values’ or sticking values charts on walls, and it cannot be assessed through ‘paper and pencil’ assessment tasks.

Dr Atkin’s message was that the authentic development of values and values-based action requires ‘participatory learning’ – lived experience and deliberate reflection. She believes that this is as true for educators as it is for young people.

The workshop was very practical and many participants left with ideas for processes that could be applied to a school-based project. As two of the participants said:

‘We now have a process to internally analyse the way we do/do not practise values and how that impacts on values development in students.’

‘We will further explore the idea that values are best communicated to students through stories/dialogue/images. We will now focus on reinforcing values through participatory learning and shared experiences, since values are so strongly embedded in the stories that we relate to each other.’

Twilight seminar

On Thursday 8 November, a twilight seminar will be held in Adelaide’s Education Development Centre on values education and whole school change and the importance of shared vision and values in moving schools towards a common goal.

Speakers are winners of National Awards for Quality Schooling in 2007:

  • Genia Janover, Principal, Bialik College, Victoria,
  • Mary Asikas, Principal Seaford 6–12 School South Australia
  • Sr Brenda Kennedy, Principal Holy Family School, New South Wales.

For all enquiries, please contact Mary Hudson:

Phone: (08) 8338 0422

Email: the.hudsons@ozemail.com.au

For bookings and more information: http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/valueseducation/

The events for South Australian educators are collaborative cross-sector initiatives with the Department of Education & Children’s Services, Catholic Education SA and the Association of Independent Schools SA.