The implementation of the Australian Curriculum provides an opportunity to deliver on the outcomes for schooling expressed in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008). Using the resources and activities below, principals and curriculum leaders are able to embrace uncertain, complex and diverse contexts and work with others to seek creative and innovative solutions that support quality outcomes for all.

This activity provides opportunities for educators to reflect on their learning styles and that of others. They will investigate the history of schooling and consider what 21st century education might look like.

Before this session it would be useful to do some background reading. A good resource is The evolution of education in Australia (McCreadie,M 2006, IFHAA) www.historyaustralia.org.au/ifhaa/schools/evelutio.htm

1. Introduce the activity by setting the scene. Show participants a selection of photos available on the Department of Education and Training NSW website Government schools of New South Wales from 1848 www.governmentschools.det.nsw.edu.au/photogallery.shtm
2. Every leader was once a student. Ask participants to think about a situation where they had to learn something new and to consider the pedagogical path they took on their learning journey.
3. Ask participants to share their responses to the following questions.
   a. What supports you best in your learning?
   b. How did you succeed?
   c. What factors assisted or presented challenges to learning?
   d. How did you know that you had been successful?
   e. What was most important to you in your report?
4. Open the Personal comments on school report cards, blog on school report cards www.mamamia.com.au/social/report-cards/ and scroll to the Autoplay area. Manually move through the report comments allowing time for participants to read.
5. Break into small groups to encourage discussions on these reports. Prompt with the following questions.
   a. Do they actually tell us anything about the learner or their learning style?
   b. What parts are positive?
   c. What parts are negative about them?
   d. What would inspire a student to strive for a better outcome?
6. Show the Gawker Tech image img.gawkerassets.com/img/181uy69xylwpujpg/original.jpg and read the 1949 report out loud.
   a. Ask if anyone has heard of this person. His name is John Gurdon.
   b. Open the link to the Nobel Prize website www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2012/gurdon.html to reveal that John Gurdon was the winner of 2012 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine.
7. Consider your school's reports. Do they support what is most important for learning? Do they inspire a student to strive for a better outcome?
8. Additional activities could involve researching the following topics.
   a. The development of the brain and the physical process of learning
   b. The evolution of education in Australia
   c. Overview of learning styles www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/