Contemporary learning
Imagine a school where the teachers are really developing skills in innovation. Innovation in how learning generates creativity in their students. Innovation that re-imagines learning as evermore engaging and challenging. Imagine a school where the students have the agency to know how to learn. Where students have the curiosity and confidence to engage with the world as active citizens in small and big ways.
This is Gledswood Hills Public School.
Gledswood Hills Public School is committed to equipping our students to live and work successfully in the future through a contemporary learning approach. The 4Cs are creativity, critical reflection, collaboration and communication. Using the ‘4Cs' to engage our students is central to our approach to learning at Gledswood Hills Public School.
Critical Reflection
Teaching critical reflection and problem solving is vital for our students. Critical reflection is at the core of most intellectual activity that involves students learning to recognise or develop an argument, use evidence in support of that argument, draw reasoned conclusions, and use information to solve problems. Examples of critical thinking skills include interpreting, analysing, evaluating, explaining, sequencing, reasoning, comparing, questioning, inferring, hypothesising, appraising, testing and generalising.
Communication
Communication is one of the key components of contemporary learning. Communication competence involves digital communication, interpersonal, written and oral communication. Through the curriculum, students at Gledswood Hills Public School explain their thinking, persuade others of their opinions, and engage readers and listeners. Students develop these skills not only with words but also with graphic and multimedia elements.
Collaboration
Collaboration is often identified as one of the most critical skills. It is also fundamental to active learning. The development of collaborative skills is itself an important learning objective and secondly, research conclusively shows that well-designed collaborative activities contribute to improved learning. Incorporating collaboration at Gledswood Hills Public School is enhanced through our flexible classroom spaces. Students have spaces where they can meet with each other and have the tools that support the kinds of thinking that helps them learn.
Creativity
Creativity is recognised as a critical skill. We need minds that can actively deconstruct, mix thoughts and ideas, draw parallels and find insights. Creative minds ask the un-asked questions and it is these skills that are valued. Creativity flourishes in an environment where students can take risks and fail, where they have options about what they learn, how they learn, and how to demonstrate what they have learned. Our flexible learning spaces at Gledswood Hills Public School bring out creativity in all students.