Dr Susanne Owen Principal Officer & Leader, Innovative Learning Environment project

1. Dr Susanne OwenPrincipal Officer & Leader, Innovative Learning Environment project DECD Innovation, Presentation to Australian Schools Transformation Alliance April 2 2014, Adelaide E: Susanne.owen@sa.gov.au Website: www.innovations.sa.edu.au

2. Background: DECD+ Innovation 2011-2014: Culture building strategies *Innovation CoP & Prof Learn’g *Workshops & school visits/PL *Networks: internal/external *Practitioner research & support *Website *Newsletters *International Expert sessions *Cross-DECD innovation committee 7 DECD sites/programs met OECD criteria, of 125 cases in 26 countries 25 SA public education sites/programs now recognised within DECD innovation CoP (incl. 11 low SES) DECD is an invited system in the OECD* Innovative Learning Environment project: Traditional schooling methods inadequate for preparing students for C21st contexts esp low SES OECD innovation framework : Learners, Educators, Resources, Organisation & Pedagogy, Content (supported by Learning Leadership) Importance of innovation schools & having evidence about student learning impacts: academic, social, other 21st C skills *Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development +Department for Education & Child Development

3. Objectives & key current innovation work Objectives (including low socio): Using ‘nested’ CoP model & focused on grassroots innovations: *build systems innovation culture/capacity-building: hosted site visits for wider dissemination of practices & impacts *support emerging innovation sites with practitioner research skill building/evidence re student impacts * increase innovation learning through CoP& dissemination across DECD & more widely, with links and recognition also achieved within broader professional, national and international networks Practitioner -Researcher Processes: *Application *Research Training *Finalise proposal *Progress report *Presentations *Final report (flexible formats) Visits program processes *Advertise 14 sessions *Promote program & agenda *Register & track attendee sites for innovation *Incorporate research *Follow up Exploring Innovation Visits/Learning Program: To disseminate innovation practices & provide support for emerging sites Innovation CoP/Networks Innovation CoPsupport work & disseminating innovations through building various networks Practitioner-Researcher Grants : 2012 & 2013, in partnership with UniSA, grants to support significantly innovative schools in research skill -building & data gathering re impacts of innovations on student learning Evaluation processes (including for low socio-economic contexts): *practitioner researcher surveys & examining reports of impacts of innovations & research skill-building; CoP national & international partnership network collaborations & recognitions & impacts; survey/interviews re site visit attendees uptake of innovative practices

4. School practitioner research evidence relevant to low socio-economic students How have changes in learning spaces impacted on student learning and engagement? Reconceptualisation (through co-design with students) of physical space transforming pedagogical practice and impact on relationships & student learning *Increased student engagement & ownership of learning, *more students participating in voluntary homework, *more indepth learning conversations/dialogue; *students demonstrating transferable skills, *improved reading comprehension scores (3x higher for some students), *improved problem solving skills Student impact evaluation Academic results Literacy/numeracy Stud Behaviour Attendance Engagement (TfEL tool) Creativity Social skills Independence Critical thinking See http://www.innovations.sa.edu.au/pages/default/46267 Woodville Gardens B-7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqz1V_XUiGU Mypolonga PS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8LaOuQVStI

5. Innovative Learning Environment project: Evaluation Practitioner research • attendance and survey feedback in relation to the initial training day • submission of progress/final reports and conference presentations and website dissemination and feedback • analysis of survey responses at project completion • analysis of final research reports • interviews with individual practitioner research leaders • focus group discussions within the community of practice and other events in relation to learning and challenges. Community of Practice expansion and activities • attendance at CoP meetings and/or responses indicating involvement through email and other telephone communications • survey/participant discussions at innovation CoP events • interviews with a sample of newcomers and with established CoP members • CoP activities, contributions and feedback. ‘Exploring innovation’ visits • ‘Exploring innovation’ attendee numbers • Tracking attendee sites through 6 monthly surveys (commencing at the point of registration) in regarding to changes relevant to innovative practices (thereby gauging extent and depth of diffusion) • Community of practice discussion and follow up reports • Attendee satisfaction surveys • Regional director information about attendee schools/preschools and changes noted and overall impact on others in the region.