INNOVATION: CURRICULUM AND

21ST CENTURY CAPACITIES

LEARNING TOGETHER

BY JANELLE GATES(HONS ED STUDENT)

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS The Learning Together program supports parental re-

engagement in formal schooling.

Teachers from different levels of schooling work together with parents and their children.

Relationships are the key to the success of Learning Together.

Structure of the curriculum is based on parenting skills and knowledge.

Program allows both parents and their children to grow together.

Education as power.

RESEARCH FOCUS Perspectives of parent learner’s and teachers

involved in the SACE component of Learning Together.

Challenges and benefits for teachers from different levels of schooling working together.

Successful elements of the innovative approach to education – what makes it effective.

Impact the program has on parents’ lives, both now and in the future.

Identification of possible strategies used at Learning Together that may be applied in other educational contexts.

RESEARCH METHODS, PROGRESS AND FINDINGS Mixed methods approach utilising both surveys and

interviews with various participants through a case study.

Perspectives of early childhood and high school teachers, current parents and past parents sought.

Data has been collected and analysed, findings are in the process of being collated.

Findings to date: relationships are the key to the success of Learning Together; the benefits for teachers greatly outweigh the challenges; structure of the curriculum makes it relevant and engaging, the program allows parents and their children to grow together and supports the idea that education is power!

POSITIVES AND CHALLENGES Research has been extremely positive, it has been

an overwhelmingly exciting, interesting, rewarding yet challenging journey, but well worthwhile!

Positives: Development of my research abilities, better understanding of programs available to support parents educationally and it has reinforced the idea of the importance to build relationships with all students and how education gives people the power to achieve their dreams.

Challenges: data collection timeframe, participant attendance rates, and research analysis.