Staff Professional Development Day

The professional development day for the teachers on Tuesday was very thought provoking. 

The professional development day for the teachers on Tuesday was very thought provoking. Professor Yong Zhao began the day by presenting a picture of the Google car which is a driverless car about to be trialled in the United States & England. It is able to negotiate other cars & traffic condition etc. His question was “What are the implications for the car industry & associated industries?” Responses ranged from effects on car manufacturers, insurance, road rules etc; in short, if this becomes the way of the future whole industries need to change or become redundant. Invention and the combined influences of technology & globalisation are powerful forces and how we educate students in this age is vitally important. He also focussed on the need for invention not just innovation and stressed the importance of creativity not just academic achievement. He illustrated this by discussing evidence that many countries that performed to a high level on international tests did not produce entrepreneurs and these countries were also asking “How do we need to change to produce a Steve Jobs?”

Sophie Murphy also presented on the SOLO taxonomy which focusses on questioning for deep understanding.