Why this course?
Designed for teachers and school leaders at all levels, this course is developed using science-informed insights for building effective teaching and learning practices.
You'll learn strategies and tools drawn from cognitive science and lift the hood on the workings of transformative schools who have applied this evidence-based approach of how to teach - and the impact they've achieved.
Course content
Explore the fundamentals of the Science of Learning, ranging from memory and cognitive load theory, to the changes in instructional practices that will deliver a greater impact.
Topics covered include:
The simple model of memory
Cognitive load theory foundations
The difference between novice and expert learners
Meaningful Learning and Generative Learning theories
Rationales for explicit instruction pedagogies and their implementation in the classroom
Changes to Mathematics and English teaching to align with the Science of Learning approach
Key instructional practices and routines, including classroom management
Concepts of knowledge rich and whole school curriculum planning
You’ll learn:
To apply theories and teaching techniques that align best with the science of how we learn
What has been successfully implemented by schools to set up classroom routines and environments for success
To outline teaching practices for building student understanding through explaining, modelling and checking for understanding (CFU)
Key pedagogical techniques for guiding student practice, and responding to student learning needs and supporting students' consolidation of learning, including retrieval practice
About key resources to be used by schools to undertake a science of learning improvement journey
Your study experience
The total time commitment for this course is 10 hours, through 4 x 1.5 hour weekly live, online webinars and 4 hours’ additional learning activities and material.
The weekly webinar will be recorded and made available afterwards.
At the conclusion, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance for 10 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
You’ll learn from Dr Nathaniel Swain. Dr Nathaniel Swain brings a myriad of experiences and expertise to his role as Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement and Director of Academic Programs – Undergraduate. Originally educated as a linguist and speech-language pathologist, Nathaniel became a classroom teacher to pursue his lifelong dream of teaching students so every child can achieve their best. Drawing upon his linguistics, instructional coaching, and even his performing arts expertise, Nathaniel creates effective and engaging learning environments for any student with whom he works, and he is highly sought after in schools and systems around Australia.
Dates
Session 1: Wednesday 1 May
Session 2: Wednesday 8 May
Session 3: Wednesday 15 May
Session 4: Wednesday 22 May
7.30 PM - 9.00 PM AEST (9.30 PM - 11.00 PM NZST)
Cost
AUD $480.00
About the La Trobe SOLAR Lab
The SOLAR Lab was established in the School of Education at La Trobe University in 2020 to promote the scientific study of the role of oral language skills in the emergence and consolidation of reading skills across the school years (pre-school to secondary). We use the term “reading” to specifically identify core skills in text decoding and language comprehension that also promote success in writing and spelling.