Investigative and Personalised Learning
The St Liborius school community is committed to providing a 21st Century education for children that promotes children’s intrinsic motivation to be “life-long learners, to have academic confidence and a love of learning.” This is embedded and supported by the Walker Learning Approach (WLA).
The philosophy and pedagogy of the WLA from Prep to Year 6 is based on student empowerment, engagement and ownership alongside teacher direction, scaffolding and instruction. St Liborius School has a clear whole school philosophy.
The school’s Vision and Mission and Graduate Outcomes are valued statements that are embedded within the philosophy that guides the practice of all staff working within the school community. As a school community we have identified the key values of teaching and learning but, most importantly, have identified the needs of our students.
The WLA pedagogy is the “how” of all teaching and learning and must reflect the philosophy of St Liborius. The school believes that the WLA is a pedagogy that supports the whole school philosophy, but most importantly creates independent and resilient learners that are motivated to take ownership of their learning. Teachers support students to achieve their academic best through investigative and personalised learning.
The WLA is a holistic framework that looks at the learning and development of the ‘whole child’. The Developmental Domains – Emotional, Social, Cognitive, Language and Physical are an important element of the approach and are visually displayed in the classroom as fortnightly goals. The developmental domain learning goals are highly specific so that measurement can be recorded during the teacher’s observations.
Prep-Year 2 Investigative Learning Approach
The P-2 approach uses planned investigations to engage students in real, relevant and authentic learning experiences. The interests of the students along with literacy, numeracy and the five developmental domains are embedded into all learning areas to ensure intentional and meaningful teaching occurs.
The learning environments:
Sensory, Writing, Tinkering , Construction, Dramatic Play, Collage & Nature/Science, Maths and Reading
Key elements of the P-2 Approach:
Focus Students Tuning In & Reflection Interests Developmental Domains Investigations
Year 3-6 Personalised Learning Approach
The 3-6 approach allows students to develop skills in becoming independent, resilient and confident learners.
The approach allows students to be immersed in learning foci (e.g. -History, Economics, Science, The Arts) where specific content and skills are taught to enhance their understanding of the key learning intentions.
Teachers assist students in linking a personal interest with the subject focus and key learning intentions. Students then complete an Educational Research Project (ERP) that demonstrates their understanding of the focus through their interest.
To conclude their research, students present their ERP to the school community at an EXPO.
Key elements of the 3-6 Approach:
- Focus Students
- Tuning In & Reflection
- Interests
- Developmental Domains
- Education Research Project
- Communication Board
- Class Meeting
- Clinic Groups (Compulsory & Optional)
- Affirmations