My Belief Statement

No matter who we are or where we have come from, it is human nature to have your own beliefs or ideas.  I think it is important, especially as a Learning Manager, to be familiar and comfortable with your beliefs to ensure success in the classroom.
The Macquarie dictionary states that the word learn means 'to come to have knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction or experience.  Learning, then, is the act or process of getting knowledge and skill.  Learning is not about sitting in on a class and listening to the content - it also takes into consideration the embedding of this information so that we can use it meaningfully.
Teaching involves giving that knowledge and skill in a way that students will be able to understand, store, internalise and use in a meaningful way. (Marzano & Pickering, 2006).
So how do we ensure that our students are able to do all of these things?  With so many different learning styles present in a classroom, it is up to us as Learning Managers to ensure learning outcomes are met in ALL learners (Smith, Lynch & Knight, 2007).
Killen (2003) states that 'Different teaching strategies are simply different ways of helping students to learn.'
I believe in my discipline of Home Economics/Hospitality, it is easy to 'Keep it Real' (ie. relate learning to the everyday life experiences of the students).  Regardless of whether we are studying Food, Textiles or Individuals, Families and Communities, the students have had or will have exposure to all of these areas.  I love that what I am guiding the students through will undoubtedly help them in later life.  No matter how 'real' the learning is, the variety of learning styles will still shape how I need to address my lesson planning. I have made a list of pedagocial techniques that I have used or seen used in the classroom:

• Class discussion and brain storming of ideas
• Hands on Learning (practical cooking, sewing, creative pieces)
• Use of ICT in 'theory' lessons to make it more interesting
• Peer review
• Effective feedback following tasks, assessments and lessons

I know this is a small list but it is my intention to build on this during the course of the term.

References:
Killen, R. (2003). Effective teaching strategies: Lessons from research and practice. Victoria: Thomson  Social Science Press.
Marzano, J.& Pickering, D. (2006). Dimensions of learning: Teachers manual. (2nd ed.). Heatherton: Hawker Brownlow Education.
Smith, R., Lynch, D. & Knight, B.A. (2007). Learning management: Transitioning teachers for national and international change. Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia