The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Ken Sell

Advisory Teacher, Nambour District Behaviour Support Team,
Sunshine Beach State High School, Queensland, Australia

New Persons: Understanding Diversity and Using Similarities
to Create Culturally Congenial Classroom of the Future

Abstract

The child who has not learnt the art introspective thinking brings with them a deficit in the emotional and spiritual intelligence that often detrimentally impacts on the social cohesiveness of the classroom. In education we have for too long been consumed by the mantra of individualisation and the ensuing isolating practices often employed to solve social problems within schools. This workshop explores an alternate holistic approach, successfully employed in Queensland Primary schools, to creating congenial cultural capital by questioning conventional practices used when negotiating the social dynamics of the classroom. We will recognise the importance of the role played by our similarities in developing culturally reflexive and socially responsible thinkers. Participants are invited to rewrite their experiences based on a set of newly constructed assumptions and insights and walk away with their own tool kit of practical approaches solving problems.

Bionote

Ken uses humour and story telling to explain complex understandings. As an advisory teacher with Education Queensland he has designed and implemented many in service workshops across the teaching spectrum. He also advises school administrators in areas of equity and social dynamics. He is presently completing a research project with the University of Queensland.

Presentation Type
60 min. Workshop

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
Data Projector

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
Australia