By Jess Baker
Stanthorpe’s St Joseph’s School has been internationally recognised for its Visible Learning Program, becoming one in just eight schools worldwide to reach top status.
Principal Andrew Kendall said the school receiving a Level Three Visible Learning+ Certified School Award – the highest level possible – from training organisation Corwin was testament to years of hard work.
“I am very proud of the wonderful work the teachers and students have done to develop learning in the school,” Andrew said.
“This award is a reflection of that work.”
St Joseph’s began its Visible Learning Program more than three years ago to accelerate student learning by finding what works best specifically for its own teachers and students.
Staff at the school have spent the last three and a half years developing their teaching skills, attending interstate conferences and schools, New Zealand conferences and schools, and receiving training both within the diocese and through Corwin.
It was through these mediums that staff learned about visible learning – the idea teaching should be visible to students and students’ learning should be visible to teachers.
This essentially means that students should wholly understand the tasks their teachers set for them and teachers should be able to ascertain whether their students are truly learning.
Andrew said the school’s increased understanding of visible learning in recent years has improved both teaching and learning.
“The key thing there is about (students) developing as learners so they are successful throughout school but (also) importantly when they leave school,” he said.
Andrew said it is wonderful the school has received the recognition it has, but more importantly the school has a model and practices in place which its students and teachers can benefit from for years to come.
In a letter recently sent to parents of St Joseph’s students, a number of current students were quoted describing how learning changed for them after the Visible Learning Program was introduced.
“At St Joseph’s we learn a lot about learning, which benefits us because it fills our toolbelt with useful tools for the future,” one student was quoted as saying.
Other students reflected on how the program had helped them share their ideas, think more deeply, and strive for greater.
St Joseph’s is one of only three Australian schools to have received the Level Three Visible Learning+ Certified School award, and is the only Australian school which has a secondary campus.
