Semester 2, 2024

The Journal of Professional Learning is produced on the lands of the Gadigal people who we acknowledge as the Traditional Custodians of this Country. We pay respects to Elders past and present, and celebrate the traditions, lore, and living cultures of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Elders have been educators since time immemorial. As teachers, we walk in their footsteps.

The Centre for Professional Learning (CPL) is committed to disseminating a wide range of educational resources, reflection, and research for the benefit of teachers and the public education community. The Semester 2, 2024 edition of the JPL contains the following articles:

Taking the kids to the park: On-Country learning about climate change

Judith Wilks, Mark Werner and Angela Turner demonstrate the importance of learning from Aboriginal approaches to caring for Country as they tackle climate change in the classroom.

The Significance of Graduations

Melissa O’Meara looks at nurturing the learner psyche, strengthening family bonds, and shaping the affective domain in non-traditional learning environments.

Continuity and change: Some key moments in the history of junior secondary English in New South Wales

As teachers grapple with a revised English K-10 Syllabus, Professor Jackie Manuel provides a thorough and engaging history of secondary English in NSW.

The assessment journey continues: Teacher centric assessment and the role of the image

Following on from the JPL article on assessment that he wrote in 2020, Professor Jim Tognolini gives teachers a comprehensive insight into why teacher professional judgement is at the heart of assessment.

Public Education and Privatisation in Australia

Maurie Mulheron offers a timely analysis of the impact privatisation has had on Australia’s public education system.

Achieving excellence and equity in Australian schools

Professor Jenny Gore shares the history of the use of Quality Teaching Rounds in NSW public schools and explores the positive impact of the approach on student outcomes.

‘Evidence-based teaching’ – the term is everywhere at the moment

Misty Adoniou explains why evidence based learning is not a new phenomenon. It has always been a part of a teacher’s pedagogy and is used in every classroom every day.

Music Education: Right from the Start

Anita Collins delves into her area of expertise – neuro musical research – and gives an explanation as to why quality musical education for all students is an essential part of their academic development.