Education Leaders To Focus On Cultivating Learning

Media Release

Education Leaders To Focus On Cultivating Learning

Christchurch, Tuesday 4 October, 2010 -

Education leaders from across the education spectrum will meet at the fourth annual Education Leaders Forum later this month to focus on strategies to help education organisations develop more collaborative, innovative and responsive learning environments.

'Cultivating Learning: A living systems approach to growing education professionals' is the theme of the forum to be held on 20 and 21 October at the Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua.

"This year we are using ecology as a systems metaphor", says forum convenor Lyall Lukey. "A learning ecology is an environment that supports the interaction of overlapping learning communities which are constantly evolving, largely self-organizing and which cross-pollinate with each other".

The annual forum aims to provide education leaders with professional refreshment and an opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other education leaders. The event is designed as a springboard for participants to take emerging professional development practice back to their own organisations in order to enhance learning for both staff and students

"Educators work in a largely autonomous if not atomized environment. Connecting islands of professional practice increases the diversity and richness of learning experiences. ELF is a great opportunity for people to get in some quality thinking to reflect and plan ahead for 2011 and beyond", says Mr Lukey.

Contributors include Dr Jan Robertson, former Director of the London Centre for Leadership in London; Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Education; Ed Bernacki, The Idea Factory, Canada; Hon Steve Maharey Vice-Chancellor of Massey University; Dr John Langley, CEO of Cognition Education; Eva-Maria Salikhova, author of the 21st Teenager; Dr Angus Hikairo Macfarlane, Professor of Maori Research at the University of Canterbury; Dr Cheryl Doig, Director at Think Beyond; Trevor McIntyre, Principal of Christchurch Boys High School; Chris Bryant, Principal of Brooklyn Primary School; Chris Jansen, University of Canterbury; and Sherryll Wilson, CEO of Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association Inc.

"The challenge for busy conference participants is to turn ideas into action back in their own organisations", says Mr Lukey. "Forum participants will be provided with strategic tools and templates such as the ELF Ideas Navigator Guide and Accelerated Planning Technique to help them engage colleagues in the visioning and strategic planning process so they can turn ideas into action."

The forum is backed by major sponsor Cognition Education and supporters Waiariki Institute of Technology, CORE Education, Te Kura, Massey University, Learning Media, and Lukey Training Resources.

For more on Education Leaders Forum 2010 see http://www.smartnet.co.nz

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