Academic learning

Vision Valley is a unique learning environment that provides students with new opportunities to learn holistically in diverse and different ways.

Academic learning

Learning at Vision Valley will embrace the opportunities afforded by the natural environment, beyond the confines of a rigid timetable, four-walled classroom, textbook or screen.

In 2016, the Finnish National Board of Education mandated Phenomena Based Learning as a progressive approach to curriculum and pedagogy suitable for 21st Century learners. This approach explores real-world phenomena that cross subject boundaries, allowing students to view these phenomena from the viewpoints of multiple subject-based disciplines, see the world in its complexity and seek out inclusive solutions to complex problems. The Finnish system is widely recognised as world leading and this model of learning is well suited to the opportunities for learning at Vision Valley.

With this context in mind, the following goals have been established for the program.

• To focus on learning about the environment, in and through the environment. • To engage deeply with complex phenomena beyond the bounds of traditional curriculum structures and timetables.

• To support academic continuity and a smooth transition back to the classroom, learning and assessments.

Pymble and Riverview staff and students are working together to co-design the learning experiences that best achieve these goals at Vision Valley.

MODES OF LEARNING

Teachers will focus on teaching complex phenomena related to their patterns of study and the context of Vision Valley through integrated units of work that cross the boundaries of multiple subjects.

This integrated approach allows teachers with different subject-specific expertise to come together to promote a crosscurricular focus during investigations. It also encourages students to collate knowledge from all subject areas to see an issue from a holistic lens. Rarely in a school day are students provided with the opportunity to engage themselves deeply for many hours on a single concept or project. The freedoms afforded with time at Vision Valley will enable our students to dive deeply into their learning.

While there is great merit in engaging deeply with complex phenomena over a sustained period of time, it is also important for us to consider how best to support our students for a successful re-integration back into learning at the main campus. With this in mind, the deep, integrated learning experiences will be complemented by subject intensives. These subject intensives will be standalone and enable students to rapidly learn subject-specific concepts, so they are well prepared for their return to the main campus.

TECHNOLOGY

Laptops will be available for specific activities at specific times. At all other times, students will be learning with ‘natural technologies’ including faceto-face conversation, paper and pencils to best suit the natural environment of Vision Valley.

TEACHING STAFF

A core team of Pymble and Riverview teachers will be onsite to work with students on the days that they are learning and are not out on expedition. The continuity of teachers is an important variable in helping students achieve excellent learning outcomes at Vision Valley as they engage in multi-day, sustained projects and experiences.

Main campus teachers from Pymble and Riverview will work with the students for the subject intensives.

ASSESSMENTS

Significant changes were made ahead of the 2022 school year to support the Vision Valley program for Year 9. Importantly, the end-of-year examination block has been moved to Term 2, allowing each student an authentic experience of examinations and Vision Valley, without impacting either. No assessments will be scheduled for Year 9 students attending the residential program at Vision Valley.

Mr Justin Raymond DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – ACADEMIC (K-12)