Commerce An App that Brings Instruction to Life The app Explain Everything helps teachers break down complex concepts into instructional videos called vodcasts. Commerce teachers regularly use Explain Everything for breaking down complex finance, economic and business concepts. Vodcasts are pre-recorded to introduce students to a new topic. ‘Flipping’ the lesson allows students to explore and experiment with concepts and calculations in their own time and at their own pace. Class time is used for clarifying student issues through problem solving and enriching discussion. Lessons are also recorded live using Explain Everything, enabling students to evaluate and refine their skills and consolidate their learning. The shift in teaching and learning created by vodcasts is exciting for both Commerce staff and students. Explain Everything lets teachers create multiple modes of instruction through interaction, annotation, visual and verbal communication. This approach accommodates a variety of learning styles and stages that allows students to practise and gain confidence anywhere and anytime. Feedback from both parents and students has been extremely positive.
ECO745 Tutorials Commerce teacher Michael Ninkov is leading the ECO745 initiative within the Commerce Department. This programme develops and extends the knowledge and understanding of Economics by implementing before-school collaborative learning sessions. Designed to be collaborative and targeted in nature, the programme provides students with teacher support for content they need help with, or the teacher will deliver specific skills sessions.
Commerce Design Spaces The Commerce Department has been collaborating with Mathematics and Commerce Building architect, Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick, to transform spaces into an additional discussion piece for student learning and engagement. Graphics include the top 10 world currencies, and the last 30 years of the stock market, featuring the Australian, United States and international share markets, Australian Government bonds, the cash rate and the consumer price index (CPI). The building features commerce-targeted digital design and content. Ascending the stairs to the Commerce Department, five digital displays on a rolling feed showcase the latest news including from The Australian Financial Review and The Economist. Student learning and engagement is facilitated by topical TED talks, infographics covering all commerce-related needs and relevant Instagram feeds. Mr Nathan Kime Curriculum Leader – Commerce Commerce-focused design features in the Mathematics and Commerce Building, photograph: Andrew Pritchard
School Captain Charlie Bevan, Shearer Captain Arun Tibballs and Headmaster Dr Alec O'Connell
Senior School Pastoral Care The second Year 11 Leadership Day took place in Winter Term with the keynote speaker being our very own Headmaster, Dr Alec O’Connell, who addressed the boys on the importance of individuals in a team process and the concept of one percenters. Students were given a fascinating insight into the leadership of Sir Dave Brailsford CBE and how he approached leading and developing the British Olympic Cycling Team and Team Sky. Workshops and seminars ran throughout, focusing on delivering feedback, conflict resolution, group dynamics and team values. With our Year 11 students taking the reins in their respective Houses in Spring Term, the day provided an invaluable opportunity for House groups to work together and lay the foundations for Year 12. The Wellbeing programme in Years 9 and 10 continues to evolve. Based on the SenseAbility programme from Beyond Blue, students focus on the development of essential life skills which assist them to deal with the challenges they face and interact more effectively with each other. These skills include communication, planning and time management, emotional recognition and regulation, helpful thinking and self-talk, keeping well and life problem solving. As our Year 9 cohort embarked on their Senior School journey, each student wrote a letter to their Year 12 self, setting out their goals and ambitions for their final years at the College. In Year 10, students commenced their leadership journey through the analysis and development of their working habits using writer Sean Covey’s ‘seven habits of highly effective teens’. A real positive that came from the online period was the daily contact between students and their House Mentors and this continued throughout Autumn Term. The role of House Mentor in our pastoral care system has continued to evolve over the year, providing our students with invaluable support. Despite the restrictions of COVID-19, the highly prized Staff Trophy was once again a fiercely competitive affair. The Vice-Captain of School (Operations) and their counterparts within each House worked incredibly hard to complete as many events as possible. It’s Academic, Basketball, Debating, Chess and Soccer competitions have, amongst other events, provided all students in the Senior School with an opportunity to represent their respective Houses. House Singing, the culmination of the Staff Trophy, took place during Week 6 in Winter Term. This year’s theme of ‘Kings and Queens’ saw classics from Queen, Taylor Swift and Freya Ridings, to name a few. Mr Gareth Williams Deputy Head of Senior School
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