University lecturers shared their research into primary education at Primary Education Forums hosted by the Board of Studies in 2006. The Board Bulletin has been asked to provide more information on the Forums and the lecturers' presentations. Here is a summary of a paper presented by Dr John De Nobile of Macquarie University at one of the Forums.

More information on the Primary Education Forums is available on the K-6 website k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

Values Education and Quality Pedagogy

Summary of the paper presented by Dr John De Nobile at the Board of Studies Primary Education Forum, Sydney, 21 November 2006

A group of schools in the Merrylands cluster initiated teaching and learning activities involving a set of agreed values and good teaching practice.

The project highlighted ten values: care and compassion; doing your best; fair go; freedom; honesty and trustworthiness; integrity; respect; responsibility; understanding; tolerance and inclusion.

Parents, students and teachers were involved in developing a set of core values. These were then included in strategies and activities taught in the classroom.

Dr De Nobile worked with the Merrylands cluster schools in developing a framework that teachers and students could use in quality pedagogy and values education.

Quality pedagogy involves teaching and learning activities that:

• are meaningful
• are relevant
• are related to the real world
• actively engage students
• have higher-order thinking skills.

Values education involves any explicit and/or implicit school-based activity which promotes student understanding and knowledge of values and which develops the skills and disposition of students so they can enact particular values as individuals and as members of the wider community.

The benefits of the project included improved student attitudes and behaviour, and a more positive school climate. Involvement by parents was a key part of its success, as was the professional dialogue among teachers in the cluster of schools.

For more information email Dr De Nobile: john.denobile@mq.edu.au