ABEN PROGRAM 2006–2008

An Integrated National Program

The ABEN National Professional Learning Program (PLP) will comprise the following:

• A series of Keynote Conferences in National Centres throughout 2006-2008

• A series of Regional Workshops throughout 2006-2007

• School–Based Workshops — provided under contract and tailored to the needs of individual Clusters.

 

Links to the Commonwealth Government Success for Boys Modules

The ABEN PLP will integrate the Modules for the Success for Boys Program into its School-Based Workshops and professional support for schools.

DEST have indicated that the Success for Boys Program Modules will comprise Units that include the following:

• Core Module — theoretical framework for working with boys.

• Literacy Module — effective literacy teaching for boys.

• Boys & ICT Module — using ICT to enhance boys' engagement and learning outcomes.

• Indigenous Boys' Transition Module — improving transition from Primary School to Secondary School for Indigenous Boys.

 

ABEN Implementation of the Modules

The ABEN program for delivering the Success for Boys Program Modules to schools will address the issues evident from a range of studies and from the schools engaged in the Boys Education Lighthouse Project.

The ABEN School-Based Workshops will address the following topics, and recommends that Clusters work on the basis of these being adjusted once the DEST Modules have been finalised to take onboard any emergent differences.

 

Boys' Learning

• Differences in learning outcomes for boys and girls.

• All boys, of just some — why 'we' think all boys are underachieving.

• Social and cognitive development — from engagement, to disengagement, to independence.

• Understanding the cognitive and social development of boys.

• Myths and folk lore about boys' learning.

• What the research says about strategies that impact on boys' learning.

• Research findings about differences in learning for boys and girls.

• Teaching practices that impact significantly on boys' learning.

• Models of mentoring that engage boys.

• Pushing the boundaries — developing boys' emotional understanding of themselves through activity-based learning.

• How school structures impact on boys' learning.

• Using the evidence-base to develop and implement strategies to improve boys' learning.

• Ensuring your strategies are successful.

 

Boys' Literacy

• The role of literacy in learning.

• Literacy for the 21st Century.

• The distribution of literacy skills among boys and girls — a tale of tails.

• Boys views of and engagement in different forms of literacy.

• Boys and girls achievement in different aspects of literacy.

• Boys and reading — issues and strategies.

• Boys and writing — issues and strategies.

• Boys and visual literacy — issues and strategies.

• Boys and multi-literacies — issues and strategies.

 

Using Mentoring & ICT to Support Boys Learning

• Impact of ICT on learning.

• Uses of ICT to support learning — case studies.

• Using ICT to engage boys in learning.

• Linking boys to the wider world.

• Integrating 'hands-on' learning with ICT.

• Using mentoring to support boys.

• Linking to boys' interests.

 

Learning for Indigenous Boys

• The current 'real world' situation.

• Aligning educational goals and Indigenous culture.

• Participation — school attendance

• Engaging Indigenous boys.

• Proud to be an Indigenous learner — case studies of successful schools for Indigenous students.

• Teaching and learning strategies that work for Indigenous boys.

• Developing leadership skills and knowledge of Indigenous boys.