Professional development

Victorian Child and Nature Connection - Connecting to Country, Sharing the Stories

When: Wed 13th March
Where: RBG Melbourne

On some level we all feel connection to country, whether it be the place of our roots or a favourite holiday destination… But our children may be missing out! Celebrate the meeting of cultures and share ideas about how to connect our kids to country.

More information (PDF, 388 kB)

Free Twilight Walks

When: 26th and 27th March
Where: RBG Melbourne & RBG Cranbourne

Find out how these two diverse sites can support your curriculum planning and offer your students rich learning experiences.

Interpretive Design and the Dance of Experience with Steve Van Matre

When: April 10th and 11th
Where: RBG Melbourne
Cost: $325, (earlybird: $285)
Bookings: The Institute for Earth Education ieeaust@optusnet.com.au

Steve Van Matre is the international chair of the Institute for Earth Education, a worldwide non-profit volunteer organization. He has been one of the world’s leading nature educators ever since the 1970 release of his pioneering work, Acclimatization, which led to a dozen other landmark publications in the field, including Sunship Earth, The Earth Speaks, Earthkeepers, and Earth Education...A New Beginning. He has been a youth leader, school teacher, camp director, educational consultant, university professor, public speaker, workshop trainer, and interpretive designer. Matre has lead sessions for nature educators, interpreters, and teachers for over 40 years on six continents. This is the first Australian workshop based on his new book, Interpretive Design and the Dance of Experience.

Gardens for Learning and Play

When: Tuesday 23rd April
Where: RBG Melbourne
Cost: $50

Participants will gain skills in developing landscapes to support creative learning and thinking processes. Including; the role of nature in imaginative play, plant selection, sustainable practices, blending food growing with biodiversity and a garden for play and horticultural skill building.

Problem Based Learning for a Sustainable Future

When: Tuesday 7th May
Where: RBG Cranbourne
Cost: $50

Keywords: Critical thinking, enquiry, problem based learning, collaboration, student-centred
Presentation type: Professional Learning Workshop
Audience: Teacher practitioners
Abstract: Problem Based Learning for a Sustainable Future

With an increasing global population and the impact of climate change on the natural and human made environments our planet faces increasingly complex situations that will need to be addressed. We need to prepare our young learners for this complexity and give them strategies that can be used which will support an optimistic future.

"In the 21st century, one of the most important responsibilities for educators is development of students' ability to solve multifaceted problems they will face in our increasingly complex world. Perhaps equally critical is that students develop a true understanding of the interactions among people, development, and the natural environment; and how the resulting interdependence can shape present and future conditions for all living beings." Maker & Zimmerman, 2008

Traditionally, education has been based around the learning of content and skills. Problem Based Learning (PBL) is an approach wherein the learner is required to use content knowledge and skills to construct new knowledge within a subject domain by engaging in a variety of different activities to solve a real-life problem. PBL is usually approached collaboratively with learners working in teams. The problem to be solved is defined, and then critical thinking strategies such as metacognition, enquiry and reflection are used to lead to problem resolution. In engaging in PBL it possible for the learner to begin to expand their understanding and develop potential solutions for real world problems.

This workshop will guide teachers through a student centred pedagogy in Future Cities or Carbon Futures Programs. The workshop will provide practical strategies on how to encourage students to develop effective problem solving skills which teachers will be able to transfer to their own classroom environments.

Presenter/author bio.:

Toni Meath: Toni is currently Assistant Principal of Nossal High School and has recently completed a doctoral thesis on the interface of the thinking curriculum and gifted education. Personalising learning and developing curriculum for highly able students is her particular area of expertise. As an educator, Toni is passionate about the importance of using critical thinking and problem solving in student centred pedagogical approaches as ways to prepare students for success in their future world.

Mick Robertson: Mick Robertson is the Co-ordinator of Education at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. He has been developing and running schools programs on sustainable environmental development for 9 years. Prior to this he was a secondary teacher active in state curriculum development in outdoor and environmental education.

Working Wetlands - A Sustainable Water Management Program

When: Tuesday May 14th
Cost: Free
Time: 3.00-5.30pm
Where: RBG Melbourne

Explore the integrated sustainable water management system at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Examine how stormwater is diverted into the lake system through gross pollutant traps and then filtered through floating treatment wetlands using bio-remediation techniques. This system enhances habitat ecology, improves water quality and reduces reliance on potable water. Join us for a free teacher professional development at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and discover how this program can enhance your VCE, secondary Geography and primary curriculum.

The Impressionist's Garden

When: Wednesday 21st August, 2–4 pm
Where: Meet at the Visitor Centre, RBG Melbourne
Cost: $25

To coincide with the Monet exhibition at the NGV, the Royal Botanic Gardens is delighted to offer this workshop for teachers of French in very early spring!

Join Savanna Lloyd, LOTE Coordinator, Fintona Girls’ School, to explore how cross-curricular links can enrich your student's experience and find out how pre and post excursion experiences can imbed the program into a stimulating learning unit.

Discover how the French program at the Royal Botanic Gardens can engage your students in the sensory delights of a garden through this integrated approach to learning. Who were the Impressionist painters and why were gardens so important to them? Why are plants so significant to French culture? Find out why taking your students outdoors can enliven and enrich your French program!

School Garden Tour

When: Wednesday 28th August
Where: South Eastern Melbourne
Cost: $25

Through this partnership with Cultivating Community see first-hand what schools and kindergartens have achieved. Get a close up of whole school composting, the incorporation of chooks and garden design. Find out how to integrate community using a garden setting, how to see your pre/school grounds as an effective resource for outdoor learning. 

NGARNGA YUMARRALA!

‘to Hear, Understand, Share’

When: Friday August 30th and Saturday 31st, 2013
Where: Starting Venue: The Clemenger Theatre: NGV International, St Kilda Road
Cost: Fees will apply

Two days of Professional Learning presented by Koorie Heritage Trust, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, State Library of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens, Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria.

This event will provide cultural awareness training for primary and secondary teachers. Opportunities for teachers to share experiences, collaborate and inspire each other with their own teaching practices will be provided.

Cultural experiences will be presented by Aboriginal Educators from Koorie Heritage Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and National Gallery of Victoria. A series of workshops held by the participating organisations will run throughout the event.

Indigenous Education Day

When: Wednesday 4th September
Where: RBG Cranbourne
Cost: $50.00

Participants will gain knowledge on Kulin culture and the use of plants, cross curricula perspectives of the AusVELS and student Indigenous education programs at the RBG.

Food Gardens for Schools & Kinders

When: November
Where: RBG Melbourne
Cost: $50

Through this partnership workshop with Cultivating Community, participants will see food growing at school in a new light – look at using food plants to enhance your school grounds through good design; develop ideas on how to share fresh produce with your school community and try some simple recipes that kids will love tasting and sharing.

• hardy, edible plants for schools
• multi-function garden design
• share some tasty recipes
• cooking without a kitchen