March 2024
PD Update
The latest Professional Development events and news
Upcoming PD Events
Scaffolding peer feedback
Online: 19 March at 4.00-4.45pm (AEDT)
This online interactive session is hosted by the English Australia Direct Entry Programs SIG. It will support EAP and Direct Entry teachers in understanding effective peer feedback and in developing their own peer-feedback scaffold for use with their students.
Refugee Student Settlement Pilot Consultation Workshop: Preparatory academic, English and cultural courses
Online: 27 March at 3.00pm-5.00pm (AEDT)
This workshop, co-facilitated by English Australia and Sally Baker from the Refugee Student Settlement Pilot (RSSP), is an opportunity to participate in the co-design of the RSSP. Feedback will be sought on negotiating the preparatory academic, English and cultural courses needed to support successful settlement outcomes for RSSP students.
Supporting neurodiverse students in the ELICOS classroom
Online: 17 & 24 April at 3.00pm-3.45pm (AEDT)
We invite you to join us for an online panel discussion on supporting neurodiverse students in the ELICOS classroom. This discussion will be run in two parts on Wednesday 17 April and Wednesday 24 April.
2024 Action Research in ELICOS Program
Last week we kicked off our 2024 Action Research in ELICOS Program with our first workshop held at Navitas Sydney. Congratulations to the researchers from English Australia member colleges around the country who have been accepted to participate in the Program. They will spend the next year working on action research projects related to this year’s research theme of ‘Using generative AI to enhance or transform learning oriented assessment’ with the support of Cambridge, Professor Anne Burns and the English Australia Head of Professional Development. An integral part of the Program are the collaborative discussions researchers contribute to at the workshops and online in between workshops.
You can find out more about the English Australia Action Research Program here.
English Australia PD Fests
Our state PD Fests will be run in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide over the next couple of months, with events starting this weekend at the NSW PD Fest. PD Fests are local conferences where teachers and other staff are encouraged to present their ideas to their peers through abstracted breakout sessions. They also feature plenary sessions and are a fantastic opportunity for teachers working in our member colleges to network with the wider ELICOS community.
You can find out more about PD Fests and register here. Please note that Sydney and Brisbane events have reached capacity.
Bright Ideas in 2024
We are delighted to announce that the English Australia – Pearson Bright Ideas competition is happening again in 2024! Now in its 5th year, Bright Ideas is a thought leadership initiative which aims to bring powerful grass roots ideas to light on a national stage and support teachers to attend the English Australia Conference.
Bright Ideas sees attendees at each of the English Australia state PD Fests vote for their favourite presentation of the day. The presenter who is voted as the winner is then funded to attend the English Australia Conference and present their session in a special Bright Ideas stream. This stream has evolved over the years to become one of our most popular Conference streams which delivers practical and innovative teaching ideas.
Thank you to Pearson for partnering with us once again on Bright Ideas in 2024.
Member Engagement with PD
As 2024 gets into full swing, English Australia would like to remind our member colleges of the importance of encouraging all staff to actively engage with English Australia’s Professional Development program. Participation in our range of live and local PD events, webinars, online courses, annual conference, and reading our Journal is paramount for language educators seeking continuous growth and innovation in their teaching practices and improves the quality of your educational offerings to students.
English Australia’s Professional Development program offers a diverse range of activities tailored to the specific needs and interests of English language professionals, providing them with opportunities to expand their skill sets, exchange ideas with peers, and cultivate a dynamic learning community. Many of our professional development initiatives are also suitable for staff involved in management, marketing, student support and the administration of ELICOS programs.
Your college’s participation in these events will be recorded on your annual Member Engagement Statement as a record of how your centre has taken up opportunities provided by your membership. English Australia sends member colleges their Member Engagement Statement in June each year.
Member PD Spotlight
UNSW College held an Academic Collaboration and Innovation (ACI) professional development day on 28 February 2024. ACI-Days represent a significant opportunity for UNSW College educators to further develop and hone their professional skills by coming together to share ideas and collaborate on new techniques and pedagogy.
The event focussed on Navigating Future Courses and Assessment Design, and the 180+ attendees were able to join a series of streamed Lightning Workshops around Assessment Design, Course Design, Student Engagement, and Diversity and Inclusivity. Through round table discussions they explored language support practices by embedding communication and academic literacy within other subject areas to help enhance content delivery.
It was a meaningful and high-quality professional development event for educators, by educators.
Has someone forwarded you this email? You can sign up for our PD news by emailing Anthony at easec@englishaustralia.com.au.
Please send your questions, comments or suggestions about the English Australia Professional Development Program to Sophie, Head of Professional Development at English Australia.
