FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
FIVE Minds for the Future
In 2007 well-known education researcher and writer Howard Gardner published ‘Five Minds for the Future’ in which he envisioned capacities [attributes] needed for future life and work. It is interesting to reflect on these ‘Minds’ as forerunners to the life and work skills, general capabilities and learner attributes that are at the core of learning in 2022. Citing Gardner’s own summary of his Minds:
The disciplined mind has mastered at least one way of thinking – a distinctive mode of cognition that characterises a specific scholarly discipline, craft or profession. Gardner refers to research to suggest that it takes at least ten years to master a discipline and then ongoing improvement of skill and understanding in the discipline continues after that.
The synthesising mind takes information from disparate sources, understands and evaluates that information objectively and puts it together in ways that make sense to the synthesiser and also to others. Valuable in the past, the capacity to synthesise becomes ever more crucial as information continues to mount at dizzying rates.
Building on discipline and synthesis, the creating mind breaks new ground. It puts forth new ideas, poses unfamiliar questions, conjures up fresh ways of thinking, arrives at unexpected answers. Ultimately, these creations must find acceptance among knowledgeable consumers. By virtue of its anchoring in territory that is not yet rule-governed, the creating mind seeks to remain at least one step ahead of even the most sophisticated technology.
The respectful mind notes and welcomes differences between human individuals and between human groups, tries to understand these ‘others’ and seeks to work effectively with them. In a world where we are all interlinked, intolerance or disrespect is not an option.
At a more abstract level than the respectful mind, the ethical mind ponders the nature of one’s work and the needs and desire of the society in which one lives. This mind conceptualises how we can serve purposes beyond self-interest and how as citizens we can work unselfishly to improve the lot of all. The ethical mind then acts on the bases of these analyses.
National Science Week
Next week’s Science Week sees a focus on learning in and through science across the Elphin Campus. The 2022 theme of ‘Glass: more than meets the eye’ is a springboard for a range of science investigations emanating from learning provocations in conneXions.
School-Home learning partnership
Thank you to all families who were able to join their child(ren) for the Early Learning Erina mid-year learning celebration and the Prep 100 Days of School celebration during the last two weeks. Through this Term there are many planned events that will enable families across Early Learning to Year 5 to share learning experiences on-campus. We look forward to welcoming as many parents as possible to these events.
Warm dry clothing
This week has reminded us that the end of Winter and early Spring are always times of rainy days and continuing cold mornings. The importance for young children (and all of us) of having warm clothing (school jumper) and a school raincoat or japara at school every day should be at the forefront of our minds. Even on days when students are not able to venture outside for break times there are times when they need to move between buildings for learning activities or in some cases to wait outside to be picked up at the end of the day. Those travelling by bus to or from school have a walk and sometimes a short wait at an unsheltered bus stop.
Lachie Wright
Head of Junior School
100 Days of Learning
This week, our Prep students, who will be in the Class of 2034, celebrated their first 100 days of full-time school. They were excited to share their learning with their families who spent the morning exploring learning around the campus.