Having a clear vision is an important part of any organisation, especially one charged with educating Australia’s next generation. This is the case for Matthew O’Brien and the staff at Brisbane Boys College, who are committed to driving meaningful change in the classroom through a carefully thought-out strategy.
As Head of Strategic Planning, Matthew has lead the school’s three flagship projects: the introduction of the school’s one-to-one program; data tracking and analytics of student results; and the design of the 21st century learning spaces.
“Using data tracking, we’ve been able to look at students’ results over time and then look at how interventions in teaching programs impact the way they learn – we are essentially able to quantify our student’s progression,” he said.
“Using data tracking, we’ve been able to look at students’ results over time and then look at how interventions in teaching programs impact the way they learn – we are essentially able to quantify our student’s progression”
Matthew has actively questioned the traditional classroom model, and since becoming part of Microsoft’s Innovative Expert Educator Program believes that 21st Century Learning Spaces are the way forward. As part of the Brisbane Boys College commitment to this methodology of teaching, the middle school opened a new facility that encompasses different education philosophies around its design. According to Matthew, this means the behaviours teachers and students exhibit within the classroom are impacted in a positive way.
From both personal experience and conversations with other Expert Educators, Matthew believes that the focus needs to shift away from the teacher-centred classroom. As the old saying goes, the person that does the talking is typically the person that does the learning.
“We’ve all had that light bulb moment, when you actually find yourself understanding what you are presenting for the first time and you have that ‘ah ha’ moment,” Matthew said. “If you look at the traditional classroom, the teacher is constantly talking whilst the student sits silently – but is that the best way to learn?”
“If you look at the traditional classroom, the teacher is constantly talking whilst the student sits silently – but is that the best way to learn?”
A central part of Matthew’s classroom transformation is making better use of video content, with students easily accessing and engaging as part of the one-to-one program, as well as removing observer teachers in favour of recording lessons to be used as an aid in improving teaching techniques.
Matthew says collaborating with other Expert Educators has enabled him to perfect his video content methodology – helping Brisbane Boys College staff leverage technology to help refine their practice to drive better learning outcomes.
“I came to the program with a vague notion about what I wanted to do with video content and that’s been completely shaped by the relationships that I’ve formed with some of those inspiring educators. This close-knit group gave me some interesting feedback from a number of different perspectives, and it’s really helped me evolve the program.
“Through the Yammer group, I essentially have the best test bed in the world. I am always posting planned training and teaching material and I get some really great critical and supportive feedback from the group,” Matthew said. “I’ve progressed so much faster by having constant engagement through the Expert Educator program.”
Matthew is one of six Expert Educators who have been selected to represent Australia at the Microsoft Global Educator Exchange (E2) in Seattle, on April 29 – an annual event that brings together 300 of the most innovative educators and students from around the world.
