ADVANCED LEARNING Extending students’ skills
Year 13 student Chris Jung is a mathematics and computing expert who has attended the International Olympiad in Informatics and won awards and prizes for his achievements. But Chris is also keen to share his knowledge and, as part of the Advanced Learning programme, is running after-school classes to help those who are also interested in learning computer programming.
For Chris, it is a chance to discuss his ideas with like-minded friends and to undertake further research in new and unfamiliar areas, as inspired by their work. Warren Lidstone is the Teacher in Charge of Advanced Learning at College. “We try to ensure every boy has the opportunity to pursue any subject or interest he is skilled in or has particular talents in. We want to find ways to extend the knowledge of the boys who want to pursue subjects further and ensure they remain fully engaged in class. For example, we had a student who was a talented mathematician and had reached a level where he needed further extension, so we found him a computer programming class at university. Another group of boys are passionately interested in Model United Nations, so we made sure they took part in their debates.’’ Mr Lidstone talks daily with groups of students undertaking Advanced Learning, acting as a mentor and sounding board for their interests. He is keen to get the boys to take responsibility for and to organise ways to extend their own learning. “We recently organised a session where a guest speaker came to
provoke academic dialogue to a group of students from College and St Margaret’s. Our next idea is to have the students lead this concept and come up with ideas that interest them, rather than my deciding what they might be. It’s all about extending the boys interests in ways that suit them.’’ Another initiative involves Year 11 boys working with Rangi Ruru girls to find collaborative learning pathways. Thus creating social as well as intellectual interactions, and opportunities to meet like- minded people.
“It’s all about extending the boys interests in ways that suit them.” Warren Lidstone Mr Lidstone is working with teachers of Year 11 boys to ensure every able boy is being fully extended and to find the best ways to keep them interested, engaged and enjoying learning.
College Issue 32 2017
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