New book on student engagement launched in Rockingham

A new book celebrating the stories of successful teachers and communities engaging young people in ‘real world’ learning was launched at Murdoch University’s Rockingham campus this week.

Professor Barry Down, City of Rockingham Chair in Education at Murdoch University, co-authored Critically Engaged Learning: Connecting to Young Lives with colleagues from the University of Ballarat, and said it offers a new look at student engagement in learning.

“Good teachers show a remarkable capacity to build productive relationships with students,” Professor Down said.

“This is achieved by drawing on the rich resources and talents of students, their families and their communities.”

Professor Down sought to challenge mainstream views on student engagement by developing curriculum approaches that connect to the passions and interests of students and the communities in which they live.

Developed with funding support from the City of Rockingham, the Australian Research Council and Western Australian Department of Education, the book shows how critical engagement by educators, parents and young people can create educational opportunities in which all students can thrive and be successful.

Professor Down said Critically Engaged Learning draws on examples from a wide range of communities, including Rockingham, to show how student-centred schools can make a difference through pursuing real world learning around things that matter to young people and their communities.

At the launch, Mr Graham Butler, Principal of Gilmore College, acknowledged the importance of local research in highlighting the community’s stories about what works best for them.

“This kind of research enhances the self-esteem of local teachers as they read their published narratives,” Mr Butler said.

“To have your story heard and told is very powerful.”