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B.A. | DipEd | M. Ed

Professional Learning

I interviewed 100 teachers this year. Here is what I learnt.

In the past year, I’ve conducted over 100 interviews for teaching and educational support roles. During this extensive interview process, I’ve encountered remarkable individuals, experienced moments of frustration, and sometimes wished I could conclude an interview after just a few minutes.

Having surpassed the century mark in interviews, I’ve gained a clear understanding of what works in an education interview. Here are my top 5 words of advice for those entering the realm of school job interviews:

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Book Review

Three Popular Reads: Key Takeaways for Teachers

As an educator, school holidays provide a precious opportunity to step back, recharge, and dive into some of the pleasures you don’t have time for during the term. For me, that’s reading.

The following three books are some of the most read books in the world of leadership and education. Here are my bite-sized summaries of these enlightening reads, each offering valuable insights for educators and leaders alike.

Creative Schools by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica, The 5:00 AM Club by Robin Sharma, and The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

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Book Review

Book Review: Passion, Guts, and Leadership

Term 4, 2012, marked a significant turning point in my life. As an 11th-year secondary school teacher, I had the joy of welcoming our daughter into the world with my wife Rachel, who is also an educator. After much consideration, we decided that Rachel would return to work full-time while I would take on the role of the stay-at-home dad.

Now, those who work in secondary schools know that part-time teacher timetables are the hardest things to create, so I was not going to be able to get the 2 straight days I was after. Enter Deborah Patterson.

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AI in Education

ChatGPT and the Human Connection: Exploring the Politeness Phenomenon

In an era where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly sophisticated, conversational sites like ChatGPT are revolutionizing the way we interact with technology. It’s not uncommon for users to develop a sense of familiarity and treat these AI-powered assistants as if they were human beings. So, why do we feel inclined to use polite language and engage in courteous conversation with ChatGPT? Will this trend of human-like interaction likely continue in the future?

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Book Review

Book Review: Teacher Wellbeing

In her book “Teacher Wellbeing: A Real Conversation for Teachers and Leaders,” Amy Green offers a comprehensive guide to addressing this problem by providing practical strategies and insights for teachers to better manage their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. She argues that focusing on subjective wellbeing alone, such as engaging in activities that provide instant gratification, is not enough to sustain long-term wellbeing. Instead, teachers need to engage in psychological wellbeing solutions that allow them to build resilience and cope with the stressors of their job.

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Book Review

Book Review: Dare to Lead

Brené Brown’s book, Dare to Lead, is a guide for leaders who want to cultivate a culture of courageous, wholehearted leadership. According to Brown, a leader is anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential. In the education context, she stresses the importance of creating a space in our schools and classrooms where students can take off the crushing weight of their armor and truly be seen.

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ABOUT ME

Hello! My name is Michael and I am a school teacher located in Melbourne, Australia. This site showcases my latest projects and an education blog. Opinions expressed on this page are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.

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