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B.A. | DipEd | M. Ed | Grad.Cert.Ed.Lead.| CSML (Harvard)

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AI in Education

This Is Just a Warm-Up Act: The Biggest Transformation to Education Is About to Take Centre Stage

I am excited to share that I have contributed to the latest issue of the Teacher Learning Network Journal, where I explore the transformative impact of generative AI on education. In the article, I argue that this is not just another technological trend. It is the beginning of a significant shift in how we approach learning, teaching, and assessment.

Drawing on my experience as an educator and leader, I challenge teachers, leaders, and policymakers to move beyond the quick fixes and start thinking about how we can harness AI in a way that enhances rather than replaces great teaching. From rethinking homework to reassessing our approaches to assessment, AI offers both opportunities and challenges that we cannot afford to ignore.

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October 15, 2024 No Comments
Book Review

Book Review: Practical AI Strategies: Engaging with Generative AI in Education

As a dedicated tech enthusiast, I’ve always been quick to adopt new technologies in education. With the rapid advancements in AI, I found Leon Furze’s “Practical AI Strategies” to be an essential resource for educators. This book offers practical, actionable strategies and addresses both the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into the classroom. Furze’s indepth exploration of AI’s impact on assessment is particularly insightful, providing invaluable guidance for creating more personalised and efficient assessment processes.

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July 13, 2024 No Comments
Book Review

Book Review: The Connection Curriculum

Matt Pitman’s ‘The Connection Curriculum’ addresses the pressing issue of connectedness in schools. By prioritising human connections over mere academic achievements, Pitman provides a practical roadmap for educators. His advice on fostering relationships, community belonging, and student voice offers a pathway to creating more connected and supportive school environments. This book is essential reading for any educator committed to building a thriving, compassionate educational community.

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May 19, 2024 No Comments
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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November 19, 2023 No Comments
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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September 27, 2023 No Comments
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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July 23, 2023 No Comments
ABOUT ME

Welcome, I’m Michael O’Keeffe, an educational leader based in Melbourne, Australia.

I am passionate about improving teaching, developing people and creating the conditions for every student to succeed. Through this website I share practical insights, leadership reflections and resources drawn from my work in curriculum, explicit instruction, school improvement and educational leadership.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, middle leader or school leader, I hope you’ll find ideas that are both practical and relevant to your own context.

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