Great photo website - Scrapblog

Scrapblog of Ethan with his passion of Horror movies/Films.

Public Speaking - Big Picture students comment

Student comments about public speaking:
Shannon. "I've been doing a few speeches for a while now and at first I felt like passing out but after I got over being too shamed to talk I was able to do it. I don't mind talking to a crowd. It's a skill I'd like to get better at and I'm slowly getting there. All I can say is that doing speeches has increased my confidence to add to my already loud personality."

Tamina: “Me speaking in public? What a laugh that is. When I was at school I didn’t participate in my oral presentation which was a requirement. I just didn’t show up on the day, wagged the class or didn’t make a speech up so that I wouldn’t have to do it. I absolutely hated speaking and still find it very hard as you know from the Shepp High experience. I reckon it lasted about 45 seconds. And that’s why I chickened out at the other speech with Big Picture. I get all shaky, lose my words and my voice projection fails.”

Ashley: “I enjoyed it, was a bit scared at first I’ve never spoken in front of a group of people.  I learnt about where I want to go with my future and what I want to be. Being a disability worker. I also learnt that speaking in a big crowd isn’t so scary after all. And I got a lot of good feedback after I finished my speech.”

Students share their story

Check out these wonderful photos by Caterina Di Girolamo. They were taken of my students when they participated in a Big Picture workshop in Shepparton.

Looking for a GoTafe Big Picture venue in Shepparton

It has been a real challenge to find a venue for these students to learn that they can call their own. For the Big Picture program to be truly personalised the students need a room that they do not need to share with others.

This is difficult at GoTafe because all rooms need to be booked and usage is maximised. Nearly all rooms are shared and so we look off campus for a facility.






We are currently exploring the possibility of using the Billabong Gardens Nursery buildings as they are being vacated towards the end of the year.

It's within the William Orr Campus and offers great opportunities for students finding mentors and doing projects there.

The setting and outlook is beautiful and would be a great starting point for future development.

Shannon speaks at GoTafe Big Picture Workshop

Will speaks at GoTafe Big Picture Workshop

Students speak @ Shepparton East Rotary

A few weeks back a couple of my students came with me to Shepparton East Rotary to speak about the Big Picture program. Both Jen and Shannon spoke very well and members of the club were very impressed with their honesty and openness. A couple of club members were keen to get involved as mentors or teachers.

How finding your passion changes everything

This is the subtitle of a new book by Ken Robinson (UK educator) called The Element. A terrific book that helps people explore their passion in the realms of education.
It is also the key platform for the Big Picture Education approach of which I will be using in my teaching position at GoTafe (Goulburn Ovens Institute of Tafe.

This blog will be my digital journal of this journey in learning and teaching. It will detail how the Big Picture approach is used to unlock disengaged students and guide them find into finding their interests and passions. To then set them free to become lifelong learners and an exciting journey of discovery.