Teaching seminar reveals innovations

More than 40 educators from across the South-West visited Margaret River Independent School (MRIS) on Tuesday to explore innovative strategies for teaching students not just curriculum content, but how to become skilled, independent learners and to combine challenge with “discovery and play”.

Principal Wendy Roediger said the visit centred around the balance between explicit instruction and inquiry-based learning.

“There’s a lot of conversation happening around whether students learn best through direct teaching or through exploration and inquiry,” she said. “This seminar showed that we don’t have to choose one or the other – we can blend both effectively.”

The seminar was led by London-based Becky Carlzon, Director of Learning Powered Approaches, who discussed how educators can combine the two strategies.

MRIS was selected to host the event due to its strong focus on nature pedagogy. Visitors had the opportunity to see how the school integrates outdoor learning experiences – including the Nyindamurra Nature Trail, the Frog Bog, and pitfall traps – into its curriculum.

The group also toured the Early Childhood Centre, where Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students engage in a play-based learning environment, rather than a traditional classroom setting.

Carlzon praised the school’s innovative approach, saying, “Wendy, what you have created with your staff is just stunning. The children and families in your care are so incredibly lucky.”