The Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 initiative aims to:
- build consistent, comprehensive and improved pedagogical approaches within and across schools, while still allowing flexibility, innovation and local decision making at the school level
- focus teaching to meet the diverse needs of students
- strengthen learning communities within and beyond the school.
The Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 should be considered in conjunction with the Curriculum Planning Guidelines, the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and the advice on Assessment and on Reporting. Examples to support use of the Principles will be published in the Knowledge Bank.
The Principles aim to capture the essence of effective learning and teaching and provide a basis for teachers to review and develop their teaching practices. The Principles, and the training and materials that support them, build on the work that has already been developed through the Science in Schools (SIS) and Middle Years Pedagogy Research and Development (MYPRAD) initiatives. Similar work is also being undertaken through the Improving Middle Years Maths and Science (IMYMS) and Science Innovation and Technology (SIT) . For PoLT the approach has however been extended to include all key learning areas and stages of learning.
The Principles Unpacked provides a detailed explanation of the Principles and teaching examples. Further examples will be made available through Knowledge Bank in 2005.