BLGPLaY Pow Wow

What are the key objectives of BLGPLaY?

• Foster the Culture of Care (Grow Self, Grow Others)

• Foster the Culture of Innovation (Experiential Teaching and Learning)

• Improve instructional and professional practice

• Improve staff motivation at work.

Answer explanation

The key objectives of BLGPLaY focus on creating a supportive and innovative educational environment. By fostering a Culture of Care, educators are encouraged to grow personally and support one another, enhancing collaboration. The Culture of Innovation promotes experiential teaching methods that engage students actively in their learning. Improving instructional and professional practices is fundamental to meeting diverse student needs and leads to better learning outcomes. Ultimately, these improvements contribute to a culture of excellence across schools and the educational system, benefiting all stakeholders involved.

Establishing BLGPLaY would lead to a positive impact on staff, school, and system. Which of the following is a potential benefit of this approach?

• Isolation of teachers, resulting in a lack of shared resources.

• Increased collaboration among staff, leading to improved teaching practices.

• Reduced opportunities for professional development and growth.

• A decrease in student engagement and motivation.

Answer explanation

BLGPLaY is a process to foster a culture of professional excellence in schools across the system. Thus, BLGPLaY impacts positively on the staff, school and system. 

In an effective BLGPLaY, the relevant question that guides instructional practices is 'what was learnt' rather than 'what was taught'. Which of the following reflects the significance of this shift in focus?

• It encourages educators to prioritise student understanding and outcomes over merely delivering content.

• It leads to a rigid curriculum that does not adapt to student needs.

• It emphasises the importance of standardised testing as the sole measure of success.

• It promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, ignoring individual student differences.

Answer explanation

BLGPLaY encourages educators to prioritize student understanding and outcomes over merely delivering content," highlights the fundamental shift in focus that occurs within an effective BLGPLaY. By asking 'what was learnt' instead of "what was taught," educators are encouraged to reflect on the actual impact of their instruction on student learning.

This approach fosters a deeper understanding of student needs and learning processes, allowing teachers to adjust their practices based on evidence of student comprehension and engagement. It emphasises the importance of assessing learning outcomes rather than just the completion of a curriculum, leading to more meaningful and effective teaching strategies.

What are the 3 Big Ideas of BIGPLaY?

• Ensuring Staff and Students Learn

• Building a Culture of Collaboration

• Fostering Trust Among Colleagues

• Focusing on Student Outcomes

Answer explanation

The three Big Ideas of BIGPLaY are essential for fostering an effective educational environment. First, Ensuring Staff and Students Learn emphasizes the importance of continuous learning for both educators and students. Second, Building a Culture of Collaboration highlights the need for teamwork among staff, facilitating the sharing of ideas and resources to enhance teaching practices. Lastly, Focusing on Student Outcomes directs attention to improving student learning and achievement, ensuring that educational approaches are tailored to meet diverse needs. Together, these ideas create a framework that promotes active engagement and success for all in the learning community.

What are the Critical Questions for BLGPLaY?

• What is it that we expect students and staff to learn?

• How will we know when they have learned it?

• How will we respond when they are not engaged?

• How will we respond when they already know it?

• How will we respond when they haven't learned?

Answer explanation

The Critical Questions in BLGPLaY guide educators in enhancing teaching and learning processes. They begin with What is it we expect students and staff to learn?, which establishes clear learning goals. Next, How will we know when they have learned it? emphasizes the importance of assessment in measuring success. The question How will we respond when they already know it? prompts educators to consider differentiation for advanced learners, while How will we respond when they haven't learned? focuses on developing intervention strategies for those needing additional support.

What are the enablers that make BLGPLaY effective?

• Shared and Supportive Leadership

• Supportive Structures and Relationships

• Shared Personal Practices

• Shared Values and Vision

• Collective Learning and Application

Answer explanation

Shared and Supportive Leadership:
School Leaders, BLGPLaY team leads and members share power, authority and decision-making while promoting and nurturing leadership.

Shared Values and Vision:
BLGPLaY Teams share values and vision that support and guide decisions about teaching and learning with a focus on staff and student learning.

Collective Learning and Application:
BLGPLaY Teams sharing information and working collaboratively to plan, address teaching and learning challenges, and improve learning opportunities for both staff and students.

Shared Personal Practice:

Peers meet and observe one another to provide feedback on pedagogical practices, to assist in student learning and to enhance professional practices.

Relationships and Structure:

Positive, caring relationships based on respect, trust and norms of critical inquiry and improvement support a culture of collegiality.

Structures include systems and resources to enable staff to meet and examine practices, and deliver staff and student outcomes.

When a BLGPLaY Team co-constructs values and vision with all involved and communicates these to the staff regularly, which enabler is this referring to?

• Shared and Supportive Leadership

• Shared Values and Vision

• Collective Learning and Application

• Shared Personal Practice

• Relationships and Structure

Answer explanation

BLGPLaY Teams share values and vision that support and guide decisions about teaching and learning with a focus on staff and student learning.

When a BLGPLaY Team shares power and authority in decision-making and gives all members the opportunity to lead, which enabler is this referring to?

• Shared and Supportive Leadership

• Shared Values and Vision

• Collective Learning and Application

• Shared Personal Practice

• Relationships and Structure

Answer explanation

School Leaders, BLGPLaY team leads and members share power, authority and decision-making while promoting and nurturing leadership.

When staff is committed to helping one another grow in their practice and are open to feedback, the BLGPLaY Team has a positive climate built on trust. Which enabler is this referring to?

• Shared and Supportive Leadership

• Shared Values and Vision

• Collective Learning and Application

• Shared Personal Practice

• Relationships

Answer explanation

Positive, caring relationships based on respect, trust and norms of critical inquiry and improvement support a culture of collegiality.

When a BLGPLaY Team puts in place systems and resources to sustain and support collaboration, such as allocating meeting time or providing expertise and funds, which enabler is this referring to?

• Shared and Supportive Leadership

• Shared Values and Vision

• Collective Learning and Application

• Shared Personal Practice

• Structures

Answer explanation

Structures include systems and resources to enable staff to meet and examine practices, and deliver staff and student outcomes.