A.B. Paterson College believes that the single most important factor influencing student outcomes and achievement is the quality and effectiveness of the classroom teacher.
Teachers, as the facilitators of learning, play the most fundamental role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Both within the classroom, and wider schooling community, teachers are positive role models, actively involved in helping students achieve a well-balanced education.
For this reason, A.B. Paterson College heavily invests time, resources, and research to the development of its staff. Following extensive research, the College adopted the Teaching for Understanding (TFU) framework, as developed by Project Zero, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
This pedagogy, which frames the methods and practices of teachers, guides how a curriculum is delivered to the class. The TFU model approaches teaching in a way that requires students to think, analyse, and interpret the meaning of what they have learned.
This pedagogical approach was chosen at the college as it specifically caters for different learning needs and relates knowledge and understanding to real life situations. It serves as the foundation of A.B. Paterson College’s educational framework, playing a critical role in achieving the mission of challenging the individual to achieve, and to act with purpose and character.
Educators at A.B. Paterson College implement the TFU framework through a variety of instructional strategies, with a primary goal of advancing learning beyond rote memorisation, encouraging students to engage in higher order thinking, problem solving, and creative expression.
Understanding by design is a key element of TFU, requiring lessons and assessments to be carefully planned with clear learning objectives.
Through detailing what students should know, understand and be able to do at the conclusion of the experience, progress can be closely monitored. This is coupled with performance of understanding, which gives students an opportunity to engage in unique tasks, such as projects and presentations, to demonstrate their understanding.
Assessment, including formative assessment, is also integrated into the curriculum to provide valuable student feedback, address misconceptions and gauge understanding. Such inclusions ensure that students’ progress towards the desired understanding goals and objectives.
The framework further emphasises the teacher as a facilitator, responsible for creating a supportive and challenging environment, guiding student inquiry, and delivering feedback to promote understanding. Utilising various instructional methods, such as hands on activities and collaborative projects, both actively engage participants and accommodate for different learning styles. Following this pedagogy creates a conducive environment for student success, where students at A.B. Paterson College are equipped to face challenges and prepared to excel in both their academic and personal pursuits. This teaching philosophy and methodology provides a structure that helps establish the contemporary skills that students need to successfully take on the challenges of a career in the 21st century.
