Empowering Year 10 Students: Exploring Deep Learning

Mr Marco Scali | Head of Professional Practice & Growth

Ms Ellen Lincoln | Head of English

Staff from the subject areas of English, History, Geography, Religion and Integrated Learning have been working with Year 10 on expanding their learning using the principles of Deep Learning in 2023. There have been various experiences organised and connected for our students that have sought to expand their knowledge of conceptual questions surrounding equity in modern Australia and the civic responsibilities of Australians.

First, the cohort participated in a ten day immersion to remote First Nations’ Homelands in Cape York, Central Australia and Arnhem Land, focused on developing relationships with Traditional Owners and understanding First Nations’ culture and history. Later in Term Two, a visit from Jack Jacobs, a Yindyamarra Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University, helped students to reflect on this experience and how they might use it to inspire change. In Term Three, the Canberra Immersion (including a presentation from Senator Malarndirri McCarthy) and the Justice Panel held at school involving students and special guests, both prompted students to examine the ways in which social and political structures respond to issues of inequity in modern Australia.

Alongside these experiences, cross-faculty learning activities have taken place in the subject areas mentioned above with Heads of Department and teachers collaborating on creating a Deep Learning program that ran over multiple terms.

Ms Ellen Lincoln and Mr Marco Scali were asked to present on this work with Year 10 at the Association of Independent Schools Teacher Conference entitled “Shining a Light on Deep Learning” at Luna Park on 15 June. Their presentation focused on the innovative work being done with cross-curricular Deep Learning at Loreto Normanhurst, specifically the tasks connected with the Homelands and Canberra experiences in 2023. Their brief was to speak about the Design, Implementation, and Impact of this task in both 2022 (inaugural year) and 2023, and specifically about how they used the Deep Learning Element of “Learning Partnerships” in the design of this Year 10 Task. Loreto Normanhurst is unique in experimenting with a cross-curricular approach to Deep Learning.

Both students and staff have been challenged and motivated by these rich learning experiences, which is a goal of Deep Learning theory. Year 10 will continue to use their learnings from their various experiences such as the Homelands and Canberra immersions, and their knowledge gathered from English, History, Geography, Religion and Integrated Studies as they seek to develop an idea for a social enterprise that targets areas of inequity in Australia in Terms Three and Four.