One of our Carey attributes is “Build understanding and think creatively.” Sometimes, it is challenging to think creatively when students have to learn specific syllabus requirements. Teachers must ensure students know the specific content, and NESA stipulates the number of assessment tasks that must be completed, which can impact when creative teaching and learning can take place.
Our brains are impressive and intricately made—God has created us in His image, with the power to think and engage in the world around us! However, our brains often get overloaded and struggle to handle everything at once. This week, I have been listening to a podcast by a psychologist about ‘the risk of avoiding risk,’ which has made me reflect on this Carey attribute and what learning can look like in this space. What does risk look like in the classroom to help build understanding and think creatively? By definition, taking a risk is hard, and many of us spend our lives trying to avoid risk and stay in the ‘safe/comfort zone.’ So, how can we stretch our thinking?
As a PDHPE teacher, we regularly discuss risk: risky behaviors, how to minimize risk, and what a risk-taker looks like. Often, risk can be seen as a negative word. So, what do you think about when you hear the word ‘risk-taker’? I googled the term (as everyone does these days), and some phrases that caught my attention are: ‘To win without risk is to triumph without glory’; ‘A person willing to do things that involve danger to achieve a goal’; and ‘refusing to accept the status quo.’ These phrases struck me because they can represent positive behaviors and thoughts, speaking to a person’s character.
I believe that risk-taking can be positive: risk-takers learn and grow from mistakes. They push boundaries, work hard to achieve goals, persist when things are difficult, and are not afraid of the unknown. But for us to take risks, we must feel comfortable and safe in our learning environment. I love Thomas Edison’s quote: “I didn’t fail, I just discovered 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” Learning can be messy! We will make mistakes, and that is okay. Share mistakes, look for multiple opportunities to learn, and honor academic risk-taking. Dig deep with your understanding and think outside the box!
Romans 5:3-5 says: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
We know that we are not alone, that God walks with us, and that we should persevere in all areas of our lives. God has designed us to be thinkers, to be challenged, to flourish, and to grow in understanding of His world. So, my challenge is this: Risk is necessary as it is an integral part of learning and growth. What small steps can each of us develop to take necessary risks in our learning so that we can continue to “build understanding and think creatively?”
Kind regards,
Rebecca Clisdell
Dean of Students (10-12)
Last week, our High School celebrated Mother’s Day with a special breakfast.
Year 9 recently had the opportunity to hear about the work of Anglicare in the local community. They then raised money to support Anglicare through participation in a mufti day on Friday, celebrating the fundraising event with pizza and dodgeball at lunchtime. A big thank you to Mr Anish Maharaj for organising the delicious pizzas and for generously donating some of the cost of the pizzas towards the fundraiser.
