Innovation in public schools is happening in a LOT of pockets.

We hope to build an overview in due course.

Sometimes it is driven by a passionate group of teachers in a particular area, e.g. STEM, Technology, Inclusion. With the right combination of admin and staff, many things can happen.

Sometimes newly starting public schools start with a particular pedagogy, e.g. inquiry-based and entrepreneurial learning (Yarrabilba) or deep learning in 50 QLD schools.

Another area is schools in situations where nothing else has worked. Many find a way to make learning relevant for students and innovation happens, e.g. Templestowe College (VIC), St Peter Claver College in Riverview (QLD).

Sometimes there are schools within a school, e.g. Capalaba state College (QLD) has a Montessori program, a vocational program and a 2E program running parallel to the mainstream school. Hunter Valley (NSW) has a Big Picture strand running, as well as a sports academy.

Innovation happens in pockets. 

As a group, this sector does education as usual, since 1850. Sometimes innovation happens because of the social economic situation (Catholics have pockets). Other times it is driven by the wish to produce the best leaders for the future society and technology. Lutheran schools are on a roll here. 

Innovation in these innovative schools can inform others. 

First of all, a lot of what this group does has been innovative for a long time. 

Secondly, several mainstream schools in many countries use aspects of the philosophies, even as simple as the MAB blocks. 

Thirdly, most of these schools are nature based, which is a strong innovation compared to mainstream. 

Many of the systems are wondering how to bring in the technology skills required in the future while staying in line with the original philosophies. One could call that innovation of innovation. 

Innovation in Homeschooling may well lead the way. 

They often: 

• follow the child’s interest, 
• are able to tailor-make tasks, 
• tick off what was learned from hindsight, 
• have a large variety of real-life tasks incorporated in the programs, 
• use micro credentials and in some states, and 
• are quite organised in hubs or activity groups. 

There are now many ways that you can enter higher institutions. As of 2022, ATAR is only used by 27% of people entering university. New Metrics is qualifying Personal Portfolios. 

Innovation does happen within some of those programs and for example the International Baccalaureate has many holistic, transformative characteristics.  

The IB’s programmes are different from other curricula because they:   

• encourage students of all ages to think critically and challenge assumptions, 
• develop independently of government and national systems, incorporating quality practice from research and our global community of schools, 
• encourage students of all ages to consider both local and global contexts, 
• develop multilingual students.   

Innovation can happen in these settings because much is flexible.

Per definition, the students attending are highly skilled and interested in the area it concerns. They are encouraged to think and create entrepreneurial personal projects and innovations within that field. The teachers in these schools are experts in their field. 

In community specialist schools, imagine the possibility of writing a two-way history or science book and shows the world the best of both cultures. 

Innovation in this sector is the hybrid ways of learning through personal portfolios and using mastery-based ways of teaching with more support and scaffolding in small classes and a focus on real life tasks. Micro credentials can be included. The innovations in this sector are starting to move into some mainstream schools such as Liverpool Boys High School. Hunter Sports High School uses internships.

There is much innovation happening in this sector because of changing mindsets around inclusion in society. Universal Design of Learning from UNSW is one of the most interesting and far-reaching innovations to check out. In UDL you do education in such a manner that all styles and needs are catered for as a build in feature. An example for self-paced, online courses is Novak Education.