Wi-not progress: ‘‘We need a new model of schooling that reflects that learning happens anywhere, anytime; on any device and it must recognise that the teacher is a learner too,’’ Greg Whitby said.
Let's shake on it: Peter Garrett congratulates Greg Whitby on his book. "I do want to commend the Catholic system specifically for having a scholar and an author of this renown on tap to be able to draw from, but also for putting some of this new approach and new thinking into practice in your schools as well," Mr Garrett said.
MORE than 100 people turned out to Mother Teresa Primary, Westmead, on Friday for the launch of what some might call a new schoolroom Bible.
Called Educating Gen Wi-fi: How to make schools relevant for 21st century learners, the book by Greg Whitby — the executive director of schools in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta — argues schools are often too slow to respond to change and too quick to condemn the new.
But in order to engage students, it is vital that educators rethink everything they have been taught.
It is ‘‘a book of its time’’, said Peter Garrett, the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.
‘‘I do want to commend the Catholic system specifically for having a scholar and an author of this renown on tap to be able to draw from, but also for putting some of this new approach and new thinking into practice in your schools as well,’’ Mr Garrett said.
Mr Whitby, who is also the author of bluyonder, a popular blog for educators, said: ‘‘The current model has been tweaked long enough and I fear that if we don’t move on this, schooling will become increasingly irrelevant in the lives of the young people and the society it serves.’’
In his prologue to the book, he stressed he does not profess to have all the answers, but that he wants to involve parents, teachers and others in the discussion about a new model for schooling.
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