Education community gathers to discuss rural and remote learning

The Education Commons panel forum allows students and educators to meet to discuss pertinent topics

Rural and remote education will be high on the agenda for discussion during the Education Commons panel forum at USQ Toowoomba today (Tuesday 8 March).

Professional educators from the Darling Downs region will network and share their experiences with pre-service teachers, Faculty of Education experts and other members of the educational community during the forum, with remote panellists taking part via an ‘online classroom’.

Education Commons Coordinator, Associate Professor Robyn Henderson, said the series was designed to allow students and professional educators to meet together and discuss pertinent topics that were of great interest to current and future teachers.

'Education Commons provides opportunities for pre-service teachers to feel as though they’re part of the teaching community from the beginning of their degree,' Associate Professor Henderson said.

'Not only does it benefit the students, but teachers tell us that it is a great form of professional development for them as well.'

This year’s panel discussions will focus on rural and remote education, information literacies, becoming a global educator, inclusivity and alternate employment pathways for educators. Panellists include USQ Faculty of Education academics, local education administrators and teachers from local and national school communities.

Each panel discussion is followed by an interactive pedagogical conversation in two modes. A face-to-face conversation is conducted on campus in Toowoomba, and a discussion forum is available at Education Commons online.

'The Faculty considers Education Commons a vital part of the student learning journey at USQ and we are really pleased to see the initiative extend beyond our Toowoomba campus to include the Springfield campus Faculty of Education community also.' USQ Dean of Education, Professor Nita Temmerman, said.

This year’s sessions will be held on certain dates from March 8 until September 27 at USQ’s Toowoomba campus and will be recorded for online viewing. A schedule is also available online.

Contact Details:
Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1163, 0423 166 307