As Term 3 ends, we have an opportunity to reflect on what has been a very busy 10 weeks. It has been a term of organising conferences and professional learning, to pushing ahead with current research projects, to supporting the revitalising of Indigenous languages in Australia. So, here are some highlights…

Highlight 1: Research Invested Schools Network National Conference

We began the term by hosting Professor Matt Bower from Macquarie University at the Barker staff conference. His insightful presentation on the power of generative AI in education highlighted how human-AI interaction can enhance learning outcomes. Professor Bower returned to Barker shortly after to facilitate discussions at the Research Invested Schools network conference, co-hosted by Barker, Scots College, and Pymble Ladies’ College. At that particular conference session, hosted by the Barker Institute, Bower encouraged research leads from over 60 schools across Australia and New Zealand to explore school-based research projects that would work alongside emerging research interests at universities.

RISn delegates discussing AI and education research projects

Highlight 2: Supporting the learning of the Barker community

We love to learn and supporting others in their learning. It’s why, in part, we exist. Cyber safety, female athlete health, and how families can have conversations for respectful relationships were several of the wellbeing-related topics presented by guest experts and speakers. Jasmine Seymour a Dharug woman belonging to the Burubiranggal people, and linguist and educator spoke about reviving Dharug Dhalang as a living language.

Highlight 3: The Barker Journey – would you believe they are in Year 8 now?

A definite highlight of the term was reconnecting, in August, with the Barker Journey cohort for our annual interviews for our ongoing 10-year longitudinal study. It was such a pleasure to meet each of the 30 students once again, and to hear their stories of being a part of Year 8. The perspectives they share continue to inform our understanding of learning, teaching and schooling in the 21st century.

Highlight 4: Character and Enterprise Education

Another highlight was the formal launch of Barker’s Character and Enterprise Education program. It’s been a privilege to support this initiative, built on the vision of Head of School Mr Phillip Heath AM, from the very beginning. The model, Wise Heads, Loving Hearts, Useful Hands, developed by Peter Gibson, Dean of Character Education, is foundational to Barker’s approach to transformative education.

And all of this is just but a fraction of what has been happening this term. Term 4 is going to be a very short term compared to usual, but the schedule is already forming up to be a busy one. And this is exciting. The Barker Institute continues to support what Barker does and makes it actively a part of discussions about education here in Australia and further afield.

Dr Timothy Scott

Tim has held various leadership roles in schools in Australia and abroad for the past 24 years, alongside teaching history and modern languages. He is currently Research Principal at the Barker Institute, the school-based educational research centre at Barker College. His research interests include intercultural and interlingual learning and teaching, refugee education, and the role of student voice in improving educational practice. Tim believes embedding research informed practice has become increasingly important and is the mark of contemporary schools, empowering their teachers as experts and enabling their learners to thrive. He is one of the lead researchers for the Barker Institute’s ongoing, decade-long longitudinal study, the Barker Journey. Concurrently with his educational research responsibilities, Tim teaches History and Global Studies at Barker. Tim’s PhD investigated socio-political influences on contemporary German conceptions of history and archaeology.