CARDE_Team

The Curriculum and Assessment, Research, Development and Evaluation (CARDE) Team is a very diverse and resilient team. Formally known as the Layer 2 support materials Team we enabled online accessibility creating, gathering, collating and publishing online resources to support teachers, the early focus. National projects such as Asia in Schools, Sustainable Schools, Values Education and The Learning Federation Initiative all live with us which have been contextualised to suit specific NT needs. More recently the focus on NTCF renewal was firmly placed on our laps to which the team adapted with relative compliance. Our major foci are the NTCF renewal facilitation including linking layer 2 support materials hence making them more accessible to teachers, other support materials needs and coordinating many and varied national project priorities. A flexible team is one who can take onboard change as part of a matter of course and this is definitely what we have achieved. The rest of 2008 has us focused on NTCF renewal and projects that are contractual in nature along with anything about 'support materials/resources'.

In **2009** the desperate need to continue the NTCF renewal ( including a much needed revamping of xcurricula perspectives and associated layer 2 support materials as well as being able to address the ongoing national priorities and contractual arrangements is necessary. One of the major concerns in the new TL&S structure is the possible loss of the focus on Layer 2 support materials having a quality assurance lens over them and the need to move towards the types of support materials that are needed to link to and support the NTCF in its online world.  What teachers really need and knowing the continuum of resources moving from highly structured individual teacher needs to whole school needs. The vision for the online storage of the NTCF and all the resources and the blending of the Layer 1 and Layer 2 story into a new online resource that will allow all educators and parents an easily accessable, interactive space to ensure all needs in relation to curriculum, pedagogy and assessment are met.

Questions and Concerns
What other management structures might be more efficient than the current one in TL&S? How might we show that people are valued here in TL&S? How do TL&S enact the DEET values? How can the innovative practices, especially the ones we are working on in the area of technology, be shared? What incentives might encourage teachers to be more active in collaboratively inquiring into their own practice? How do we tap into and effectively use the AGQTP action research funding opportunity in a more coordinated way? How does moderation become part of teacher PLCs instead of a separate system initiative seen as being driven by DEET and another big stick approach? How might (cognitive) coaching become embedded into the way of working in schools? How can we use technology more efectively so we are working more efficiently (personally, economically, environmentally) with people out of main urban areas.....are we also looking at other options besides REACT eg Adobe Connect. Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment how are we all connecting with this notion in our everyday work....what doesn't connect....why are we doing it? How can TL&S model 'working collaboratively together' for schools? How can we promote individual creativity and the ability to bring people together as co-participants in defining new identities? Is the notion of a 'Thinker in Residence' position worth considering for TL&S new structure? We must not loose the thinking and visioning of the new online environment in 2009 or we will be starting all over again. 