Y11 Real Solutions is a partnership formed between fifteen Stawell Secondary College Year 11 Maths students, Stawell Joinery, Northern Grampians Shire Council and the Past, Present and Future Project. It aims to provide a model for Year 11 Foundation Maths Groups for the planning and implementation of projects outside the normal parameters of a classroom.
Y11 Real Solutions is a partnership formed between fifteen Stawell Secondary College Year 11 Maths students, Stawell Joinery, Northern Grampians Shire Council and the Past, Present and Future Project. It aims to provide a model for Year 11 Foundation Maths Groups for the planning and implementation of projects outside the normal parameters of a classroom.
The CGLLEN Partnership grant provided opportunities for real learning opportunities and the production of practical outdoor seating solutions for students in the schoolyard, and users of the Rail Trail between Stawell and Lake Lonsdale.
"I have no doubt that this program has been the highlight of attending school for many of the students that were involved." Assistant Principal, Geoff Sawyer.
The project was targeted specifically at students who may be at risk of losing motivation to attend school to achieve positive learning outcomes. Along the way students were exposed to a real working environment with the assistance of Stawell Joinery and Northern Grampians Shire which provided professional advice, expertise and access to machinery.
According to Wes Illig, Project Coordinator, “the project was born out of frustration, frustration in teaching students work that is irrelevant, too hard, uninteresting and in the end only causing both teacher and students stress.”
“The group of students were serial non achievers, they had little in the way of self confidence, lacked drive to start let alone complete a task and generally had very poor self esteem and future prospects.” Mr Illig said.
Mr Illig said a new approach was required that would make school less theoretical and more practically based and give students the opportunity to generate their own projects to foster interest and enthusiasm.
“Students could make their own decisions and just as importantly their own mistakes. As the teacher responsible for the students, giving them complete control of a project is a very nerve wrecking thing, however it was that responsibility that saw the project begin to blossom.” Mr Illig said.
“The results have been spectacular, the growth of some of the students as leaders, roles that they had never assumed before was amazing and the pure pleasure of seeing this group of students enjoying and achieving at school.” Mr Illig said.
The project met it’s objective of retaining ‘at risk’ students with seven of them returning to school in 2005 and continuing Foundation Maths with others gaining further training and employment in the local area.
“This subject has never run at a Year 12 level before because the students simply did not come back to school.” Mr Illig said.
The students were praised by Assistant Principal, Geoff Sawyer, for making an outstanding contribution to the school.
“I have no doubt that this program has been the highlight of attending school for many of the students that were involved and that many of them may not have remained at school if it was not for the opportunity to participate in the program.” Mr Sawyer Said.
CGLLEN Chief Executive Officer, David Wheaton, congratulated the school on it’s successful project noting with satisfaction that the project will continue next year without CGLLEN funding.
“CGLLEN is very pleased with the project outcomes achieved by Wes Illig and his students. In particular, I am delighted to see that the project has helped to foster systemic change within the school with Real Solutions to continue in 2005 in close alignment with VCAL. “ Mr Wheaton said.