The main focus for ATSIMA 2016 was Quality Learning and Teaching in mathematics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners: one of the main outcomes from ATSIMA 2014 conference. The by-line Value us Value our education Value our future encapsulates the core principles behind quality learning and teaching. At the heart of these principles is the notion of meaningful relationships.
ATSIMA is committed to facilitate the development of relationships between Community, Education and Business sectors. As highlighted in ATSIMA 2014, we need to move beyond the pipeline mentality of separate sectors waiting for the next cohort to a new paradigm of meaningful relationships between all sectors: an ecosystem of relationships. ATSIMA 2016 explored what quality teaching and learning means under this new paradigm.
Conference themes
The conference had three main parts with each part being themed by Value us, Value our education and Value our future.
Value us privileged the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Australia especially the Dharawal and Yuin peoples of the Illawarra and South East Coast: the land the conference was held on. We heard about education from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective and their relationship with the education system.
Value our education we had two types of presentations: 1) a showcase of practices and 2) research presentations. The showcase of practice was specifically geared towards teachers demonstrating pedagogy in mathematics that had a significant impact on learning outcomes in mathematics. The research presentations focussed on the research projects and major projects that aim to improve educational outcomes from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners in mathematics.
Value our future: For this part of the conference, we encouraged business to present on their employment programs and how they are connecting with Communities and the education sector to create employment pathways. We encouraged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to present their vision for the future and explored how this fits with current employment pathways and education.
Please see workshops links here from ATSIMA 2016.