Karen Green is an educational consultant who has had varied teaching roles, in regular classrooms and within the field of special education. She has worked as a class teacher, a visiting teacher for the hearing and visually impaired, a special education teacher working with both learning disabled and gifted student. She was Deputy Head of the Middle School at St Leonard’s College and Deputy Head of the Junior School at Melbourne Grammar School. She has lectured to Bachelor of Education students in the area of special education at Deakin University. Karen has been working as a consultant for the past 7 years.

Karen currently works with teachers in both state and private schools, assisting them with curriculum design and differentiation for students at different stages of learning and with differing levels of ability. Her work includes developing inquiry-based curriculum and infusing thinking skills, cooperative learning strategies and habits of mind into everyday teaching practice. A large part of Karen’s work in currently taken up with professional development for teachers, explaining the implementation of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS), the Principles of Teaching and Learning (PoLT) and Assessment Guidelines that are outlined in the Department of Education and Training’s Blueprint for government schools.

Karen has designed an online curriculum planning tool that supports the development of inquiry-based curriculum. This web-based program incorporates the above mentioned tools and strategies. The Electronic Unit Planner (www.eup.com.au) is being used in many primary and secondary schools throughout Victoria.

Karen also spends time in classrooms modelling lessons that include the use of thinking tools and cooperative strategies. These modelled lessons are designed after consultation with teachers. They are followed up with a feedback session where feedback is sought and further ideas are brainstormed.

Karen is a past president of the Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children and she provides professional development for teachers around the Gifted and Talented Education Package that was released by the Department of Education, Science and Training in January 2005. Karen holds a Masters Degree in Special Education.

Amanda Dressing is an educational consultant who has had a wide range of experiences as an educator with both adults and children. Most recently, she worked as a leading teacher with a particular interest in developing cultural change. Amanda was awarded a Herald Sun Teacher of the Year Award in 2004.

Amanda has worked within the TAFE system as an adult educator supporting unemployed young adults to develop the skills necessary to secure gainful employment. She was an educational facilitator for Centrelink in a range of areas including management, leadership and customer service training, where she was awarded the Australia Day Award for Excellence in the field of Training Development. Amanda was also a trainer and educator during her 10 years as an officer of the Australian Regular Army.

Amanda is an Accredited Trainer for the Electronic Unit Planner which can be seen at www.eup.com.au. The eUnit Planner is an online planning tool that assists teachers to create meaningful curriculum for both primary and secondary students.

Amanda currently works with teachers to develop their understanding of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS), Developing inquiry- based curriculum, Principles of Learning and Teaching (PoLT), Personalised Learning, Habits of Mind, Learning Styles, Multiple Intelligences, Thinking Skills, Skilled questioning, Rubrics and Cooperative Learning Strategies when planning curriculum. She provides a practical and hands-on approach to learning and teaching with a view to developing student engagement and understanding, and best practice in teachers.

Completed examples of graphic organisers written by Amanda can be accessed on the VCAA website - CLICK HERE

The introduction of the e5 Teacher Instructional Model has provided a wonderful opportunity for Karen and Amanda to offer their particular areas of expertise and their style of learning facilitation in support of Principal Class Officers and classroom teachers. The successful implementation of e5 will require those involved in the education of our children to bring to bear, and build upon, all of their existing knowledge as they use this model to raise the bar on teacher instructional practice in Victoria.