Mic Watts – Waiho He Tohu. Leave a Mark
My favourite aspect of the HPSS curriculum is the way we connect our classes across multiple learning areas to explore authentic contexts through different lenses. I have co-taught over 25 of these semester-long modules with teachers from every other learning area.
In this presentation I will talk about our strategies for collaborative teaching and learning, and some of the advantages and challenges that have come with the evolution of our unique kura and its unique kaupapa.
In this talk I will focus on our ‘Foundation’ curriculum (combining our year 9 and 10 cohort) and the overall structure of our learning design model. In a second talk I’ll follow up with our approach to senior specialisation.
Biography
I’m a 48 year old kiwi of Ngati Pākehā, Whakatōhea, and Ngai te Rangi descent.
I’m in my 11th year of teaching, with the past 9 spent at Hobsonville Point Secondary School, where I’ve proudly led the visual arts team for the last 5 years.
I strive to encourage akōnga to explore their world through visual arts, and to express their ideas and understandings with an authentic voice.
Currently, I teach a Year 9 & 10 module connecting art and PE, a Year 11 module integrating English with design and digitech, and a senior photography class for Years 12 & 13.
Prior to transitioning into education, I worked as a freelance designer, delivering bespoke creative projects across a wide range of platforms and industries.