This middle schooling project for Years 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, aims to develop the communication skills of students, for an audience in an articulate and coherent manner.  We aim to equip students with the fundamental attributes that will ensure success into the 21^st Century.  In addition to extending the opportunities for involvement to high school student mentors in Years 9 and 10, it also plans to provide support to teachers in the form of professional learning in adjudication and coaching of debating teams.  The project addresses all of the Foundation Statements in the Talking and Listening syllabus and is designed to be part of everyday classroom practice.

The PCS Connected Classrooms Debating Project involves the Peninsula Community of Schools (High Schools and Primary Schools) working collaboratively and in partnership with the ICT Centre at Macquarie University.  It will involve utilising the connected classrooms, libraries, ICT labs and resources with a view to providing greater learning opportunities and experiences for a greater number of students, staff and the broader community.

The students will all be involved in conducting an investigation of an issue or topic and presenting a well reasoned argument for or against the topic.  Skills include planning, synthesising, analysing and applying knowledge, kills and data, in a team situation, then presenting the whole case for or against.

The knowledge and skills component of the unit of project will be conducted in Semester 1, 2009 and will be supported by the SED, The ARTS UNIT, The Arts North Council, the regional debating co-ordinator, 4 primary schools and 1 high school.  Students will experience meaningful interactions with other students and their teachers from across the PCS, by participating in a number of directed lessons, less formal interactions and mini debates.  The demonstrating of the knowledge will take place in Semester 2, when students will debate against one another in a friendly round robin draw.  The work has been planned and executed in consultation, by the teaching teams involved in the Peninsula Community of Schools Middle Schooling Connected Classroom Debating Project.

The project will offer the opportunity to differentiate the curriculum to cater for the varying needs of students within the 5 participating schools.  The classes consist of children with mixed abilities and backgrounds, including some ESL, those needing learning support, as well as those identified as being gifted and talented.  This project will enable the students to be stimulated and challenged appropriately by providing peer and expert support for students, while allowing high school mentors to have the opportunity to extend their learning in a self directed way.

Children will be allocated a special role’ within their group, which will create a sense of importance and direction for their study.  These roles will enable a student-centred learning environment, where each child will be able to share their knowledge with their peers.  Throughout the entire project, all students should be highly motivated, engaged and immersed in their learning.   They will be able to grasp and practise the skills whilst experiencing the advances in IT and see how it can be utilised productively in and beyond the classroom.