Catalyst Program

Intended Outcomes

It is expected that schools participating in this program will achieve some of the following outcomes:

School

• Develops a user-centred approach to strategic decision making and implementation of services.
• Learns how to identify and design for different stakeholders in the learning ecosystem.
• Instils a culture of innovation and self-sufficient problem-solving.

Students

• Increases student outcomes in achievement, engagement and/or future-ready skills.

Staff

• Grows teachers practice as lifelong learners.
• Builds efficacy in personalised and adaptive approaches to learning.

School Leadership and Management

• Improves the provision of online learning.
• Develops leadership and management practices which support the implementation of improved EdTech strategies.

Community

• Builds connections with external segments that are not easily engaged in classroom learning, such as industry and adults with established careers.
• Develops efficiencies in communication and in schools’ administrative functions.
• Initiates relationships with other transformational schools around the world.

Outcomes have been based on the Australian Trade and Investment Commission – Australian Education Technology, Invest in Australia program (Australian Education Technology, 2020).

Who should be involved?

A committee of members from each school will be formed with the support of a consultant(s)/ facilitator. The project lead within the school is usually the chair of the committee. It is advisable to include the major contributors:

• Representatives of the executive team
• Classroom or specialist teachers
• Pedagogical coaches
• Parents
• Students

What is involved?

This program will help schools plan for greater success with education technology and includes:

• Data collection – surveying education technology leaders and stakeholders in the system about their perspectives on EdTech capability.
• Analysis – a detailed analysis along with recommendations for areas of opportunity provided. Each schools’ analysis is presented by an Education Strategist.
• Reporting – an in-depth report provides:
  • the strengths and areas for development
  • data about how different schools in your system approach education technology
  • Insight into how different groups in your school system perceive EdTech’s capability – areas of agreement and disparity
  • recommendations for areas of focus
• Implementation – the school-based committee works with one of our education consultant(s)/ facilitator to develop a clear action plan for improvement, identifying strategies and responsibilities, success indicators and evidence sets. This plan is then enacted and regularly reviewed.
• Sharing practice – the committee will work with the global consultants to share their journey and form part of Australia’s first Catalyst showcase.

Catalyst Profile

Catalyst – powered by SMART Technologies, is the Innovation Partner for the Education Sector. 

We form open, collaborative communities that are united by a shared challenge or objective.  Using the Catalyst Design Methodology ™ (CDM)  we work with stakeholders across the learning ecosystem to innovate their way to impact.

Our belief is that all the innovation you will ever need already exists within the individual and their respective teams within the school – it just needs to be unlocked.

EdTech Capabilities

About the 22 capabilities: A service to help school systems plan for greater success with their education technology.

Research has identified 22 EdTech capabilities school systems can develop to get better results from their learning technologies. This service:

• Surveys education technology leaders and stakeholders in the system about their perspectives on EdTech capability.
• Provides a detailed analysis along with recommendations for areas of development.

For further information on EdTech Capabilities and Learning Outcomes, click here.

Mr Adam Collis
Director of Innovation – Catalyst

Adam Collis operates at the nexus of learning, work and society and is driven by turning ideas into impact. Whilst always looking forward, Adam is compelled by the idea that we can learn a lot from nature and our ancient past as we strive to create better conditions for our future.

The Education sector has been the focal point of Adam’s career to date. He is the Cofounder and Director of Innovation at Catalyst, ambassador for Hundred.org, founding member of GOLA! – the Global Online Learning Alliance and founding member of the Learning by Making Collective.

Adam was previously the Community Development Director at EdTech Fast Track 100 company pi-top, and Event Director for the world’s largest EdTech expo – Bett.  Adam has spent more than a decade honing skills in business development, community building, proposition design and experience architecture. Most recently, he has focused on Design Thinking, creativity and corporate innovation to ensure that the ideas keep coming and the impact keeps growing.

Mr Giancarlo Brotto
Global Education – Catalyst

Giancarlo Brotto is a Global Education Catalyst. He engages with government officials, policy-influencing organisation, thought leaders, school system decision makers and researchers to gain insights and influential trends in the education sector. He is a catalyst for those who don’t just want to talk about change but want to do their part to make it a reality.

He has served on the informal advisory group for the Skills for Social Progress Project – OECD, sat on the board of Directors for C21 Canada- organisation promoting 21st Century learning across Canada. Giancarlo is currently the Chair of the Samuel Beatty Fund at the University of Toronto, promoting the study of STEM across the province. He is also a member of the steering committee for Karanga – the global alliance for SEL and life skills and Director and Global Education Advisor for SMART Technologies.

Giancarlo is the Executive Director and Cofounder of Catalyst – an international organisation that accelerates education transformation by turning ideas into action; HundrED Ambassador – helping education innovations spread across the world and founding partner of GOLA! – a secure place for high level education officials globally to collaborate and make genuine policy recommendations.

Mrs Vanessa Noonan
Dean – LINQ Academy

Vanessa Noonan is a passionate Digital Technologies and senior Technology teacher who has a love for learning with technologies. Vanessa has geared her tertiary education, professional development projects and recent academic internships towards a career in this rapidly growing field of Technologies, social entrepreneurship and problem-based learning.

Vanessa is passionate about teacher professional development opportunities and adopts a team-teaching approach in order to build teacher capacity through mentoring and coaching, whilst focused on the continuous improvement of teaching and learning. Vanessa leads the Sheldon LINQ Academy, catering for several different levels of learning, including school workshops, international student and teacher incursions, excursions and a newly formed Initial Teacher Education Pilot program.

In 2018, the Educator Magazine recognised Vanessa for her commitment to innovative teaching and learning, with her inclusion in their national Hot List which recognises forty of the most influential figures from across the Australian Education system.

Mr Murray James
Director of ICT – LINQ Academy

Murray James leads the development and implementation of ICT Services, interactive media and state-the-art learning facilities at Sheldon College. Murray is a passionate and innovative educator who has developed a positive culture within the realm of ICT’s digital pedagogies. He also teaches Film, Television and New Media at the College.    

Murray has forged collaborative partnerships with Universities, Industry and Sheldon Alumni students to bring the latest research and technological tools to Sheldon College, thereby providing opportunities for students and teachers to bridge the gap between the educational context and the real-world. Murray leads the strategic visioneering team for Sheldon College’s ICT infrastructure.

In 2018, the Educator Magazine recognised Murray for his commitment to innovative teaching and learning, with his inclusion in their national Hot List which recognises forty of the most influential figures from across the Australian Education system.