None
Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Brendan was inspired by his Year 12 Literature teacher, a man who was able to expand his horizons and stimulate a sense of wonder and curiosity.  He saw how learning could empower and change people and the idea of contributing to a better world, of serving and empowering people, and of the transformative capacity of knowledge meant teaching made sense to him.

Brendan is currently studying a Masters of Education by Coursework and Thesis.

"I went with the blend between the two Masters styles because I felt I didn’t have the research base to move straight to thesis.  So far the balance between guided units and the thesis has proven really valuable.  It’s been great to settle back into study this year (2015), to have the sense of freedom balanced with structure.  As for my thesis, I’m intending to explore cultures of critical thinking in Australian education.  I’m still at the conception stage, but academic staff have been generous with their time and counsel," says Brendan.

Brendan currently teaches at Scotch College where his role is quite diverse, a part of teaching which he really enjoys.

"A lot of my role relates to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, where I coordinate the Theory of Knowledge, History and Creativity, Activity and Service program.  I also teach the lower secondary Thinking Skills course, which is a broad-based critical thinking program".

"The best part of the job continues to be the boys that I work with, and getting to see the personal and intellectual journey they go on, particularly through their upper secondary years.  That said, I enjoy the breadth and intellectual stimulation my roles provide.  My day can involve anything from teaching Arab or Russian history in the morning to evaluating the utility of models in the construction of knowledge across Economics and Physics in the afternoon.  It might be helping boys plan a film festival to raise awareness about refugee issues, or constructing a research plan with a Year 12 boy to study the experience of childhood for members of the Stolen Generation.  Education is an amazing space."

Brendan was also the Chair of the Fogarty Foundation Postgraduate Research Forum held earlier this year.

Find out more about the Master of Education Coursework.

Media references

Siaw Chai , Marketing and Communications Officer  +61 (08) 6488 2382

Tags

Channels
Teaching and Learning
Groups
Graduate School of Education