Citizens of Tomorrow, Today

Lifelong Learning

Helping prepare students for the 21st century by equipping them with skills in key areas:

  • Creativity
  • Bilingual/Multicultural
  • Athleticism
  • Survival Skills
  • Personal Management
  • Numeracy
  • Communication
  • Technology & Computer Literacy
  • Enterprise
  • Critical Humanities
  • Community Awareness
  • Spiritual & Environmental Awareness
  • Global Awareness

 

Citizens of Tomorrow, Today

the Lifelong Learning Programme

 

Dr Jennie Bickmore-Brand

 

Learning is not just what you do in the classroom

 

“As a university lecturer for some thirty years, I was concerned by the narrow skills that students exited from in many of the courses. Once back in the school system as the Principal of Lake Joondalup Baptist Primary School, I also observed that it was almost a foregone conclusion these days that students would graduate from primary to secondary education. Students just had to turn up, or not as was the case with some students and they just moved from one year into the next.

 

But what was equally true, these students, regardless of whether they were at University or school, were often involved in exciting extra-curricula activities that required higher and wider skills than their courses did!

 

I had also been mulling over how our Australian culture is quite inadequate in affirming the teenage child and how, other than the “driver’s licence,” adolescents have very few “rites of passage.” I felt that there should be more of a ceremony and sense of real achievement when a student was handed on to high school, or their next level of study.

 

I had been attracted to the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme but felt it could be much broader and more actively prepare students for an ever-changing society, as well as integrate more of the actual set curriculum. The “Citizens of Tomorrow, Today” Programme is designed to enable us all to realise that learning is a journey that we are all on and not something just done to pass through the school days.”

 

Dr. Jennie Bickmore-Brand

Programme Designer

 

 

 

 

Community involvement in the school

 

The program was developed at Lake Joondalup Baptist College in Western Australia. The lifelong learning concept was proposed at a parent body meeting in 2002 with a follow-up meeting expanding on the idea of preparing students for the 21st century.

 

 

In the year 2030 the students who are now in middle school will be making decisions that will impact on our society, while many of us will be retired or being looked after in an old folk’s home - that’s if this current generation of children actually value older people!

 

 

The Citizens of Tomorrow, Today: the Lifelong Learning Programme is a wide range of activities that students choose to do in order to gain points towards a medal.

 

The activities are designed to appeal to students who have an interest in sport, ballet, martial arts, or the more creative activities such as photography, art, and craft, etc. It also encourages students to go out into the community and volunteer in activities such as Clean Up Australia, volunteer in an aged care home or teach children they babysit a new skill, maybe how to play a computer game.

 

It also recognizes that not only teachers but their parents and extended family and friends are often people they can learn from. So when they go on a fishing trip with an uncle or plan a family holiday with their grandparents it can be scored towards their medal.

 

 

Home learning is valued!

 

Some of the activities are to be conducted at home:

 

  • Plan a healthy three course menu, obtain ingredients, cook it for your family and clean up.
  • Calculate change manually while out shopping with your family on five occasions.
  • Order pizza and compare the prices so you get the best deal.
  • Look after your pet.
  • Set up a recycling system for your family, and street.
  • Start up a small business e.g. Dog Walking, Children’s Party Games.

 

 

School learning also counts

 

Other experiences will be conducted mainly at school e.g. Communicate with a culture where English is not their first language. It is anticipated that the school will be able to provide the majority of the experiences, thus diminishing any burden on the family. However, where families support their child, we believe there will be added benefits. A Mentor is provided to support students when necessary.

 

 

 

Role of parents

 

One idea behind the “Citizens of Tomorrow, Today” Programme is to increase the participation of parents in the growth of the student at an age when students are less inclined to participate in family events. It is also designed to encourage family experiences that may not be a usual part of their routines. The parent will be able to guide the student in the planning process and be there to ratify each experience (where applicable) by signing in the Record Book. It is not the intention that the activities become a burden for the family or that parents will be expected to go to any undue lengths to support their child.

 

 

Accumulating Points

 

Graduation medals

 

The programme is based around a process of accumulating points towards the graduation medals listed here:

 

• Bronze = 200 points (minimum)

This medal rewards completion of all the Core Requirements (70 points) and an additional 130 points or more. You can choose to make up the other points by completing activities from any category at any level.

 

• Silver = 400 points (minimum)

This medal rewards completion of all the Core Requirements (70 points) and an additional 330 points or more from any category at any level.

 

• Gold = 600 points (minimum)

This medal rewards completion of all the Core Requirements (70 points) and an additional 530 points or more from any category at any level.

 

• Platinum = 800 points (minimum)

This medal rewards completion of all the Core Requirements (70 points) and an additional 730 points or more from any category at any level. (Note: It is rare for this award level to be achieved.)

Core Requirements

 

The Core Requirements are thirteen lifelong learning experiences that must be included. Note there is a minimum of one per category. You will need to complete all of these Core Requirements before you can receive any medal. On completion of the Core Requirements you will have achieved 70 points towards your bronze, silver, gold or platinum medal.

 

 

Core Requirements (70 points*)

 

Creativity (3 points)

Visit an art gallery/museum or attend a live music or dance event by a recognised performer (outside school hours) .

 

Bilingual/Multicultural (3 points)

Communicate with a pen pal from a culture where English is not their first language, or their culture is different from

yours.

 

Athleticism (5 points)

Improve skill levels in selected sports or achieve the next level of proficiency in your selected sport.

 

Survival Skills and Personal Management (8 points)

Plan, cook, and clean up a healthy three course meal for your family.

 

Numeracy (3 points)

Calculate change manually while out shopping with your family on five occasions.

 

Communication (2 points)

Send and receive an email with an attachment.

 

Technology and Computer Literacy (4 points)

General typing/key boarding skills, typing speed ten words per minute.

 

Enterprise (5 points)

Investigate a supermarket product, e.g. toothpaste – different brands, cost comparisons, weight, packaging, special benefit of chosen product. Why choose product?

 

Critical Humanities (5 points)

Compare a book with a film version of the same story.

 

Community Awareness (2 points)

Support a charity.

 

Spiritual (3 points)

Attend a place of worship and an actual service.

 

Environmental Awareness (3 points)

Visit an environmental/animal centre e.g. Zoo, Wildlife Park

 

Global Awareness (24 points)

Complete the self marked computer quiz on world facts