Partnerships: Diverse delivery sustains spark
Presentation by Christina Sykiotis, Head Teacher, Hunter Institute
Sometimes providing work based training seems just too hard. The industry isn’t right, perhaps all small business, or work comes in cycles. The Music Department at TAFE NSW Hunter Institute has developed a model based upon project based learning and assessment, which is collaborative, facilitative and ultimately delivers jobs in that most fickle of industries: music.
The critical importance of dedicated staff working together with vision, creativity and enormous reserves of enthusiasm is highlighted in these partnerships.
The model
The model engages with community groups,industry partners and other faculties. It is staff led and student run enabling students to contribute back to their community while having aneducation. The students gain great experience, while meeting learning outcomes.
Screen students produce a TV commercial, music students create a live music event, students work in community organisations to create and develop pathways and employment for young people at risk.
For example,
Shootout Film Festival provided students with the opportunity to work with real clients, a real brief, with professionals in film and TV industry.
Welsey Mission worked with students from the Advanced Diploma in Music Business to develop a song writing workshop for Wesley Mission students.
As the production house for the Hunter Institute Awards six students worked on intensive two day shoots, helping the Institute to meet commercial targets, and gaining work experience .
The grounding of the Pasha Bulker presented an unforeseen opportunity to develop script and record a program called Stories from the Storm.
The annual Newcastle Music week is produced by the Music Department and its students every year.
Why it works
The students testify to a “flexible and encouraging learning environment…”“We just love our teachers, they were great”
It works because these were real projects. Students were gaining experience, networking, learning and securing employment.
Partnerships with community groups and industry lead to great results in employment and continuing education. Performance events utilise training in ways that showcase talent. In addition project based models develop team work skills, and working with other people leads to increases in confidence and self esteem. Some projects involve tuition and teaching by peers, enhancing the ability of teachers and students to relate and creating peer pressure to finish projects and succeed. All projects tailor subjects to the interests of students.
Performance, marketing and production, teaching and support jobs are all factored in, giving a complete overview of the industry.
Achieving success
- Real as we can get it at every level.
- Success depends upon dedicated, creative staff that are prepared to put in lots of extra hours. Creative timetabling and use of resources is another important component.
- Contacts with industry and the capacity to deliver outcomes for a real industry event expand the number of opportunities for students to grow and to achieve.
- Shameless promotion is also critical, of events, projects, students, staff, TAFE.
“If you haven’t got a vision and haven’t got a way to create it then nothing is going to happen”
- Click here to listen to the Session