Sometimes our parents can say it better than we can...

Dear Ms Layhe

We wanted to let you know how much we appreciated that our daughter, Isabelle, was part of the MLC Broken Hill Experience.

Isabelle enjoyed Broken Hill immensely and we as a family thoroughly enjoyed that she was given this opportunity. Everything from the 14 hour train trip to Broken Hill...was a good learning experience and invaluable for her appreciation of those who live well on the other side of the Great Divide.

We certainly support the Broken Hill curriculum in that most of the time is spent going out into the community of Broken Hill. And of course her many experiences, when back at school, were beautifully represented in her music composition and artwork.

One of the best aspects of the Broken Hill Experience was the exchange later in the term. We were very happy to welcome Imogen into our home and we were very disappointed that she was with us for such a short time.

We can’t even begin to imagine the administrative work that goes into this project and similar to projects that entail a lot of behind the scenes work, when the event runs smoothly it appears to have run itself.

Thank you to yourself and all the teachers who were involved in Broken Hill 2009.

Very best regards,
Yvonne and Richard
(Year Nine Parents, 2009)

Year 9 remote campus...shaping the learning
for a whole year

The Year 9 Laboratory uses the pivotal remote learning experience at Broken Hill to shape the whole year’s learning. So ‘learning anywhere, any time’ rather than just in traditional
classroom settings within prescribed school hours is facilitated at Broken Hill but also at Burwood through the establishment of non-traditional, flexible learning spaces that challenge traditional expectations of teaching and learning, as well as through increased and enhanced use of online learning. Students also have the opportunity to increase their research skills as they undertake the inaugural independent investigation.

Students investigate the way they shape the environment and the environment shapes them. During their time at Broken Hill, students are immersed in the local environment as they explore:

• the Australian History and Geography of the mining town and its industry
• indigenous people and their culture
• the flora and fauna of the National Parks of the outback
• the artists of the bush and the galleries that support them
• the Australian identity as explored through Australian writing and film
• Community Service by giving back to the town of Broken Hill who so generously host us each year.

Community living, sharing the load and appreciating each other

Students experience ‘community living’ at Mulberry Vale, a cabin complex outside Broken Hill. Mulberry Vale has made a special arrangement with MLC to accommodate our students and we have satellite and network connections back to MLC so that online learning and communication can happen every day. In cabins of 6-8 girls Year 9’s organise their living arrangements, manage a small budget and self-cater for breakfast and lunch, while also negotiating the allocation of tasks around the cabin, and establishing the protocols of living together.

Students complete an individual research task as well as a group iMovie task, addressing essential questions about Broken Hill. Assessment and Reporting of the Broken Hill experience focuses on the ‘whole’ person and thus examines the increasing knowledge students have of themselves as learners, as individuals and as members of a community. Peer and self-assessment are crucial components of the assessment program.