Miranda Armstrong

After training as a Kindergarten Teacher in the mid '70's, Miranda spent 10 years working at Oxford (UK) and Purdue (USA) Universities as a Research Assistant in the School of Medicine. Whilst in the US she attended Mary Baldwin College, retraining as a Primary and Junior Secondary teacher. On her return to teaching in Australia her interest was in developing 'Living Classroom Environments', and in examining how these settings enhanced learning outcomes for young students.   In the late '80's she began exploring Egan's philosophies.   With colleagues she wrote 'Journeys of Discovery' detailing units of work based on Egan's Storyform Model.   Presently she directs a Sustainable Living Centre at Melbourne Girls Grammar using Egan's philosophies to powerfully inspire young students to make a difference in their world.

Abstract:
"Brain Soup Laced with Imagination" - an Australian perspective on Imaginative Curriculum Design across the disciplines.

For the past eighteen years I have worked in Primary School settings in Australia, using Kieran Egan's Storyform model to plan Integrated Studies across all disciplines.

Early in this journey it became clear that the way my colleagues and I manipulated and massaged Egan's planning scaffold, spawned a learning environment that was unique, dynamic and imaginative. Students in these learning environments became inspired, self-motivated learners who were on the road to becoming autonomous, metacognitive thinkers.

Before I knew much about ways to foster Brain Compatible Classrooms (Robin Fogarty), or nurture Creative Brains (Ned Herrmann), I knew that using Egan's Storyform Model was a planning tool virtually guaranteeing improved brain-based thinking and learning outcomes for students.

This workshop is designed to:

· Provide an overview of one way in which Egan's ideas have been adapted in Australia.
· Provide anecdotal evidence of student learning in these settings.
· Explore reasons why Egan's work compliments or creates Brain Compatible Classrooms.
· Provide opportunities to create a unit together over the course of the session.
· Allow for questions and comments.

This workshop is a practitioner's perspective but would appeal to academics interested in research that explores links between Imagination in Education and the development of Creative Brains.

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