News Blog

Creative Learning Pays off for St Brigid’s

July 19, 2018

Since St Brigid’s Catholic College at Lake Munmorah opened four years ago, it has embraced a new method of teaching called “enquiry-based learning,” which supports students to work independently and collaborate, take initiative, and think creatively about problems.

The approach is now paying off as the HSC program has recently changed to include an enquiry-based approach to learning.

“It’s perfect timing for our College as our students have always been across that method of learning from Year 7 onwards, and now they’re equipped for the HSC,” said Julie Terry, the College Principal.

Ms Terry said that enquiry-based learning equips students for the future. “In our modern world, we need to focus on the things machines can’t do, like creative thinking, innovation, and self-management,” she said. “We feel it is our responsibility to educate not just for the HSC, although that’s an important milestone, but also to educate for life.”

Students from St Brigid’s are also encouraged to engage with creative work, and several students just took out prizes in the ‘About Face’ exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery.

Claudia McCartney in Year 11 received First prize and Lara Umback in Year 8 received 2nd prize in their respective age categories. Molly Hay in Year 9 also had her work selected for the exhibition.

Even the school buildings have been designed for creative learning, with an open-plan teaching area where students sit at communal tables and face each other instead of the teacher, and can break into smaller, more casual areas for small-group work, including outdoors.