centred learning

I understand that every student learns differently. Through my own educational experiences and my career in communications, I have come to appreciate that people bring unique strengths, interests, experiences, and ways of understanding the world into every learning environment. Working in the communications industry for over 20 years as a graphic artist and art director, I have learnt that meaningful connections begin with understanding your audience, and adapting your message to meet their needs. I believe the same principle applies to teaching. Effective teaching begins with knowing the learner, which is why this belief forms the foundation of my teaching philosophy: Teaching Through Relationships.

The stronger my understanding of who a student is, how they think, what motivates them, and where they are in their learning journey, the better I am able to support their growth and lead them to excellence.

My philosophy is rooted in my own educational experiences. One of the most influential teachers in my life created a classroom where I felt safe, seen, and encouraged to express myself. Looking back, what made that experience meaningful was not simply the curriculum, but the relationships that were cultivated within the classroom. That experience reinforced my belief that students are more likely to engage, grow, and succeed when they know their teacher genuinely cares about them as individuals.

To me, relationships are the bridge between teaching and learning. Before students can fully engage with new ideas, they need to feel safe, respected, and valued within the classroom community. I strive to create an environment built on trust, communication, respect, and support, where students feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and taking risks. Through these relationships, students build confidence, develop self-awareness, and become active participants in their own learning. Setting this foundation is what gives students the ability to be curious, think critically and lead them to finding their unique point of view, which is the starting point to creative thinking.

I would argue that everything in life requires strong communication skills, whether it’s communicating with a patient, convincing stakeholders, pitching presentations to clients, working in a team, or even prompting an AI bot. Communications sits at the heart of every profession and meaningful relationship. As a Communications Technology teacher, I want to empower students with the skills to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively, regardless of the path they choose in the future. Whether students are creating a podcast, video, presentation, design project, or using emerging technologies, I want them to understand that these tools are ultimately vehicles for storytelling, creativity, and connection.

By understanding who my students are and adapting my teaching to meet their needs, I hope to help them develop not only technical and academic skills, but also the communication, confidence, and interpersonal skills that will serve them throughout their lives.