Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning (SCIL)

Transforming Education

Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning actively promotes excellence in education by providing new learning opportunities for students and future-focused Professional Development for teachers. Established as the research and innovation unit of Northern Beaches Christian School (Sydney, Australia), SCIL runs a range of programs and research projects that seek to transform educational thinking and practice both at NBCS and in the wider educational community.

Ideas in Action

The leadership team at SCIL is drawn from the staff at NBCS, including award-winning teachers and educators on the front-line of K-12 education.

Research projects provide an insight into the changing landscape of learning in the 21st Century, which then shapes the learning environment and methods at NBCS. We incorporate the ideas and thinking that comes from research and development into programs and initiatives, including online distance education for HSC students across NSW (www.hsconline.nsw.edu.au), Professional Development courses and training for teachers, and international learning collaboration network established to bring learning communities together (www.beyondborders.edu.au).

A Vision for Excellence

SCIL is a unit of Northern Beaches Christian School, established as part of our vision for excellence in education. NBCS is a independent, co-educational school in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, offering quality education for Pre-school, Primary, Middle Years and Senior Years. All of the programs and research projects that are run by SCIL are firmly based in the classrooms and day-to-day learning environment at NBCS. Staff are dedicated to creating a learning culture that promotes the highest standards for academics, whilst nurturing and caring for each student.

Building the Future

As a direct result of research led by SCIL, NBCS has been steadily creating 21st Century-equipped learning spaces across the campus. In 2009 we will open a brand new multimedia centre, known as the SCIL Building, incorporating multimedia and multi-model learning spaces and an information hub.

Technology-enhanced

A strategic focus on building an extensive IT network across the campus has enabled NBCS to open new opportunities for pedagogical innovation. A network of online learning environments, including dedicated websites for Primary and Secondary, have enabled face-to-face teaching to be enhanced with tools for collaboration and content delivery.

SCIL is currently working with software development firm Catalyst IT to develop an integrated data-management resource for NBCS. This project, MyNBCS, is being introduced stage-by-stage to the staff, students and parents in the NBCS community, and will deliver a web-based interface to manage live reporting and student management.