Trust Teacher Talks

Place-based learning (PBL) is a powerful educational tool which offers students immersive experiences in interesting and, at times confronting, places. Difficult Histories – those histories dealing with oppression, violence and trauma – are ideally suited to this pedagogical approach. Here, we will explore the intersection between PBL and Difficult Histories through the unique case study of Pentridge Prison, Victoria’s primary remand centre for most of the 20^th century. With a carefully curated collection of primary source audio and video materials from guards, inmates and lawyers, the experience at Pentridge shares the many truths from within the bluestone walls that remain unchanged, more than a century on.

In this special edition of Trust Teacher Talks, we will delve into Deep Time to explore our long Australian story through the multidisciplinary lens of archaeology. Archaeology – the excavation, analysis and interpretation of material culture from the past – plays an integral role in understanding our national story, of which only 0.4% is recorded using written sources. Utilising aspects of both science and humanities disciplines, come and learn how this exciting and engaging field can be used effectively within your classroom.

Delve deep into the world of Australian literary icons, and understand the social contexts that inspired the creation of beloved and timeless classics. Through place-based learning, students can discover the world of different authors in a hands-on way. We will explore the case study of National trust property, Mulberry Hill, home to writer Joan Lindsay when she wrote her incredibly influential novel ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’. The property is a perfect example of how a wealth of object-based knowledge can be gathered and interpreted by secondary English and Literature students to understand the why and the how of writing this classic book.