Testimonials - WINDSSM
As a head of department the WINDSSM workshops have been an absolute godsend! At the beginning of 2019 we were staring down the barrel of two new Year 11 courses, followed swiftly by the 3 new Year 12 courses. Given the short window of implementation time, we knew we were going to be pushed to our limits as a department throughout 2019-20. Fortunately, some of our staff has already completed the WINDSSM workshop for Year 11 Standard. They were raving about how comprehensive it was in terms of:
Gabbi Gerritsen, Head of Mathematics, Illawarra Christian School, June 2020
As a teacher of the new Stage 6 Advanced and Extension 1 & 2 courses for the first time throughout 2019-20 I’m so grateful that I enrolled in the WINDSSM workshops. Despite being really familiar with the old courses, and having a good grasp on how concepts were tested in previous HSC examinations, I was still overwhelmed at the immense amount of work ahead of me in 2019-20, especially given the additional curve balls Covid-19 threw at us. Some WINDSSM highlights:
This online course is very efficient for myself to participate in, as well as very entertaining with all the efforts you two put into this. I enjoy exploring through this course set up, and I like all the in-depth details I am discovering about the Standard Syllabus. It is easy to navigate and very informative. Cassandra Luu, Cherrybrook Technology High School, April 2018
I have found this course great so far. All the information, particularly the summaries, are very helpful. The videos are entertaining and I like that they are not too long. Working at my own pace has also helped. Monique Carrasco, Lake Illawarra High School, January 2018
I am really grateful for all the effort you guys have put into this course, it is so helpful. I have found it so much easier to find all the relevant documents because of the hours of work you have put in. Thank you. Benson Ascott, Penrith Christian School, January 2018
This is my first online course ever and I was a bit apprehensive when I put in my school PD application, but so far so good, enjoying the at-your-own-pace, when-you-have-time flexibility of the course and the videos and comments from others. You guys have set the bar high for feedback when I do future online PDs! Alexandra Hill, Regents Park Christian School, January 2018
This is my first online course. I am loving the idea of reading the comments made by the rest of the teachers involved. Thank you. In a small school of 2-3 Maths teachers (all who wear many other hats) and none who have the position of Head Teacher - it is difficult to navigate through the new programs, ideas etc quickly. I enjoy the video explanations - my style of learning, instead of reading through the information. Great work. Cherie McCabe, St Raphael's Catholic School, Cowra, November 2017
I like this format for an online workshop. Doing things in your own available time is great, means I can do it with a clear head and a positive approach. I have done another online course which was a similar set up to this. This however is a far more relevant and useful course for me so thanks for providing us with such a valuable resource. Pauline Wong, Masada College St Ives, November 2017
I am so happy with the WINDSSM Standard course that I have gained approval to enrol all my Maths teachers in as many WINDSSMs as they wish. It is the least I can do to support your good work. I really appreciate that there is no time limit and that they can work at their own pace. Regards, Steve Morley, Lake Illawarra High School, June 2017
Thank god for this online course. I get to access it when it suits me. Quite frankly, I like that Stuart and Richard are doing all the hard work in breaking the course down and giving to us in appropriate chunks. Thank you!! Kerrie Harris, Figtree High School, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I am enjoying reading information and then having time to go and investigate and then come back. All the information is easy to find. Johanna Ashton, Cumberland High School, April 2017
Thank you for WINDSSM, the course is great!. Being able to take time to think, progress at your own pace and know that you have real year long support (compared to NESA drip feed ) is a wonderful feeling. It is also great to be able to share thoughts with other Math teachers during the process. Stephen Morley, Lake Illawarra High School, April 2017
I have never interacted with this amount of teachers in professional dialogue of such a high standard of inspiration, structuring and participation. The format is very flexible (I've almost caught up) and wonderfully varied in perspectives. I am enjoying it. Thank you. Joe Landers, Kyogle High School, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I've done several online courses. I find this one much more fun. You two must be having fun creating it as well as a few headaches. I really like how easy it is to navigate backwards and forwards and that you and Richard have put much time into making this journey to 2018 much easier. I also like that when my brain says "enough" I can come back later. Fabulous job. Karen Lak, Newington College, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I am really loving that someone else has sifted through a lot of the information and somehow managed to select out the information that I really wanted to know. Jessica Rudd, Lake Munmorah High School, April 2017
I have not done an online course like this before. It's easy to navigate around and I like having the freedom to work at my own pace. I like reading other people's comments, especially when there are conflicting views at times, demonstrating that strategies and plans work for some, but not all teachers, students or school communities. It makes me think more about the big picture. Thank you immensely for the huge time and effort you have put into this. Adrienne Haynes, St Paul's High School Booragul, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
Thank god for this online course. I get to access it when it suits me. Quite frankly, I like that Stuart and Richard are doing all the hard work in breaking the course down and giving to us in appropriate chunks. Thank you!! Kerrie Harris, Figtree High School, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I've done several online courses. I find this one much more fun, you two must be having fun creating it as well as a few headaches. I really like how easy it is to navigate backwards and forwards and that you and Richard have put some much time into making this journey to 2018 much easier. I also like that when my brain says "enough" I can come back later. Fabulous job. Karen Lak, Newington College, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
- clear communication on changes from old to new syllabus
- provision of new teaching programs (HUGE time saver!)
- access to assessment tasks that meet new NESA standards
- updates from NESA and specific guidance regarding implications
Gabbi Gerritsen, Head of Mathematics, Illawarra Christian School, June 2020
As a teacher of the new Stage 6 Advanced and Extension 1 & 2 courses for the first time throughout 2019-20 I’m so grateful that I enrolled in the WINDSSM workshops. Despite being really familiar with the old courses, and having a good grasp on how concepts were tested in previous HSC examinations, I was still overwhelmed at the immense amount of work ahead of me in 2019-20, especially given the additional curve balls Covid-19 threw at us. Some WINDSSM highlights:
- I receive regular updates from the workshop facilitators.
- I have access to resources which are not available anywhere else.
- I can ask questions about the ‘vague’ areas of the new syllabuses.
- The workshop facilitators have regular communication with NESA around concepts that aren’t clearly defined in the syllabus.
- In each WINDSSM teaching program, every concept is linked to HSC questions going all the way back to 2001. This is incredibly helpful when planning lessons and setting assessment tasks.
- I have confidence that the complexities and nuances of the new syllabuses are properly addressed.
- I feel assured that I’ve adequately prepared my students to master the full breadth of the new syllabuses at an appropriate depth.
This online course is very efficient for myself to participate in, as well as very entertaining with all the efforts you two put into this. I enjoy exploring through this course set up, and I like all the in-depth details I am discovering about the Standard Syllabus. It is easy to navigate and very informative. Cassandra Luu, Cherrybrook Technology High School, April 2018
I have found this course great so far. All the information, particularly the summaries, are very helpful. The videos are entertaining and I like that they are not too long. Working at my own pace has also helped. Monique Carrasco, Lake Illawarra High School, January 2018
I am really grateful for all the effort you guys have put into this course, it is so helpful. I have found it so much easier to find all the relevant documents because of the hours of work you have put in. Thank you. Benson Ascott, Penrith Christian School, January 2018
This is my first online course ever and I was a bit apprehensive when I put in my school PD application, but so far so good, enjoying the at-your-own-pace, when-you-have-time flexibility of the course and the videos and comments from others. You guys have set the bar high for feedback when I do future online PDs! Alexandra Hill, Regents Park Christian School, January 2018
This is my first online course. I am loving the idea of reading the comments made by the rest of the teachers involved. Thank you. In a small school of 2-3 Maths teachers (all who wear many other hats) and none who have the position of Head Teacher - it is difficult to navigate through the new programs, ideas etc quickly. I enjoy the video explanations - my style of learning, instead of reading through the information. Great work. Cherie McCabe, St Raphael's Catholic School, Cowra, November 2017
I like this format for an online workshop. Doing things in your own available time is great, means I can do it with a clear head and a positive approach. I have done another online course which was a similar set up to this. This however is a far more relevant and useful course for me so thanks for providing us with such a valuable resource. Pauline Wong, Masada College St Ives, November 2017
I am so happy with the WINDSSM Standard course that I have gained approval to enrol all my Maths teachers in as many WINDSSMs as they wish. It is the least I can do to support your good work. I really appreciate that there is no time limit and that they can work at their own pace. Regards, Steve Morley, Lake Illawarra High School, June 2017
Thank god for this online course. I get to access it when it suits me. Quite frankly, I like that Stuart and Richard are doing all the hard work in breaking the course down and giving to us in appropriate chunks. Thank you!! Kerrie Harris, Figtree High School, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I am enjoying reading information and then having time to go and investigate and then come back. All the information is easy to find. Johanna Ashton, Cumberland High School, April 2017
Thank you for WINDSSM, the course is great!. Being able to take time to think, progress at your own pace and know that you have real year long support (compared to NESA drip feed ) is a wonderful feeling. It is also great to be able to share thoughts with other Math teachers during the process. Stephen Morley, Lake Illawarra High School, April 2017
I have never interacted with this amount of teachers in professional dialogue of such a high standard of inspiration, structuring and participation. The format is very flexible (I've almost caught up) and wonderfully varied in perspectives. I am enjoying it. Thank you. Joe Landers, Kyogle High School, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I've done several online courses. I find this one much more fun. You two must be having fun creating it as well as a few headaches. I really like how easy it is to navigate backwards and forwards and that you and Richard have put much time into making this journey to 2018 much easier. I also like that when my brain says "enough" I can come back later. Fabulous job. Karen Lak, Newington College, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I am really loving that someone else has sifted through a lot of the information and somehow managed to select out the information that I really wanted to know. Jessica Rudd, Lake Munmorah High School, April 2017
I have not done an online course like this before. It's easy to navigate around and I like having the freedom to work at my own pace. I like reading other people's comments, especially when there are conflicting views at times, demonstrating that strategies and plans work for some, but not all teachers, students or school communities. It makes me think more about the big picture. Thank you immensely for the huge time and effort you have put into this. Adrienne Haynes, St Paul's High School Booragul, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
Thank god for this online course. I get to access it when it suits me. Quite frankly, I like that Stuart and Richard are doing all the hard work in breaking the course down and giving to us in appropriate chunks. Thank you!! Kerrie Harris, Figtree High School, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017
I've done several online courses. I find this one much more fun, you two must be having fun creating it as well as a few headaches. I really like how easy it is to navigate backwards and forwards and that you and Richard have put some much time into making this journey to 2018 much easier. I also like that when my brain says "enough" I can come back later. Fabulous job. Karen Lak, Newington College, WINDSSM Mathematics Standard, May 2017