EVALUATION REPORT SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERS IN HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE 3- 4 November 2005 1. INTRODUCTION The Secondary School Leaders in Health and Physical Education Conference was held at Ascot Quays Apartment Hotel on 3-4 November 2005. The conference was an initiative of the Department’s Physical Activity Strategy. The conference was designed to address aspects of the Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS) recommendations, and was funded through the Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce. The main target group for the conference was Secondary Heads of Department and/or Teachers-In-Charge of Health and Physical Education in public schools in Western Australia. 2. CONFERENCE PROGRAM The conference provided a platform for school leaders in health and physical education to reflect on, explore and plan for action research on issues affecting adolescent physical inactivity in public schools in Western Australia. There were several highlights of the conference program including keynote presentations, opportunities for reflection and sharing of practice, updates on system initiatives and time for the development of collegiate groups to address areas of common interest in increasing adolescent participation in physical activity. A copy of the conference program is presented in Appendix 1. 3. CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT A reference group consisting of seven (7) leaders in health and physical education in secondary schools and three (3) staff from central office was formed to oversee the organisation of the two day conference. Two meetings were held to discuss conference themes, identify the professional development needs of Heads of Department and Teachers-in-Charge of Health and Physical Education in public schools, design a conference agenda and identify tasks for action. The Reference Group members were: Alan Cummings Belmont City College Kevin Griffiths South Fremantle Senior High School Mark Hendon Perth Modern School Ian Lockhart Newton Moore Senior High School Paul Beecham Margaret River Senior High School Peter Sinclair Balga Senior High School Wayne Baseden Willetton Senior High School Lisa Bayly DET Central Office Keren Caple DET Central Office Richard Lobb DET Central Office 4. EVALUATION Evaluation of the Secondary School Leaders in Health and Physical Education Conference comprised a self-administered survey that was distributed to all delegates at the end of the second day of the conference. Delegates were asked to rate their responses to a range of statements on a likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Additional open ended questions sought feedback on learnings gained in best practice system initiatives and physical activity practice, and the most useful and least useful sessions over the two days. A copy of the evaluation form is presented in Appendix 2. 4.1 Total Registrations: Metropolitan based schools 60 Rural/remote based schools 31 TOTAL REGISTRATIONS 91 TOTAL DELEGATES 87 (4 registered delegates did not attend) District Number of delegates who attended Albany District 3 Bunbury District 4 Canning District 14 Esperance District 1 Fremantle Peel District 17 Goldfields District 2 Kimberley District 1 Midlands District 4 Mid West District 3 Narrogin District 2 Pilbara District 5 Swan District 13 Warren Blackwood District 3 West Coast District 15 TOTAL 87 4.2 Findings of the self-administered survey A total of 78 delegates returned their evaluation surveys. Therefore, a response rate of 90% was generated. The following tables provide a summary of responses related to key aspects of the conference. Table 1: Learnings about physical activity best practice • Range and variety of strategies • Focus on importance of schools to available to address physical address physical inactivity inactivity • Good data available to support the • Important role of physical education case for physical activity in schools and the role of the teacher • Teachers too stretched – need more • Whole school and community support response required • Reinforced knowledge base • Provided motivation • Some individual teachers and • Not much schools are doing a good job • Increasing physical activity behaviours is challenging Table 2: Learnings about best practice in system initiatives • Evidence to support PA - motivating • Course of Study in PE • Central office support available • Collegiate group processes • Involve my staff • Limited support/resources for teachers • General awareness • Need PE specialists in primary schools • Need for mandated time in PE • Need whole school approach • SIS reporting • Action learning • Already providing best practice • Not much Table 3: Most useful session – including reason • Donna Cross • Collegiate groups/action planning o Motivating and interesting o Gave positive/pro-active o Good focus approach to leave with o Linked to purpose of conference o Networking extremely useful – o Excellent HPE ambassador new contacts, new ideas o Great suggestions for moving o Round table discussions forward o Making a plan o Related to schools and best way to teach • Both keynotes • Trevor Shilton o Useful and relevant information o Up to date data and statistics for advocacy o Interesting, relevant data o Informative, professional o Shocking trends in obesity since o Reinforces current knowledge advent of technology • Course of Study in PE • Reflecting and sharing o Further details explained o Viewing the plight of other schools • Friday – all day • CIP2 Workshop o Motivating, practical and useful o Great sharing activity but too o Time to share ideas short o Active involvement o Opened up PES package • Networking • Group work discussion • Planning for Action Day One – great • Everything group, useful ideas Table 4: Least useful session – including reason • Course of Study in PE • CIP2 workshop o I find them hard to listen to o Insufficient time o No chance for input – needed o No detail, glossed over small group work o Too much information for time o Confusion! available o Don’t offer PE studies at our o Not engaging school o Good to listen but didn’t learn anything new o Too fast, too vague o Created more questions than answers o No conference package to complete pre-conference task o Assumed too much pre knowledge • Department of Sport & Recreation • Action Planning information session o Already knew o Already experienced in processes o Not necessary o Previous knowledge o Irrelevant • Keynote – Day 1 • Keynote – Day 2 o Seen already, nothing new o Knew it – without legislation no change o Visually uninspiring – too much information too quickly • Collegiate group/action planning • Thursday – all day o Too much time o Too rushed o Group unable to make decisions • Nothing Table 5: Other comments • Great conference, well done, needs • Networking was invaluable to be a regular event • Feel inspired and motivated • Too rushed, not enough time for discussion especially Day One • Need primary school PE specialists • Venue, food, accommodation great • Need greater government commitment by way of funding, resources and teaching staff FIGURE 1: Responses to Statements Overall, the conference was relevant to my professional learning needs The PE studies course of study session provided and opportunity to engage in, and learn more about the new course I did not enjoy the keynote presentations The CIP2 workshop enabled me to share experiences and practices as a physical education leader The conference was well organised I have learned much as a result of this conference Overall, the sessions on system initiatives were not relevant to me The keynote presentation on Friday was interesting and relevant The conference was enjoyable The planning for action sessions provided me with the skills and knowledge to participate in the action learning planning The keynote presentation on Thursday was interesting and relevant Overall, sessions provided new and/or interesting information The conference has enabled me to meet new colleagues and strengthen existing networks There was sufficient variety in the sessions 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 Level of Agreement (1-5) 5. DISCUSSION In summary, the results were very positive towards all aspects of the conference. The conference was considered a good opportunity for networking; learning new information; identifying and reflecting on issues that affect leaders in health and physical education; and engaging in action learning projects with like minded colleagues to improve pedagogical approaches and skills that can lead to increased engagement and participation in physical activity and outcomes for students in public schools in Western Australia. Delegates overwhelming felt the conference was relevant to their professional learning needs and enjoyed attending the conference. In particular the keynote presentations on Thursday and Friday mornings were particularly well received. Numerous delegates also identified the planning for action collegiate groups, with the opportunity to reflect, share and discuss a plan for action, as being the most useful aspect of the conference. Comments about some sessions on Day One being too rushed or too short for sufficient discussion was a commonly reported issue that needs to be considered by the organisers of the 2006 Innovation Forum. APPENDIX 1 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INITIATIVES SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERS CONFERENCE November 3, 2005 TIME SESSION VENUE FACILTATOR 8.00am Registration Foyer 8.30am Aboriginal Welcome and River Room Marie TAYLOR Conference Opening John GOUGOULIS 8.45am Keynote Address: