Brighter future: Student teacher Anna Darcey and Jordan Humphreys.
By Cherie Donnellan
UNIVERSITY was never an option for Jordan Humphreys as he considered his future at Northern Bay College.
But the year 10 student said tertiary studies were now his goal since a new program helped him realise his skills in science and technology.
Aspire was also helping other Northern Bay students discover their potential, he said.
“It got us (students) thinking about our future and how to approach it in the right way.
“I’d never really thought about it before that.”
Aspire operates as part of a Department of Education scheme linking Deakin University teaching students with Northern Bay College to improve teacher skill bases and student learning.
Northern Bay College’s Kellie Tobin said Aspire helped students with “incredible potential”.
The program encouraged them to “explore their interests and post-compulsory schooling aspirations”, she said.
“We want to increase the aspirations of our high-achieving year nine and 10 students who may not have considered university pathways previously.”
Ms Tobin said the Deakin teching students acted as “mentors” under the program.
Deakin student Anna Darcey said working with Northern Bay students had been mutually beneficial.
“We’re trying to cross traditional lines of what pre-service teachers would have done in the past but also to respond to students whose needs have not been met with traditional teaching.
“The students in the program have tested high academically but may not be aware of their abilities. We want students to have the opportunity to understand and reflect on their abilities and become more aware of the career and study options available to them.”
Ms Darcey said the program’s first unit allowed students to attend lectures and tutorials at Deakin.
“We had the kids learn about aviation in one unit and then we took them on an excursion to Avalon Airport to meet with CEO Justin Giddings, so they were getting both theoretical and applied learning.”
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 48 per cent of Corio residents have education to year 10 or below.
