The Opportunity Class (OC) at Biraban is taught by Mrs Bethany Peschar and provides an avenue for gifted and talented students to explore and express their unique abilities in a safe and flexible learning environment. Over its time at Biraban, the OC classroom has been set up to maximise the learning potential for each individual and a range of learning opportunities have been offered to increase engagement of gifted and talented students.
Students take part in the Minds Wide Open Program targeting critical and creative thinking in line with the Australian Curriculum and future focused skills. Students are encouraged to develop and utilise skills for Project and Inquiry-Based Learning, creative problem solving, design processes and Authentic 21st Century Learning. As a culmination of this skill development, students then design, plan, produce and present their own inquiry project based on their own passions or interests. The OC is also extended through a range of rich learning tasks and STEM activities throughout the year.
Biraban also has a strong focus on improving and utilising technology within the OC in order to learn future-focused skills. Students become fluent in working collaboratively online though a range of platforms, including Google Classroom, Onenote and Edmodo. Student's also have the opportunity to develop their coding skills through Code Club and expand their technology use to construct and design websites to present projects. In the past, students have also had the chance to engage with robotics and coding during technology workshops run through the Indigenous Digital Excellence initiative. This program provided opportunities for students to explore digital technology—using tools like MIT Scratch, robotics, and 3D printing.
Students from Biraban OC also have the opportunity to take part in Gifted and Talented Enrichment Days hosted at Biraban. Students are provided with a range of electives such as Maths, Science, Critical and Creative Thinking, Music, Art, Drama and Writing. Each elective is run by a specialist in the field and extends the students with unique and challenging activities. This is a great opportunity for students to connect with other like-minded students and extend their thinking.
The OC at Biraban also provides a unique physical learning environment through flexible learning spaces in order to extend capable students and strengthen self-regulation skills. The classroom is spacious and is designed in such a way that students are required to be reflective and adaptive based on their individual needs. Through explicit teaching of the Zones of Regulation, students become aware of their personal capabilities and strategies to manage their emotions and choices. Students learn to adapt these higher order skills and apply them to their individual learning needs, choosing appropriate work spaces for themselves on a daily basis.
