Kaleidoscope Education’s mission is to contribute meaningfully to the changing landscape of educational practice in schools by providing teachers, school administrators, parents and students with a working understanding of the biology and function of the human brain and the application of this knowledge to facilitate improved social, emotional and academic outcomes for students and the wider school community.
Penny Bingham, director of Kaleidoscope Education, is an experienced classroom practitioner, literacy consultant, university educator and professional learning facilitator with expertise in contemporary brain theory and its implications for learning and teaching.
Penny is also a certified Focus Education presenter. This certification required successful completion of an 18 month Certification Program which focused on substance, style, credibility, motivation, marketability and business acumen.
Penny was the recipient of Murdoch University’s Elizabeth Mary Dodd Prize in Education for the best academic performance by a graduand in the Master of Education Coursework Program
Penny has presented at numerous conferences and seminars both nationally and internationally and is sought after as a facilitator of school-based professional development workshops.
Penny’s professional experience includes:
Education Advisor, Lautoka Teachers’ College, Fiji
Sessional tutor, Murdoch and Notre Dame Universities, Western Australia.
Practicum supervisor, Murdoch University
Curriculum Consultant, Western Australian Department of Education
Literacy Consultant, Western Australian Department of Education
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
Penelope Bingham
has successfully completed the required course of study approved by the
Director, Focus Education Australia, and is therefore awarded a
CERTIFICATION DIPLOMA
to use Focus Education’s Intellectual Property and Images pursuant to specific Terms
and Conditions. John Joseph endorses Penelope as a trainer of substance and style.
Given this 1st day of January, 2009
John Joseph
Director
Focus Education Australia
www.focuseducation.com.au
Testimonials Re. Penny Bingham
Penny Bingham brings a wealth of knowledge and life skills which enable her to handle even the most challenging situations and turn them into positive learning experiences. I am thrilled with the program. It has been a great way to help these students become interested in school again by giving the responsibility for their learning back to each individual. I am impressed with the variety of tasks used to engage the students –amazing graphics, games, play-dough modeling, group discussions, brain dissection etc, which have been effective in keeping students on task and have brought a sense of reality to lessons.
Penny’s choice of relevant topics has been powerful. Issues such as ‘one punch incidents’, ‘train surfing’ and ‘graffiti’ all relate to issues that these students face in their day to day lives, which meant that they could see a purpose to the classes.
Personally, I learnt a lot through this program, not only about the students in my class, but also about my own teaching and learning journey. It is not often that you get to watch your students as they work through a program, and this experience allowed me to gain a better understanding of the way in which this diverse and challenging group of teenagers think and learn.
At the start of the program I was very negative about teaching this class – I really did not want to take the class sometimes! Now I look forward to these lessons as I have seen another side to these students, and I am consistently looking for ways to continue to bring that out by giving them opportunities to show me what they can do. They are still a challenging class, but there is a definite positive change – which is fantastic!
Gail Nelson
Learning Difficulties Coordinator
Comet Bay College
Western Australia.
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Thank you Penny for all your support. Your enthusiasm and passion for children's development in general and their literacy in particular has really inspired me and you have provided me with many things that I can put into my own classroom practice.
Emma Smith. B.Ed student, Notre Dame University, WA
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Your strong commitment and passion for this program was evident through the level of energy and enthusiasm you sustained throughout. This was reflected in the students' level of engagement and the fact that they are motivated to continue their learning journey about the brain. Your program has guided them in learning how to intellectualise their behaviour and has supported my goal of achieving intrinsic rewards for appropriate behaviour in the classroom and the playground. I shall ensure that the learning you have facilitated continues to underpin the academic, social and emotional learning program for these students.
Lis Mathaisen. Associate Principal, Tjukurla Remote Community School
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I found your session was the most inspiring and engaging of the conference.
Elizabeth van Vuuren. Delegate, WA College of Teachers - Beginning and Returning Teachers' Conference, May 2009.
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Thank you for all your help Penny. I feel much more confident and competent as a teacher because of your guidance and advice.
Daniel Leu. Teacher, Warburton Remote Community School, 2010
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