By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT’S the first program of its kind in a Victorian school, and possibly the world.
Emerald Secondary College teacher Kylie Rackham has been named one of nine teachers to receive a NEITA 2013 ASG Inspirational Teaching Award for introducing a Brain and Auditory Training (BAT) program to the school.
“The BAT program is based on the premise that most kids struggling with auditory processing and language troubles are to do with the pathways in the brain,” Ms Rackman said.
“So this program in essence reprograms the brain by opening up the pathways.
“These kids are listening to specifically tailored music while reading aloud, or doing maths problems – the auditory senses then open up other pathways and have been proven to improve short-term memory too.”
While only a test study for now, students who have taken up the opportunity to use the BAT program, meet in the BAT room for three blocks totalling 80 hours over four weeks.
The plan is that the music and vibrations from the specially designed headphones onto the skull not only make the parts of the brain focusing on the task at hand fire – but others too.
Ms Rackham said that over 40 students were part of the project – all with a variety of learning difficulties.
“My son was diagnosed with learning difficulties and after a bit of research I came across the work of the Listen and Literacy Centre in Balwyn,” she said.
“I asked around and developed a friendship with the owner and the rest is history.
“If we can prove that it works, and we do have teachers already praising the difference the program has already had for these kids, then there is nothing to say that it shouldn’t be introduced in other schools around the state – maybe even in primary school so these negative learned behaviours can be addressed before high school.”
Proud principal Wayne Burgess said that Kylie was one of 15 state finalists nominated for the award and said it was a fantastic effort to be named a recipient.
“The work she has done with some of these kids, off her own bat, has been amazing,” he said.
“She came to me with this idea, and while I supported it – I couldn’t give her any money, so out she went getting money from the community and other fund-raising activities.
“We are very proud of her work.”
