Mindshop Excellence

Mindshop Excellence News - July 2010

Excellence Events - 2010

March 29	Melbourne High School
	Host - Mindshop Australia
	Facilitators - Chris Mason and Emily Mason

May 10	McClelland College
	Host - Frankston Council
	Facilitators - Chris Mason and Jo Patten

May 10	*Monterey Secondary College*
	Host - Frankston Council
	Facilitators - Chris Mason and Jo Patten

June 21	Padua College
	Host - BlueScope Steel, Westernport
	Facilitators - Suzanne Whitmarsh and Andrew Thoseby


Mindshop Xcellence Students Xcell!
A small group of Yr 11 and Yr 10 Melbourne High School students spent their first week of school holidays at the Mindshop South Yarra office. Their project task was to investigate ideas to improve the Excellence Online learning centre to make it more appealing to students in the future. The students concluded in their presentation that the Excellence website needs to be dynamic, colourful and different for it to not only stand out in young people’s minds, but also to anybody who might look at it. Many of their outstanding ideas will be implemented in the coming weeks including, condensing the text to ensure there is a better content to graphic ratio, revitalising the front page graphics and simplifying the registration requirements. Those who attended the presentation commented that it was one of the most professional performances they’ve ever seen with Excellence students. Well done team!

Right : Chris Mason and Emily Mason with Melbourne High School students


Students Report on the Community Vision for Frankston 2025 In collaboration with David Paxino from the Frankston Mornington Local Learning Network (FMLLEN) and Jo Patten, Learning City Facilitator with the Frankston Council, students from two local schools were bought together to assess and measure the progress of two of the key themes which form the Frankston 2025 Community Vision. The Frankston 2025 Community Vision is the result of broad community consultation in which residents expressed their ideas about what Frankston City would be like in 2025. Nine themes were determined, and these themes guide the work that Council and its officers do. Each theme has a number of Indicators, which can be measured through data collection. Each year, progress on each of these Indicators is reported back to the community. The students from Monterey Secondary College spent their work experience week researching ways to improve the performance outcomes of the theme - Learning community – Our community provides opportunities for learning and development of every individual. The students from McClelland College spent their week researching ways to improve the performance outcomes of the theme - Business prosperity and local employment – Our community provides opportunities for learning and development of every individual The students presented their findings and ideas to councillors, council staff, and representatives from the schools and parents at an afternoon tea at the Council Chambers. The 2025 committee and Cr Wardle were the last to leave the presentation, and full of praise for the venture in bringing the 2025 vision into schools. They said that it exceeded their expectations, and are keen to have more programs at the Frankston Council. The week’s program also gave the students a greater awareness of career opportunities within local government.

		Left : Students from Monterey College and McClelland College participating in the Mindshop Excellence Program


Innovative young problem solvers impress BlueScope
The chance to solve a real problem for an organisation was a challenge 6, Year 10 students from Padua College undertook with vigour, intelligence and a fresh approach at BlueScope Steel, Westernport. Mindshop Facilitators, Suzanne Whitmarsh and Andrew Thoseby trained the students in problem-solving methodologies such as mind-mapping, force-field analysis and DVP and mentored the students during their work experience week in June. The young group of Padua College consultants then had to work as a team, liaise as peers with BlueScope staff and become familiar with real-world work conditions in order to successfully complete their tasks. BlueScope’s HR Manager, Elise Latchford assigned the challenge to the students to “Recommend improvements to the BlueScope Tour Centre and Tour process to best utilise the available space and create an appealing experience for students such that they would learn something about BlueScope Steel, the products, and processes.” The tour of the Hot Strip Mill by volunteer BlueScope guides, David and Kurli was a highlight for the students. They commented “It was like watching hot larvae from a volcano”. The students had to set up meetings with engineers, HR and maintenance people to get feedback and costings on some of their ideas for change. During the week, they were inspired by a visit from one of BlueScope’s Industry Ambassadors – a young engineer who spoke to them about his career pathway from school to BlueScope. They added that his talk would make a great addition to the Plant tour for school students. On the Friday the students delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation with their recommendations for consideration by the Company, to a large meeting including many of the BlueScope Management team, representatives from Padua College, Mindshop Excellence representatives, members of the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Learning and Employment Network and parents of the students.
Right : Students from Padua College participating in the Mindshop Excellence Program at BlueScope Steel


The Mindshop Excellence Online Training Area is now available The exciting development of the new highly interactive Excellence Online Centre is your gateway to online resources which includes a self assessed course and a tool box. This is the type of learning environment that students and teachers can experience right now for FREE. Some of the benefits of this new training environment include: - Ability to self pace and view 24/7 - Confidential / secure environment - Fast tracked learning in core Mindshop Problem Solving Tools - High Quality video demonstrations for each step of the way - Journey through a typical problem solving process - Flexibility of tools to be applied to personal or business issues - Self assessment at the completion of the 13 learning modules. If you are a student and would like to complete the course for FREE please register below to be sent your username and password within 48hrs (following a review of your registration). Please note: Mindshop is not liable for any actions taken as a result of completing this course. Register to complete the course For further information on the Mindshop Excellence or to discuss running a program in your region please contact: Julie Mason (jemason@mindshop.com)