Case Study 2: Global Education Leader Cameron Paterson

Cameron Paterson

Case Study 2 Global Education Leader Cameron Paterson

Cameron Paterson is the Mentor of Learning and Teaching at Shore School in North Sydney, Australia. He also works for Harvard and is co-editor of Flip the System Australia: What Matters in Education. He has a blog called “It’s About Learning” and a Twitter account, both of which he updates frequently.



What attributes of a global education leader does this educator exemplify?

Cameron exemplifies many of the attributes of a global education leader, but it seems the attribute he most demonstrates is the ability to design futuristic learning environments to connect students with the world. He shows this through his work in Harvard’s Project Zero Classroom, which helps teachers design engaging and exciting learning experiences for all learners. Cameron also conveys the importance of designing futuristic learning environments to connect with the world through his social media posts. On Twitter, he posted a quote from a study saying, “students in the direct instruction condition were initially more successful in solving well-structured problems. However… their performance on tasks that required deeper conceptual understandings was inferior…” and “teachers of engaged learning are designers of learning opportunities. They are no longer mere providers of information and solutions.” On the description of his book, “Flip the System Australia”, it states that it “advocates for a flipping, flattening, and democratizing of the education system in Australia and around the world.” His advocacy, willingness to be disruptive to the current education system, and emphasis on helping other educators do the same through conference sessions and workshops are what I believe takes him from a global educator to a global education leader

What tools does this educator use for collaboration, both with other educators and with students?

Cameron Paterson mainly uses his blog, his Twitter account, and the Project Zero Classroom program for collaboration with other educators. I’ve gathered from his Twitter posts that he attends and speaks at many conferences. Though it says he is the “Mentor of Teaching and Learning” at Shore School, almost all of his posts are about collaboration with other educators, not students. 

How does this educator facilitate communication and collaboration with either other educators or students?

Cameron facilitates communication and collaboration with students and other educators by setting up Skype interviews and sessions so students have an opportunity to collaborate with a professional in a field. He also posts some of their thoughts on his blog to give students a genuine audience. He seems to lead many sessions at conferences and workshops, and collaborates frequently through them. 

What is your biggest take away from your exploration of this educator?

Cameron Paterson is a vocal advocate for designing futuristic learning environments for students. His work centers around the need for students to be able to think deeply and transfer knowledge to new challenges in order to prepare them for challenges they will face in the future. Many recent blog posts and Tweets have been related to COVID-19, since he has been a part of creating his school’s distance learning plan, so it’s interesting to see his take on the distance learning challenge that we are all currently facing.