The first cohort of Central Queensland University Mackay Bachelor of Learning Management (BLM) students will complete their final day of study on October 9.

To celebrate the achievement, 62 students will complete a final roll call at 1pm on October 7 and meet industry partners who assisted with developing the program over the past three years, at 4pm.

The cohort of Mackay BLM students is among about 285 BLM students completing their studies at CQU locations, also including Noosa, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

BLM Program Co-ordinator and Education lecturer Cecily Knight said the E-Future of Learning Celebration Day was an ideal event to reflect the cutting-edge degree program content.

“The overarching framework for the program relates to authentic learning and developing real-world experiences in the classroom,” she said.

“They will be completing a degree program that features more classroom experience, more input from practising teachers, more emphasis on community engagement and more focus on being learning leaders.” .

“BLM graduates, as well as being workplace ready, have a futures orientation. This means they have demonstrable entrepreneurial skills and a commitment to on-going professional development. ”.

While completing the program BLM student Helen McDaniel (PICTURED) found interactive hands-on learning proved to be a winning formula for engaging boys in learning.

Ms McDaniel found the approach she developed over a 10-week internship enhanced the children’s understanding for mathematical concepts.

“The boys in particular like it when they are moving around the classroom completing activities that would normally be conducted from the blackboard or worksheets,” she said.

“The children loved the work. They explored material they were already doing in class, but they actually experienced the concepts through real-life examples.”.

“The activities were relevant and provided heaps of fun ways of learning the same work that would be normally done at their desks. The fun side of learning motivated the students.”.

She said group rotations allowed assistance to be offered for all abilities and learning styles.

Ms McDaniel completed the task as part of her university assessment that related to identifying and solving a classroom challenge. CQU education students will present posters outlining their challenges at an E-Future of Learning Celebration Day at CQU on October 7, with education representatives meeting the group from 4pm.