LandLearn aims to

»	Encourage and support the incorporation of studies about sustainable agriculture and natural resource management into schools' curricula;
»	Provide support for teachers and school communities through professional development, current learning and teaching resources and student activities that make learning fun;
»	Engage students in active, experiential learning which can include on-going participation in community environmental management projects;
»	Promote partnerships between school and community groups, such as Landcare, and between urban and rural schools.

Key messages
Caring for our land and its resources is a shared responsibility. Learning and action now is an investment in a future with:

»	A sustainable environment;
»	Quality food and natural fibres produced by farmers using responsible practices;
»	Viable rural and regional communities;
»	Challenging, valued and purposeful careers and employment in agriculture-based industries.

Curriculum Resources
LandLearn produces a range of teaching and learning materials to support program delivery in schools. These resources are available on CD as PDF files with student worksheets also provided as MS Word documents. They include:

LandLearn resources

»	Promote an integrated approach to sustainability education;
»	Engage students in active field and classroom-based learning;
»	Address the Victorian Essential Learning Standards across all year levels, but particularly target Levels 4 to 6;
»	Incorporate teachers' notes and background material, student learning activities, extension ideas, reference lists and links to relevant programs and resources;
»	Include materials for specific VCE units in Agriculture & Horticulture Studies, Geography, Environmental Science, Biology and Chemistry.

Website
Bookmark this site for future reference to explore curriculum activities, teaching resources, fieldwork sites, newsletters online and much more! www.landlearn.net.au

Professional Development
LandLearn supports teachers through:

»	Professional learning programs - half or one day duration designed to cater for whole school staff, groups based on Learning Domains or Levels, clusters or networks, trainee teachers;
»	Introductory and short workshops designed to introduce teachers to LandLearn resources and support or to address specific themes;
»	Fieldtrips addressing a range of themes.

Examples of the themes addressed in the current professional development program include:

»	Connecting "edible gardens" in school communities to agriculture as the source of our food;
»	Learning activities about a range of farming enterprises - cropping, livestock and horticulture;
»	Landcare and sustainable farming;
»	Sustainability through a new innovative program that integrates learning for sustainability across the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.

Newsletter

»	Published quarterly and delivered to every school in Victoria;
»	Emailed in PDF format upon request;
»	Available on the website;
»	Contributions to the newsletter are welcome.

Careers Promotion
LandLearn has a responsibility to promote and raise awareness about careers in agriculture, natural resource management and food production industries. This role is undertaken in partnership with other organisations and education providers through:

Partnerships and Industry Support

»	Representatives of diverse industry organisations, tertiary institutions, education and training providers, community organisations and individuals participate with program staff in planning and delivering activities such as careers information, special projects and other cross-sector activities.
»	Farmers and Landcare groups provide access to fieldwork sites and extensive local knowledge.
»	Education-based partnerships facilitate a sharing of knowledge, skills and resources.

LandLearn is one of several DPI / DSE education programs which together offer a comprehensive environmental education package.

	[PDF brochure]