What is ruMAD?

ruMAD? is about making a difference.

In recent times, national and state government policies in education have emphasized the need to teach for greater and deeper understanding and for the incorporation of values education into the curriculum.

ruMAD?'s (Are You Making a Difference?) innovative approach to teaching and learning is a bold example of how these two curriculum directions can successfully be addressed within one program.

ruMAD? is a values-focused, student-led, and inquiry-based curriculum framework that encourages students to make a difference. Through ruMAD?, students are immersed in a unique program of social change and innovative learning where activities and projects are based upon student-identified values and interests. This motivates them to enact change within their school and community.

The process starts with students identifying shared and important values as a group. Once shared values are established, students identify community issues that are inconsistent or in conflict with those shared values. Students then explore possibilities for action through various levels of involvement in social change projects, and lead the planning and implementation of their chosen projects.

Levels of MADness:

  1. ruMAD? Projects
  2. MAD Day (Make A Difference Day)
  3. ruMAD? Student Foundations
  4. ruMAD? Youth Ambassadors
  5. FAQ

ruMAD? Projects

ruMAD? projects are ongoing social change projects that are set up to become sustainable, and can be embedded within the school curriculum.

(would you like to see an example?)

MAD Day

Where your school and/or community comes together to enact one day of action! This can be purely as a taster for the ruMAD? program, or as a celebration of an ongoing project.

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Student Foundations

With an ruMAD? Student Foundation, students follow a framework to establish themselves as a philanthropic foundation. Students identify issues of importance to them rather than generic school fundraisers. The students commit to raising funds and granting monies to worthy community organisations within their local communities. They not only learn what it is to raise the money but how they can grant money to make change in their world. It gives students an active role in shaping world they want to grow up in.

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Student Ambassadors

Once students have participated in a MAD Day, ruMAD? project or a MAD student foundation, they can qualify to become a Youth Ambassador. The students become advocates for the program and share stories with other students within their school and other schools about ruMAD?. A Youth Ambassador role provides the opportunity for students to develop and gain confidence in presentations, role models for leadership, and develop self-confidence. The National Youth Ambassador's Conference is held once a year to celebrate and acknowledge the students achievements. The aim of the day is to encourage students to share ideas and learn collectively from one another's experiences and of course to celebrate!

(would you like to see an example?)

Education Foundation Australia: making a difference since 1989

Education Foundation Australia is unique in its focus on philanthropic support for public education. It is the only independent, non-profit organisation in Australia that strengthens public education by investing private monies (philanthropic and corporate) into primary and secondary schools. Our focus is educational excellence and equality of opportunity.

FAQs

Does it cost anything to use the ruMAD? Framework?

For public schools there is no cost as we are primarily funded to work within the public education sphere. This is also true for not-for-profit government-funded community agencies.

ruMAD? is available to any school/organisation who wants to use it. There are some nominal costs associated for non-government schools and organisations.

It is advisable to contact us to discuss the costing model that best suits you. This process is usually done on a case by case basis.

What sort of outcomes can I expect by using ruMAD?

"ruMAD? really works ... when I see a year 9 student who is the shyest person get up and being confident in front of a camera and then seeing her grow in confidence through the term it makes me feel like I have made the right choice in becoming a teacher."
Dean Delia, Latrobe Secondary College (2005)

"The most noticeable thing that has struck the parents and community of Lyndale Primary is that the students are more capable and that students are creating projects at a deeper level and presenting them differently to how they went to school. They have been excited to learn about the skills their children are learning and are sensing that their child's voice and message is being heard by hundreds of others."
Tanya Moran, Lyndale Primary School

"... what underpins the ruMAD program is that it empowers people to make a change for the good of their fellow human beings - the principles of philanthropy - and that even little children can do this - the Power of One. It can be as big as a massive program to wipe out world poverty, or as small as a child helping another. It is identifying a human need and taking action to make the difference. "My hands are small, but they are my own" as Jewel sings."
Faith Irving, Lyndale Primary School

Does the Education Foundation provide a facilitator to run the workshops?

We certainly can and do. It's a great way to get the project underway and to assist teachers with the facilitation of the early stages of ruMAD? Where possible we encourage teachers to facilitate as much as possible. EF can then provide ongoing support.

Does the Education Foundation provide facilitation training for Teachers?

Yes we do.

Minimum 1 hour for Introduction to ruMAD? Session.
Minimum 4 hours for Professional Development Session.

Where possible we encourage this in the Cluster model.

How does ruMAD? fit within the Essential Learnings?

ruMAD? is a process that starts from student' values and interests and at the very core is guided by the students' values and visions - addressing the National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools Nine Values for Australian Schooling.

We are currently in the process of mapping each of the state/territories Essential Learnings Frameworks to ruMAD?

If we run a MAD Day, do we then have to do a Project?

No you don't, although we encourage it! Running a MAD Day is great way to introduce ruMAD? to your school and community.

Does the Education Foundation collaborate with other agencies/organisations to help deliver ruMAD?

Yes. In each state (outside Victoria) we partner with other community organisations that have similar objectives to the Education Foundation and already have strong links with the education community and with its young people. Staff from each of these organisations then deliver and facilitate ruMAD? in their own state on behalf of the Education Foundation.

We also partner with other key organizations to add value to and strengthen the ruMAD? program, whilst also providing resources for the young people engaged in the ruMAD? process.

For a full list of partners and supporters head to the MAD Supporters page.

I like the sound of ruMAD?, why do I have to register to obtain the materials to learn more?

The Education Foundation owns the intellectual property rights to ruMAD?. By registering your school before gaining access to the materials, we can provide better quality control of the program.

Also by registering, Education Foundation can support you throughout the process and put you in touch with necessary resources as required.

How safe is the 'interactive' section of the website for my students?

Very safe. The site will be administered and monitored by the Education Foundation, and all users must be authenticated prior to gaining access to the interactive section of the site.

If a 'bogus' member gains access to the site and logs inappropriate content, they will be deleted as soon as possible after identification. All reasonable attempts will be made to prevent this occurring. Education Foundation will monitor all content.