Ms Joanna Hammer

My role at Ave Maria College is the Director of Staff Professional Learning and Pedagogy, which involves working closely with all teaching staff to ensure excellence in teaching practice.  I also oversee the College Professional Learning program, supporting all staff in their pursuit of best practice and fostering a community of learners.

My areas of passion and expertise in education are contemporary pedagogies, with a particular focus on critical thinking and applied learning. I have a strong interest in the work of Project Zero, at Harvard University, specifically the Making Thinking Visible program.  These cultures of thinking and thinking routines are transferable and applicable in all subject areas, and enable both differentiation and higher order thinking. 

I am also passionate about understanding the individual learning strengths and intelligences, following the work of Howard Gardner.  My areas of teaching expertise are in Food Studies, Science, Health and Religious Education, and more recently the VCE study of Extended Investigation. It is my hope that each student at Ave thrives both academically and personally, and is able to pursue her passions and interests and in doing so shares her gifts and talents with the Ave, and broader communities.