About KristianStill

I don’t wish to waste your time, so lets cover the essentials. My Linkedin profile covers the professional angles. Married father of two. Assistant Headteacher at Hamble Community Sports College. Passionate about ‘learning,’ pedagogy and technology.

Having always been passionate about teaching and coaching, I returned from studying at SIUE to teach at Tauntons College, Southampton (11-19) and coach part-time for Southampton FC. During my third year at Tauntons College I seeded the idea of an educational experience that combined academic learning and practical sports (football) performance. The BTEC in Sport (Performance and Excellence) started with an initial pilot group of 12 students, sharing lessons with the local professional football clubs scholars. In my seventh and final year, our third year of the course, we enrolled 42 learners, (38 males, 4 females). Unsurprisingly, a high proportion of the learners were more focused on their football than their learning. In an effort to engage these students I found myself using technology more frequently,  when I inadvertently stumbled upon wikis. As a result, I conceived the idea of a building an organic learning resource WITH the help of the students, for the students. The wiki snowballed, anything collaborative or embeddable was tested. The wiki grew to cover 16 of the 18 units, over 400 pages outlined the course structure, many written or extended by the students. If it could be uploaded or was online and FREE we trialled it.If it could be embedded, all the better.

Course policy documents, codes of conduct, inspirational stories, student testimonies. RSS feeds and discussion forums.Podcasts, screencasts (created and embedded) blogging and Voicethreads. Slideshares, quizzes, quests, mini e-portfolios, mind-maps, tours and even cross college collaborations. For all the tools that were successful, many faltered and were discarded. What was clear, is that the students were engaged with technology and in creating content and the concept of building a resource for one another.

Results improved, in fact our results exceeded National benchmarks, value added scores higher still. The complimentary education / coaching and technology proved a fruitful combination with this cohort of learners. I became immersed in technology for learning.

I went on to lead the Department and Manage the Academy of Sport before in January 2007 before accepting the Director of E-Learning post at Hamble College (11-16). Apart from the change of subject and sector, it has proven to be the most intense CPD of my career, littered with projects, opportunities and challenges. Within the Department we have;

  • undertaken a full curriculum redesign in both Key Stage 3 and 4
  • completed an IT overhaul within the ICT Department and extended ICT provision within the school
  • restructure the budgetary plan to included maintenance and renewable policies
  • introduce ICT AUPs and disciplinary procedures
  • design extended learning programs and opportunities for student leadership
  • as well as being successful in securing ICT educational grants

In the wider context of the College, a new CMS website, wireless footprint, teacher laptop policy, a Laptops4Learning policy, the Digital Media and Gaming Club leading the way and of course Moodle.

In summary, I was a teacher and manager working with 16-19 year old students studying on Sport Courses and I am now an Assistant Headteacher at Hamble Community Sports College with three experience teaching PE, ICT and English. A former HIAS ‘Subject Lead Professional,’ I continue to be passionate about ‘educational teachnology’ educational leadership. You can find me most places as @ Kristianstill.

I hope you enjoy my musings and I welcome your comments.

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