PLN

#Success / PLN / Teaching — No Comments
6
Nov 11

Microsoft ‘More than your OS’

Two summers ago I was fortunate enough to attend the Microsoft teacher summer camp, I fondly recall just how positive everybody was and the breadth of education profession that was represented; primary, secondary, special, a full complement of subjects and experience, teachers, Heads of Department, Year Heads, Assistant heads and of course Stuart and Kirsten from Microsoft.

I have maintained a number of the professional connections made that summer and warmly appreciate the day-to-day influence these colleagues have are having on my career. And yes, I did mean day-to-day, albeit almost always via Twitter or email.

@chickensaltash - Dan Roberts

@cerirwilliams – Ceri Williams

@GeekyNicki -Nicki Maddams

@Lanky_Boi_Ray – Raymond Chambers

@davidErogers – David Rogers

@asober – Alessio Bernardelli

I can not recommend these guys and gals highly enough. Just lurk and soak up the ideas or nudge them, despite how motivate = busy they are, each are immensely support of the profession.

On which note, my thanks to Stuart and Ray, who gently podded me to submit my VCT. The Twitter conversation went as follows

@Lanky_Boi_Ray So want to do a VCT but workload making it near impossible – 24 Oct

@KristianStill I know the feeling lots of changes at our place only just managed to get it done with last lesson Friday 24 Oct

@Lanky_Boi_Ray We started our journey into Interactive Fiction w ppt. So maybe…. Hardly in the same league as @Lanky_Boi_Ray  24 Oct

@KristianStill @innovativeteach go for it dude! You have nothing to lose! I bet your being modest! Go kick some butt!! 24 Oct

…more procrastinating on my part… considering I already have the VCT proforma downloaded and ready on my desk top.

During the week the odd tweet of encouragement fleeted through my stream, and if I am honest, the team player in me started to feel I was some how letting TEAM ‘Summer Camp’ down. Now I know that I didn’t have anything to compare Rays exciting Kinect project but that was not a suitable excuse for not ‘pulling my finger out.’ With the deadline clock counting down, late Sunday afternoon I got stuck into the VCT, pausing only for our family meal and the most important duty of bedtime reading (Barry the Fish with Fingers). Late into the evening I proudly shared my meagre accomplishment with Ray, as ever, super supportive.

@KristianStill @innovativeteach WOOHOO!!! knew you could do it! Nice one! 31 Oct

Now as I have tweeted, the VCT is hardly cutting edge, nor is it particular sexy tech (nothing near Kinect) in fact I have referred to it as ‘Volvo’ tech. A reference to the wonderful 1990 film ‘Crazy People.’ It may not be sexy but its everything good tech should be, ubiquitous, simple, and reliable.

 

Boxy but good.

 

It involves using the ‘REVIEW’ feature and embedding audio feedback (wma) within the actual WORD file, not attached with it.

Let’s face it, Microsoft WORD is ubiquitous, has any teacher or student not used it? Surely not. The REVIEW’ is simple yet significantly under used IMHO. Finally, working offline, its ultra reliable. All I added was a little audio through ‘Voice Recorder’ that simple embedded itself within the file.

So, it is with a great deal of thanks to Ray, I am proud to share with you that this very simple, ‘boxy’ VCT was awarded one of ten ‘Education Forum’ awards for 2011. The good news, Volvo are still going strong, and that is very little wrong with being boxy.

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Popularity: 10% [?]

PLN / Reflections — No Comments
13
Mar 11

Imagination = Intelligence Having Fun

Edublogger and edu-design enthusiast Dean Shareski shared his daughter’s artwork and inspiration this weekend via one of my favourite Flickr image pools. I felt it was worth sharing as well.

 

Imagination is intelligence having fun

 

While cleaning in my daughter’s room, I noticed she’d added this to her chalkboard wall. I like it.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Curriculum / Leadership / Management / PLN — No Comments
30
Oct 10

Recommended Post

I often find reading Ewan McIntosh blog leaves me with plenty to consider. Today he provided coverage of John West-Burnham presentation at the Partners in Excellence Worldwide Innovative Education Forum. It is a very worthwhile read and there is no reason to paraphrase it here. I hope you enjoy it as I did.

We cannot restructure a structure that is splintered at its roots. Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies – it creates awkward and dysfunctional caterpillars. Butterflies are creating through transformation.” (McLuhan, 1995)

Popularity: 5% [?]

Digital Learning / e-Tools / PLN / Reflections — No Comments
17
Jun 10

Reach Out to Jeff Utecht


I have never met Jeff, I think we Skyped on a few webware discussions, we have emailed and his blog has been in my RSS reader for over 2 years.  I have listen to his podcast (for a short while) and I have witnessed first hand his culinary skills when he was first testing Ustream I think?!? Yet we have never actual met. Nor are we likely, seeing he teaches on the opposite side of the world to me. But, now for another new Jeff Utecht experience / introduction. ‘Reach.‘

Reach is Jeff Utecht’s free ebook. Free until June 18. (After then you can purchase as a PDF or paper copy at an affordable price.

Jeff is always cooking up good ‘digital content.’ I have not read the book yet, so cant offer a review, but there is nothing stopping you. Jeff, another great contribution to the education community.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Digital Learning / Middle Management / PLN — No Comments
20
Jan 08

Network and Nodes

Tom Barrett asked for comments on his blog, in preparation for the SLICT meeting being held at his school, so I responded. Tom is a good friend and has shown that there is more to PLN (Personal Learning Networks) than networking.

#1 Having recently accepted an edtech post just 12 days ago, I am hardly in a position to provide a comprehensive answer. However, this is a summary of what I have learnt so far (in no particular order);

  • get the infrastructure in place before you initialise change, it is vital that all school stake holders log on through a single system and be able to access the information they need when they need it,
  • ICT will fail you as some point, have your answers prepared,
  • every small success counts,
  • I agree with James Walker – edtech in a moving target, hence I propose a 3 year rolling strategic plan (3, 5, 10 yrs not sure),
  • the use of ICT is not a prerequisite for ‘great teaching,’
  • personalise the learning experience for the students, ICT has the scope to permit this, be creative,
  • it is dangerous to presume that just because the students have grown up with technology that they use it,
  • eureka moments are special for all learners, both students and teachers,
  • be bold, risk more than you consider safe.

#2 Why is a personal learning network of professionals important to classroom teaching?

  • 10,000 heads are better than mine,
  • eureka moments are important for me too,
  • learning is not the preserve of the students,
  • I get more than professional support from my network, its why I am responding to Tom’s blog,
  • I have many unanswered questions.

After re-reading this post, I was conscious that text without tonality is subject to greater reader mis-interpretation. So I added this post script.

I am not an ICT evangelists, I am a former PE teacher that enjoys using ICT to challenge and inspire the students I teach and coach. I am only 12 days into my new post, a newbie middle leader. I am only 13 months old in the edublogsphere but I feel more confident, supported and resourceful than in my previous 7 years of teaching. If that helps you, then that is just one perspective as to why PLN are of professional importance.

Popularity: 1% [?]