Posts Tagged: cpd

Games Based Learning — No Comments
1
Aug 11

3D GameLab – First Steps and Rewards

More videos available on Youtube

The system takes whatever curriculum you choose and makes it a game. The tool adds game layers including experience points, levelling, awards, achievements, and most importantly student choice. (Chris Haskell, co-inventor of the system).

IMHO it is a very exciting approach to learning. Teachers design quests that students accept with quests direct learning. Learning through games, simulations, virtual worlds, social media, or any activity in the physical world, structured to create a meta-gaming experience for the players. Learner progress is tracked in the system, with players striving for ranks, titles, awards, and achievements. Behind the game, teachers are able to run reports and monitor student progress.

I have just started the 3D Game Lab closed beta and I am already finding the international learning community first class. It is a closed BETA so there are a few bumps in the road, but the support (via VENT) is excellent.

Unsurprisingly, we are learning about the platform through a quest. A lot of the information is presented as videos created in Second Life. The mix of human and alien is fun and the language is definitely inspiring. The addition of ‘time travel’ gives 3D Game Lab that something special.

gamelabplayerQuick fire, short quests keep you interested. Open comments, time spent on task, experience points (XP), progress bars and level up opportunities offer feedback (not counting formative feedback). Badges and achievements keeping players motivated, all neatly displayed in the player card.

As for pace setting…. today I am learning and looking after our two children, Harry (nearly 3) and Freya (9 months), I can assure, quick fire, short quests are the only way forward. Come the evening, I was able to focus more sincerely. Notably, choice is at the core of quest based learning and there are options for solo, collaborative and competitive learning although I have not experienced it myself.

accelerWith 10 completed tasks, 335 XPs and 5 6 rewards, that is me done for today. I have just unlocked a whole series of quests on ‘quest design,’ so there is certainly a lot of opportunity to gain XPs tomorrow. Great start to the course.

Popularity: 10% [?]

CPD and INSET / Games Based Learning — No Comments
1
Aug 11

3D GameLab Introduction

3d1This summer is focused on gaming. I have spent 2 full days working with Quest5 and now the beta launch of 3D Game enters the fray. No longer a student but a player…. here we go.

This 3D Gamelab is being offered by Boise State University and is only my second online, international CPD activity (the first MoodleMootuk). Centred on quests, this GameLab course is designed to teach the basics of quest-based learning and design, as well as how to use the GameLab tool. Upon completion of all quests, players earn privileges for a teacher dashboard, and thus can begin inviting students to play (of course this may prove a challenge during the summer holidays).

3d2

 

In addition, there are quests covering a range of educational themes

  • Context & Culture of Gaming: Chris Haskell
  • Virtual World Builders: Lisa Dawley & Hunter S.
  • WoW in Schools: Peggy Sheehy & Lucas Gillispe
  • Technology Integration: Mark Suter
  • Math & Science: Scott Learned
  • Reflection & Assessment: Jonathon Richter
  • Mobile Learning: Allan Heaps & Eric Orten

In addition to the platform we have Ventrilo to chat with officers and guild mates, a guild site / forum / groups for planning and all the  the connective tools the web has to offer. Certainly the opening email from Lisa Dawley emphasised collaboration.

Game on.

Popularity: 8% [?]

CPD and INSET / Leadership / Teaching — No Comments
19
Sep 10

BBC Two School Season

Adverts, online articles and now short iPlayer clips the bell is ringing loud and clear for a major BBC2 season focusing on education. Two programmes caught my attention;

 

Unequal Opportunities With John Humphrys Unequal Opportunities With John Humphrys Monday, 20.09.10 21:00 on BBC Two

    John Humphrys examines why the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has stubbornly refused to narrow.

     

    The Classroom Experiment The Classroom Experiment with Professor Dylan Willams. 27.09.10 and 28.09.10 19:00 on BBC Two

      Education expert Dylan Wiliam sets up an experimental secondary school classroom to test some innovative teaching methods.

      So, I have emailed our Assistant Head in charge of CPD and the Headteacher. If the programmes are deemed worthwhile, then would Departmental time to view have value. I am confident they would at least spark debate within and across staff teams.

      The BBC webpage accompanying these programme highlighted a further BBC and RSA debate. Although the date has since past. It was an impressive panel, including Professor Dylan William  and Sir William Atkinson, Chaired by Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA. Audio and video files for ‘Where next for our children’s education?’ will be available shortly. via the RSA iTunes podcast. Not to forget the almost customary Twitter hashtag  #rsaschools.

      Popularity: 4% [?]

      CPD and INSET — No Comments
      5
      Aug 10

      Fierce Reflections

      Every summer I try and read at least three books to support my professional development, often read during a summer holiday. Fierce Conversations was recommended at a Middle Leaders training session, presented by a newly appointed Assistant Headteacher. Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College have a ‘Leadership Library,’ so I simply phoned, asked if they held a copy of the book. They did and three days later it arrived at school along with two other books I requested.

      Fierce Conversations has clearly been a success and the brand has evolved. Susan Scott has clearly presents an intuitive emotional approach that managers and leaders can relate to. Basically it is a very good

      ‘How to prepare and organise the difficult conversations you need to have, but often avoid, at work’ guide. Although ‘Fierce Conversations’ is perhaps catchier title.

      How much will you find useful?  If you tend to avoid the difficult situations, then the book offers some very useful approaches to those situations / conversations. If you tend to be a little bullish or reactive, you might recognise yourself in some of the examples and consider a more heartfelt thoughtful approach.

      Alternatively, you could just review these little gems.

      Consider the impact of replacing the ‘yes, but….’ with ‘yes and….’ (You really need to hear this for yourself to appreciate the marked difference.)

      ‘This is the way that I see things but I expect you have a different perspective.’ Share your points of view and invite others to contribute theirs. When someone takes you up on your invitation to challenge your strongly held opinion resist the temptation to defend your idea immediately.

      Simple situations: The sequence is – make a proposal, check for understanding, then check for agreement.

      There is so much more to listen to than words, listen to the whole person

      Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field are i’ll meet you there. Rumi

      Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have. Emile Cartier.

      As a leader you get what you tolerate.

      Hire attitude, train skill.

      A personal reflection,when with the Directors of Learning in particular, I need to follow two simple rules. Resist advising. Ask more questions (and listen to the whole person answer).

      Susan Scott talks of the decision tree. A process of deciding when and how to make decisions. This might be a good technique for second in departments.

      1. Leaf decisions. Make the decision. Act on it. Do not report the action you took.
      2. Branch decisions. Make a decision. Act on it. Report the action you took.
      3. Trunk of decisions. Make the decision. Report your decision before you take action.
      4. Root decisions. Make the decision jointly, with input  from many people. These are the decisions that, if made poorly can harm the organisation.

      In addition to the book, there are now Fierce Programmes, Certifications, Keynotes, Workshops, Merchandising and Newsletters, a new book ‘Fierce Leadership,’ all a part of FierceInc, there is even Fierce in the Schools. Next on the list - The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better.

      Popularity: 14% [?]

      CPD and INSET / Digital Leaders / Digital Learning — 2 Comments
      15
      Feb 10

      Scale up, not down

      First of all, a big congratulations to the Digital Leaders @ Hamble College who impressed Vital’s Helen Caldwell. On Wednesday, Helen inform us that we had been issued a grant to help bring teachers from various SE school together to help define the Digital Leader project. To then expand the project and to help like minded schools start similar DL projects at their schools within the SE area. Currently we have 4 schools/colleagues interested, some staff I know, some I look forward to meeting but its still open. We have room/funding for probably 6 schools in total. Its all rather exciting, and certainly the DLs that met and enthusiastically presented their experiences to Helen last week, are “chuffed to bits.”

      Meanwhile, I continued my personal conversations with like minded teacher and ICT innovator Daniel Stucke, Director of E-Learning at Stretford High School, Manchester. Clearly out of area, but keen to get the wheels in motion at his school. Our conversation led him to a chance encounter with ICT consultant Bob Harrison who incidently bumped into the DLs at ‘work’ at the Open Source Schools Conference last year. Now, Bob just happens to be one of the ICT consultants contributing to the Vitals Strategy and governor at the school with which Daniel Stucke’s school is potentially merging…. the dots just seemed to be connecting all by themselves…

      So with Bob’s expert knowledge and encouragement, Daniel approached the NW Vital project and has been successful in his own rights, funding pending for his own Digital Leader project, so hopefully we will have 2 areas in the frame.

      Excited by the imminent collaboration on Digital Leaders with @kristianstill, Toshiba via @bobharrisonset and also Vital. Daniel Stucke

      To finish this almost unbelievable tale, I get a call from Bob on Friday AM. Bob outlined his tempered views more traditional CPD – you know the type – tick the box and collect the certificate type CPD, and his thoughts as to what a Digital Leader programme could potential offer a school and not just my school, or the schools in our region, but all schools. I had to pause for thought, come up for air.

      Bob has encouraged me to think BIGGER (which made me reflect on a conversation I had with Tom Barrett a few weeks ago and the advice he received from Google – scale up, not down). Without question I am very passionate about the DLs, I have seen first hand the positive impact they have had/made at our school; on the CPD expereince of staff, on the confidence of the students as DLs, on improving the DLs relationships with their teaching staff – including myself, on pulling ‘teachnology’ into the classroom and on showcasing the school, but it was only 2 weeks ago that I was discussing the possibility of a regional programme with Vital.

      So, I am cautiously moving forward, reassured by Bob’s confidence. I intend to dedicate time over half-term to the scaling up document for Digital Leaders (Wiki or Docs?). I am going to be asking Tom for his thoughts as he is 6 months thinking ahead of me and because I trust and value his opinion. Feel free to contribute – and if you want to know more about the Digital Leader programme, just search the Digital Leader category.

      Popularity: 6% [?]

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