Transformation Teachers Programme

There was a very interesting article in the Observer today (here’s the link: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2068107,00.html). Essentially it’s a backlash against web 2.0 for a dumbing down of culture – the idea that just because everyone can contribute doesn’t mean that what they have to say is worth hearing … that the web is in danger of creating a lot of noise which is drowning out more valid , profound cultural expression. The guy (who’s written a book)  says that the web is becoming all about digital narcissism, that the wikipedia effect is blurring the border between the trivial and the significant. There’s a line in the article where he says: “I want to learn about Martin Luther’s epiphany, not the epiphany of the 11-year-old who blogs next door.”

Since the course this week, I have been getting more enthusiastic by the day for the whole project. I’ve been interviewing for new teachers all day today and yesterday – today for ICT teachers. I found myself asking them how they envisage the whole web 2.0 thing changing teaching & learning over the next few years!

Part of my job is lesson observation, mentoring BTs, sharing good practice, etc, and I have been musing about ways of using video and editing to capture and share classroom practice.

But the major thoughts I have been having – in between the interviews – is about the strategic management of change to implement effective use of ICT across the curriculum and across the 6th form centre from the start. My view has always been – in my previous job at Woodhouse College – that we should enable the “early adopters” and enthusiasts to fly, on the one hand, whilst training and setting minimum participation standards for the rest and forcing people to get accustomed to new technology by making certain information, etc, only available tht way.

So – for example – we might say to staff that at a minumum we expect them to use Fronter to store certain documentation like on a shared drive, including handouts, homeworks, etc, etc. We might make learning plans and certain data and systems have to be on Fronter. And we might expect staff to use IWBs (with training). Beyond that, we provide training in Fronter advanced tools and in using other softare packages that is open to enthusiasts but not required.

Anyway, that’s my thoughts at the mom

Have created two pieces:

1) A slide show based on my Lake district snaps with music and a voice over, with titles. The sound track was done in Garageband (which is better for audio) and imported into IMovie (better for the pictures). My nine year old likes it but my eleven year old ays it’s rubbish.

2) A reading from a drama script my duaghter is reheasring for – I did one part and she another, with a music track in background and a video accompanying. All in Garageband. Quite good, says my daughter but she reckons she can do better – and she probably can.

 I feel I’ve got somewhere but must do more before i foget it all. A good day today. Lots of inspiration, practical studff (Judy and Chris are great) and very little bull.

I ran a staff development session of a kind this morning, and I started by showing the Ken Robinson Youtube clip that Judy has put in the links section of Fronter. It blew everyone away – they were all laughing and moved and wanting to know what the clip was so they could show it to other people. But the main thing is that it was a cracking starter – thought provoking and good humoured. I recommend that everyone shows it to everyone!

I’ve been to the Lake District over Easter – Borrowdale, the wettest valley in England and yet the weather was glorious. Even my teenage daughter loved it (first time the kids have ever seen mountains). We managed to climb Great Gable, which was the highlight of the week. I will post a photo or two on Flickr if I get the chance (can’t use it at work as it is still blocked by Haringey!).

I took the laptop away to the Lakes, and the kids played with it mostly. They did some fantastic things with Comic Life and Crazy Talk. And I played about with KeyNote (being more boring than the kids) and have managed to master it, I think. I am really impressed with the Apple I must say, becoming a convert.

Only trouble is compattibility issues. I have a presentation to make on Monday and was hoping to use my KeyNote file, but when I export to PowerPoint or Flash it loses all the animation that’s different. So I’m feeling at the moment that I wasted all that time. Ho hum.

Success at last, I think, with Google Video: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3521610208788825761&hl=en-GB

But still lots of frustrations … the edublog site seems temperamental. Sometimes certain options (like write a post) are available and sometimes not! Oh well.

I’ve taken a few photos and some bits of video, quite successfully – although Jo says she’s edited a bit of video which sounds impressive and makes me want to learn how.  One video is of my son hula-hooping: at different speeds it moves up or down his body, which is quite an interesting mathematical process which could spark discussion in the classroom (A-level mechanics?). I spent ages trying to upload the video to Flickr unsuccessfully – apparently videos go to google, photos to flickr - so I then spent ages uploading to Google Video, also without success! Sigh. Anyway,  here’s some photos -  http://www.flickr.com/photos/7537935@N04/

Well, this is my first ever blog, and I’m hanging in there by my finger nails not really knowing what I’m doing.

Played about with the camera last night (the kids helped, of course) and cursed the lack of an advanced guide a few times (is it somewhere?). Not having any teaching this week, I aim to take a few photos and maybe a video snatch at a governors meeting tonight.

Can’t access FLICKR at work – the London grid for learning won’t allow access (”dating site”!), so will try from home tonight. I am a bit confused about whether I am supposed to be blogging here or at Flickr, since the flickr instructions go on about blogs quite a bit. But I’ve decided not to worry too much, just go with the flow.

I think that’ll do for the moment – but I just want to see what some of the toolbars do, so forgive anything that follows as a bit of experimentation…

 John