Just researching the possibilities for introducing arduino with this year’s PGCE IT trainees. There’s an increasing interest in a more computer-focused approach to IT in schools and arduino boards may be something to explore. Stumbling through some web resources when I found Bubblino. It’s an arduino-based device that monitors specific Twitter accounts and blows bubbles when the accounts are mentioned. Very neat.
Au revoir PGCE class of 2010-11
Said farewell to my PGCE class yesterday. Sad to say au revoir but pleased that things have gone well for them. The PGCE is a tough year both personally and professionally and they’ve done well. Seven of nine (where have I heard that before?) have got jobs and the other two have a interviews lined up. Pretty good considering the times we’re in.
My PGCE was too heavily focused on theory and academia – but that was a lifetime ago in another century. The PGCE today prepares much more effectively despite Mr Gove’s suspicions of it. Although the trainees build strong relationships with their schools, there have been occasions when tensions arise beyond the usual demands of the PGCE. Broadly, this falls into one of two categories (i) unfair expectations of trainees or (ii) a poor response from a trainee to a reasonable expectation. That first category is demanding to deal with but perhaps one of the most important roles for me. One of the things that needs considering in the proposals for training schools is, when tensions arise, who provides the mediation/champions the cause of the trainee?
Great day at bMobLe2011
Not long back after today’s excellent bMobLe2011 conference. Tag words for the conference: friendly, professional, fun, hospitable, informative, collegiate, inspirational, motivational, entertaining, rewarding… you get the idea!
Some highlights for me included the pupil presentations on blogging – genuinely powerful and, at times, rather moving. Well done the pupils at Heathfield Primary School, Bolton.
And well done too to the pupils at Worthinghead Primary School who introduced their use of ipods with great confidence and skill. I was sitting with a teacher and between us we were struggling with a particular ipod app. One of the pupils recognised our pain and politely asked, “Do you need any help?” He quickly managed to sort out the problem. A Y4 pupil teaching adults – how great is that?
Both sets of pupils were a credit to their schools and their teachers (@DeputyMitchell & ?? – I will find out)
I was really taken too by Dawn Hallybone’s presentation – full of energy, participation and great ideas. I learned so much about the potential of games for learning and look forward to finding out more.
Had to leave not long after that for a long journey to East Anglia so missed the TeachMeet – shame.
A top day – more on it soon.
Thanks to James and the team for the invitation to present, and to @stevebunce for the photo of me in mid-presentation.
‘The Incident at Tower 37′ – worth 10 minutes of your day
This is a beautiful and stunning animation. No dialogue. I love the way it plays with perspective and expectations – worth 10 minutes of your day
Six month review…
Are we already half way through the first year of the second decade of the 21st century? Yep, seems so. Maybe time to take a quick look at the past six months…
2011 began busily at BETT working with Stream2School - a great concept-realisation that allows schools to rent software rather than buy it. Also a seminar presentation for European Electronique - which went well. The year continued busily – lots of support for my PGCE trainees who have found the demands of teacher training hard. It’s a tough year but they’ve finally made it. In among the school-based training has been facilitation for the National College’s Leading From the Middle programme. The programme is coming to a end now with my last cohort in Bristol finishing next week. It’s been a genuine privilege to have worked on this. We had the final ‘celebration’ session with a Swindon group last night attended by coaches and head teachers – the progress shown by middle leaders from primary and secondary schools in self-awareness, confidence and team-effectiveness was almost palpable. Great shame that in this era of the self-improving school, this very effective tool for self-improvement is now longer available. Elsewhere, there’ve been presentations in the UK and trips overseas – including a return visit to Kijkduin, Netherlands for a meeting of head teachers from international primary schools – good to meet up again; education consultancy & materials creation for the All Wales Travel Code ; and quite a bit of educational authoring – I enjoyed writing an article for Teaching & Learning Update for example. Understanding the implications of The Wolf Report have kept me busy with moderating The Big Vocational Debate too…
A busy few days ahead before heading off for Glastonbury 2011 – will the weather hold?
