teaching Scout

Krysia’s dissertation

In the spirit of ’sharing’, here’s my dissertation ‘Sharing Good Practice: A focus on Collaborative Working’. Sounds fascinating? Well kinda, if you want to shoot me down – please don’t and just tell me it was very…’informative’.
When I was researching this area I found out a whole bunch of insightful things that I hope will give me  good footing when entering into teaching in August. Instead of writing an ‘abstract’ for you, here is some of the more salient points, in a much more informal manner than found in the PDF. I started off with the principle that ‘Working together is good. Working alone is (generally) not so good’. Yes, I know, kinda obvious.
If we are to work together for the better here is what I feel is vital:

• An approach is taken which focuses on the needs of the learner and teacher. To do this we (the teachers) need to be at the centre of decisions and NOT policy makers or traditional leaders

This of course needs a careful degree of facilitation to get us all working together….

• In my opinion this should be given in partnership with the Local Authority to start with who should figure out how much influence they should play in getting schools working together. It should be important that GROUND LEVEL LEADERS are used so as to make sure of the INCLUSION OF EVERY TEACHER. This is really vital, I got a clear opinion that there is a whole bunch of teachers who quite simply aren’t involved with others. If we are to change, then there is no point a select bunch of people thinking its fantastic. It should be important for us all to feel of value and included. I looked a lot into the idea of ‘flattening hierarchies’ and in the end figured that a bottom up approach is the best but I don’t think people will feel comfortable with a totally flat world.

Therefore

• The methods in which we work together to change and improve should cover as many bases as possible. If there is one that EVERYONE should focus on, it’s lesson observation – it offers us a place to keep any ‘debate’ focused within the realities of the classroom (pupils/ teacher at heart). Getting into each others classes on all levels, HT, PT, class teacher etc etc, not assessing each other but figuring out together what the best way of do things is.

But

• For us to feel comfortable doing this, we need the right climate. My favourite phrase is this ‘FAILING FORWARD’. At the moment I feel that education is in a bit of a straight jacket of do’s/don’t/target’s/ and measures (though probably less so than before). We don’t want to look stupid infront of other people and as a result even our blogs are sometimes too carefully considered for really cool innovation to happen. Sometimes it is better to think out loud – I mean we’re all in a constant state of change anyway so exposing others to our strengths/weaknesses should allow for greater confidence and willingness to move forward.

My research wasn’t really focused on blogging or all the fantastic web2.0 technologies open to us. Though, as usual I’ve figured out some opinions/questions that I think the blogging community should consider (or have you already?)
We’ve got the potential for real large scale change. Yeh? Well it’s not going to happen with a ‘community’. It’s going to happen with everyone. At the moment I’m getting (really good) community vibes, but everyone needs to be given the opportunity to embrace web2.0. Some of my research REALLY REALLY REALLY showed this wasn’t the case and it made me concerned.
But change is slow isn’t it? Of course, but I think the way to tackle it is to allow every teacher to web2.0 opportunities IN A WAY THAT IS RELEVANT TO THEM. Not everyone wants to express their opinion – (haha, I’m one to talk) – and these people need to be given opportunity to feel ‘safe’ in working with everyone else.
Also, I feel that blogging is so broad. People are talking about everything. But I feel that we should adopt common focus to make change for the better. It may just be me, but there is so many things and ideas going on I feel it could be a bit of an innovation overload (what a phrase). If we really focused on some certain areas and all chipped away at them, would that not be better?

I’m gonna stop there, I think I’ve covered enough for just now. There’s loads more I’d love to say and question but maybe later. If you read my dissertation then read the Literature Review/Results/ Recommendations as they’re the bits with (what I feel) is good info. Enjoy!

“But with the blast shields down how can I see, let alone fight?”

“Use your feelings, Luke.”

I love it how Stewart’s random StarWars quotes can suddenly make me stop worrying about ‘BIG ISSUES’. Recently, I’ve been worried about job prospects… with 30 or so Tech Teachers graduating from Glasgow and 50 (!) gradauating from Strathclyde, I felt myself recently sinking into ‘worrydom’. Hearing phrases such as ‘just your luck’ or positions “drying up”, makes me gulp and then breath out slowly.

Though I realised just there, properly (not half heartedly like before) that I’ve just got to go with my feelings. I know this is probably obvious but I’ve just got to make sure I do a damn good job at being a teacher next year so that when it comes to application forms or interviews I know that I’ve given it my best shot. The good thing is that I really want to do this, I’ve got so many ideas that I want an opportunity to try them. 

I am defenitely the sort of person that if I can’t see where I’m going or know that I can’t find an answer I start getting worried. I guess that over the next year I’m going to have to tackle it with the same frame of mind as Luke (cheesy I know) – determination, moving forward and gut feeling.

Have you heard of this? Are you using it? This looks fantastic! This 20min video explains what its all about though skip to about halfway to see the software in action….

In terms of educational use, this seems to have fantastic potential. If Grandma can do it….? 

 Update: OK, it seems that there was a major server crash due to amount of traffic on May 1st, so it is suspended at the moment until they release the beta version…

Guess we can just look at the pretty logo for just now?

….well kinda.

University,is pretty much over. WOOHOO. I ain’t no academic, and it feels great having written 11,500 words and happily (though tiredly) signed them over to my tutors who will determine my fate. Though they ain’t determining my fate really. Nope, thats me. Right now I’m at such a changeable point in my life – completing uni, new baby, new job (eep). Though what is so great about it all is that it’s all new.

I’ve finally had a rest from this goddam laptop and had a taste of free time: we spent a day out cycling at Crinan, swimming with Isaac, even had the dishes done by 6.30pm!!!?

But we’ve got a great feeling of moving forward;going into a job that I really want to do and having a family life. Though now that I’m leaving university behind, I’m not just dusting myself down and forgetting all about it, over the past year I feel that it’s really been worthwhile. Though don’t ask me about Electronics/Mechanics/Education lectures, I’m talking about looking into the notion of collaborative working, you know sharing stuff n’all that. 

Not only did I instigate and help create the fantastic website technoBuzz.co.uk (c’mon I’ve gotta big it up) but I found a whole lot about working together from other people, especially the how and the why. I’ve got to say HUGE thanks to Stuart who helped me make the site (OK maybe it’s the other way around), please let me know what you think. What can be improved, if you are a technology teacher or teacher or education person feedback would be great. Also, if it works and my fellow students grasp the potential then help and advice from other people is more than welcome. We all need a (critical) friend!

I’ll leave it like that at the moment, but once I get into the swing of this blogging malarky again I’ll let you know more about what I found out from my research – though don’t expect any great revelations