I was fascinated by the stark cultural differences of this assembly in Bangladesh and the type we have in Scotland. I was talking recently to a colleague who taught in India and the difference in ethos regarding education is amazing. Children stand when their teacher enters the room and sit back down when they are asked to. I don't feel that this approach could be replicated here, however surely there is something to learn from this?
I have (literally) just introduced our class blog to my 1st years. We had a good look at Sandaig Otters to get a good feel of what our blog could maybe turn into….but of course we’ll see.
PHEW!!
For me, it was an exhilarating lesson and the class seemed to respond well. There is still a LOT to sort out with it and I’m hoping that a bit of class blogging coupled with lunchtimes on Thursdays we’ll get a largely pupil run scenario.
Unfortunately due to constraints put on me, NOTHING can be published without moderation although I am quite liking my status as ‘admin’ 
Although I am putting forward a large degree of trust as the pupils can all login under a common password/username (here’s hoping).
I wish our authority wasn’t so strict on blocking internet sites. I discovered that wikispaces and flickr are yet another on a long list that we can’t get access to 
Wish us luck and put it in your feed-reader if you can.
I like the idea of this approach in learning. It completely highlights the child driven learning which I hope to achieve.Christian explains his strategy in practical terms:
“I’ll present them with the pros/cons to all of their decisions (assigning nightly reading, what types of assessments will give them a reasoned ‘final grade’, etc.). I’ll present them with a ‘menu’ of elements they must accomplish (solo and in rotating small groups) before the project comes to an end and the semester exam is handed out. I’ll offer myself as a ‘free’ consultant for a specific # of days that they can ‘hire’ when they feel that they have exhausted their own instincts/research. And I’ll present them with a series of sink-or-swim options to allow those who are invested in learning to succeed and those who want to tread water to avoid absolute drowning along the way, all the while being a sheep dog with an eye on those that near a current they can’t escape on their own. ”
My first years are about to start a new project making a small wooden shelf. Now to get my thinking cap on and see if I can figure out how to make it a much more child driven activity…
I have figured out (roughly) how to use Wordpress MultiUser and am about to introduce my high school to ‘blogging’. There seems a multitude of options and I know I have to focus it a little to get us started. I am interested in the notion of kids ”blogging about their “educational journey” until they graduate“ although am concerned that without careful thought, I may be in danger of “the abomination of “blogs as on-line diaries” (or)… “blogs as the new way to turn in homework” “.
My simple idea is this, using the blog as a way to showcase pupil work and life in the Design and Technology Department/School.
Have it as ‘pupil-run’ as possible.
I like the idea of bringing other people into our learning. Stuart Meldrum posted this simple question a few months back as did Don Ledingham with his ‘Leadership Dilemas’ and both generated response related to their own learning. In a similiar way I would like to bring the learning of others into our classroom. On the otherhand, I don’t want the blog to turn into another method in which to hand out assignments.
I will leave it like that at the moment. Any bright ideas, or uses of technology would be greatly appreciated. Acceptable user policies? Best year group to start off with? What has been done to death? What becomes dull and boring? Why have you kept that blog in your feed reader? How can I engage the kids in putting their work/thoughts/learning online?
What do you like to look at when reading/interacting with a class blog?
I have just read “Birdsong” by Sebastian Faulks, and although a work of fiction, has really made me wake up and realise the absolute horror of war.
When in fifth year at school, my English teacher introduced us to Wilfred Owen, which not only started an appreciation for poetry but quite simply a knowledge of things that are often not spoken about. Although I may not be a History or an English teacher, I would encourage people to read this book.
