We have an awful lot of ICTAC decisions going on across College this week. The main decisions include finalising our LP decision (Studywiz is in the driving seat with Moodle slip streaming) and our Network Management Agreement with CTS which includes a refreshed network and wireless plan. We have made two significant software purchases, a replacement for an old Photoshop product, DRAW PLUS and a college wide licence for Comic Life for use in all planning activities, specifically Englis, Science, Technology and ICT. Finally this evening I have been writing this article on a sample MSI WIND. It seems a possible student UMPC, the students loved it and we may try a sample group, supported by the college technicians.
The notion of a college LP, wireless campus and students UMPCs – well I would say thats significant progress. All yet to be realised of course. Meanwhile we continue to revise the KS3 and KS4 schemes of work – endless opportunities underpinned by hard work.
Having taught PSRE yesterday morning I tried a technique that I have rarely used, the pretest. The students had a new research topic and I decided to test the students knowledge before we started the activity. We hard two board scribes who had the task of displaying what the group already knew about buddism.
We had a raft of great information, the position of enlightenment, robes, shaven heads, religion, peace, zen gardens, ‘Yoda’ yes the little green Stars Character. A great introduction to the research activity. During the lesson I told the students about the Marathon Monks. The Tendai Monks run 52.2 miles daily for 100 consecutive days, on the pathway to spiritual enlightenment, that is in addition to their daily chores! How would our students respond, with disbelief.
Next year we have to work with large data sets. As a department we need to gather these large data sets but I am confident that these could be found within school subjects. Even better it could be about the students themselves. Surely Science, PE or Humanities, even Maths, gather data about the students? After watching our new ICT teacher bring several tape measures to his interview lesson to measure the students physical height, weight, foot and hand length, head circumference, the engaging power of ‘real’ data is not an opportunity we can afford to miss.
So how to collect LARGE school data sets and what data to collect. I know my good friend Tom Barrett would advise a Google Spreadsheet used as a form. Indeed I have already set up a Google form for Art for feedback and for collecting information on DVDs. Then there is SurveyMonkey, kwiksurveys looks promising. Ideas anyone on how to, and what to gather?
I continue to enjoy listening to Sir Ken Robinson speak about the evolution of education every since I first heard his TED talk a few year back. I hope that you will enjoy reflecting on his talk as the recipient of the Ben Franklin Award at the RSA.
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