Skip to main content

Popular posts....

It's always interesting reflecting on what people are reading. Since December 2009, I've used Google Analytics to keep track. This blog is a space for me to reflect, the fact that people read it is a bonus, but not my goal.

These are the twenty most popular posts in the last eight months. Just in case you missed them.

1. Why connected learning is the way forward. The use of online networks in developing learning resources for the Iceland eruption.

2. It's worth taking a look at this blog. A list of blogs that I find inspirational.

3. PLTS and Seal. Link to a planning document.

4. OCR B Controlled Assessment. The planning behind our department's journey through Controlled Assessment. Reminds me that we need to reflect on this soon....

5. How Google's Wonder Wheel and Timeline can help improve learning. Includes a brief video of the tools in action linked to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

6. Revamping Settlement Together. A collaborative Scheme of Work put together by Primary and Secondary teachers. Again, a post that I need to reflect upon. I did shape the document into a coherent scheme, and taught many of the lessons. I meant to post about each lesson, but got distracted by other issues.

7. Ofsted Questions. A list of possible question that may be asked to Middle Leaders during either a Subject or Full inspection.

8. Stereotype Mapping. Playing with maps and minds. Well, I am a Geographer!

9. What's on your iPhone?. A list of Apps and how they are used to support learning. I hope to use this as a starting point for an article in the forthcoming #edjournal.

10. Augmented Reality and Geography Fieldwork. Using the Wikitude app to support out of classroom learning.

11. Microsoft Innovative Education Forum: Berlin. A preview of the event in March 2010 including links to my resources.

12. Teachmeet BETT 2010. I didn't get to the event in the end, but this is roughly what I would have said. Video of my planned talk about using sayings from the A-Team's BA on Guerilla Geography and Improvement.

13. And time goes by so slowly. Time management and a description of how my job is everywhere.

14. Our Place Lesson 1. The first lesson of the new settlement unit referred to above.

15. What happens when you ban pens, pencils and paper? How to encourage creativity. GMy favorite lesson of the 2009-10 academic year. It came about because it was far too hot to stay indoors, so planned in a very short amount of time.

16. Getting to grips with Guerilla Geography. The results of a naughty lesson where young people shared their thoughts about school space with the whole school.

17. Autocollage and BSF. How the Autocollage tool was used, before the axe fell.

18. Geographical Conference Workshop Resources. Find out why Pinky and the Brain never succeeded in taking over the world and what that means for teaching. Details of the three sessions I was involved in delivering.

19. Bittersweet BETT. Reflections on BETT 2010.

20. I've got no idea how to use Sketchup, so how can my pupils use it? A post about taking pedagogical risks and letting pupils take charge.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

High Impact, Low effort

This month is the start of the #29daysofwriting challenge.  I enjoyed this last year and will be using my Staffrm account to post.  I'll also be reporting here, both to give a little more detail and to keep a log of what I have written. The challenge developed a great sense of community last year, which is why I'm choosing to write on Staffrm. What I would say to those who are new to writing or don't want to run out of ideas is: Write for yourself. Clarify an idea, write something out loud. The process of distilling thoughts into writing is immensely beneficial to your practice. If other read, comment and respond, that's a bonus. Ignore the muppets who know nothing of your context, style or students. Mix it up - I like to read about real stuff from real classrooms and schools and also about other stuff.  If we always write about school, how does that work for workload? If you've nothing nice to say, don't say it. So, the following has been 

What makes a learning experience profound? Personal reflections and possible implications for classroom practice.

I have recently begun a Leadership Pathways journey.  As part of the first core day, we were asked to reflect on a profound learning experience. This got me thinking about how many profound learning experiences I have both been involved in, and how many I have been able to give to others.  Our group came up with a huge long list, but these are my five. Emotional Connected Demanding Reflective Collaborative As always, these are personal thoughts and quite mixed up.  I put them here so that I can look back on them (plus they’d get lost inside my world-cup-free brain) 1. Emotional I can’t think of a time where deep learning hasn’t engaged my emotions.  From being awe inspired to that tingle feeling when a student gets a light bulb moment.  From this-is-the-happiest-day-ever, to I-think-I’m-about-to die.  How often do we engage the emotions of those we teach?  Here, I would argue that having a safe learning environment is not always conducive to profound

The danger of Teaching and Twitter conversations: poorly formed bipolar arguments.

Sometimes in life, there really are only two options.  Get the wrong one and you can look like a muppet.  Take this useful sign for the toilets in Morocco.  I successfully navigated it, choosing the right option.  The result? No egg on my face.  As a mountain leader, there are many right or wrong decisions that I’ve faced, as there are all over life.  It’s not a good idea to let inexperienced young people walk themselves down Snowdon.  They may die or be seriously injured.  If someone is showing the signs and symptoms of hyperthermia, you need to treat it fast in a specified way.  There is no real arguing with this sign: Other options are less obvious.  Take this sign recently spotted near to where I live: Now, I wouldn’t consider sleeping in a bin.  However, faced with a sub-zero night, I could see the appeal.  The danger? Being tipped into one of those huge lorries with a compactor. (by the way, I only really considered all of this thanks to questions from my four year old boy).