Fostering a professional learning community in Qatar and beyond
A quaint ol' Cornish town...
Out for a "Boys Behaving Badly" evening when I had to put the glass down and actually go silent for a minute.
"We're going on a holiday and to have a look at some schools in Cornwall. It would be nice to find a quiet, little village school away from all the hassles and administrative interference etc etc.."
I blinked and wondered if such an idyllic place existed anymore - I hoped not.
I thought about what I had read recently concerning "Technologically illiterate teachers" and I reflected upon our own little charming school....
"Look gang, we'll try this Ning Thing - we have to be in there and learning and having a go etc etc..." So a few of the dedicated souls and Risk Takers dived in and we laughed and enjoyed the avatars that turned up.
UNTIL suddenly an unknown person enrolled as a member of our group.....AARGH!
(I'm sure the steamed fish had had the same sort of Googly eyes....and...was that a touch of dyspepsia?
I mean the new member was linked here, there, everywhere - web site and Uncletomcobbleys n all - if you get the cultural allusion.)
I had a moment which was of both Blind Panic and Wild Exhilaration. It was a bit like getting hit on the jaw by the Phantom's skull ring.
How fantastic to have others unknown to us wishing to enter into some sort of dialogue. We are not as isolated or as alone as one had imagined.
What a buzz. Garbo was wrong!
Then I thought of Tim Rylands. Now he's a bloke in a little village just out of Bristol in the UK. I picked up on his idea of using a non-violent computer game (in my case I have stuck to "Riven" for 3 years now) to extend and inspire his students to write. Fantastic stuff.
I have moved in different directions and have used it for Maths, Science, History ....well, I have tried to make as many varied and wide connections as possible. I think that is of enormous value.)
I watch his little village kids on the YouTube video and would like my class to emulate his. Er - sit down and ....We're different in our ways of using the same material...and do we start the conversation here of how a computer game can turn classes on for 3 years in a row and they still talk about it...
I am very grateful that a guy teaching in a village school had a Presence and put his idea out to the wider community. My feeling is that by the nature of being a small village school (in Cornwall?) that there may be a greater desire and urgency to have a presence and dialogue with a wider community.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the quaint ol' Cornish town idea may be as anachronistic as Peter Dawson's song of 1934.
Except that the song is lovely - You buTe, or should I have said "You Bude."
"We're going on a holiday and to have a look at some schools in Cornwall. It would be nice to find a quiet, little village school away from all the hassles and administrative interference etc etc.."
I blinked and wondered if such an idyllic place existed anymore - I hoped not.
I thought about what I had read recently concerning "Technologically illiterate teachers" and I reflected upon our own little charming school....
"Look gang, we'll try this Ning Thing - we have to be in there and learning and having a go etc etc..." So a few of the dedicated souls and Risk Takers dived in and we laughed and enjoyed the avatars that turned up.
UNTIL suddenly an unknown person enrolled as a member of our group.....AARGH!
(I'm sure the steamed fish had had the same sort of Googly eyes....and...was that a touch of dyspepsia?
I mean the new member was linked here, there, everywhere - web site and Uncletomcobbleys n all - if you get the cultural allusion.)
I had a moment which was of both Blind Panic and Wild Exhilaration. It was a bit like getting hit on the jaw by the Phantom's skull ring.
How fantastic to have others unknown to us wishing to enter into some sort of dialogue. We are not as isolated or as alone as one had imagined.
What a buzz. Garbo was wrong!
Then I thought of Tim Rylands. Now he's a bloke in a little village just out of Bristol in the UK. I picked up on his idea of using a non-violent computer game (in my case I have stuck to "Riven" for 3 years now) to extend and inspire his students to write. Fantastic stuff.
I have moved in different directions and have used it for Maths, Science, History ....well, I have tried to make as many varied and wide connections as possible. I think that is of enormous value.)
I watch his little village kids on the YouTube video and would like my class to emulate his. Er - sit down and ....We're different in our ways of using the same material...and do we start the conversation here of how a computer game can turn classes on for 3 years in a row and they still talk about it...
I am very grateful that a guy teaching in a village school had a Presence and put his idea out to the wider community. My feeling is that by the nature of being a small village school (in Cornwall?) that there may be a greater desire and urgency to have a presence and dialogue with a wider community.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the quaint ol' Cornish town idea may be as anachronistic as Peter Dawson's song of 1934.
Except that the song is lovely - You buTe, or should I have said "You Bude."
Comment
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Comment by Sean Davis on April 8, 2008 at 10:11pm -
I think you too were busy with reports Peter. I haven't been doing the ning thing as you put it. I have been using the wiki a lot and will be watching my kids for fatigue and then try the next thing. I got some "extension" ideas from Mike Boulanger too, that I will be trying.
As an aside I have a mail pending in drafts for you and Ali. I haven't sent it since you are on holiday, its coming soon.
SD
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Comment by Julie Lindsay on March 22, 2008 at 2:41pm
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Peter, so pleased you are still with us and in fine form as usual. The Ning has been a little quieter this week (we are all writing reports!). You may be interested to view the resources on our e-Learning wiki at http://elearning.qataracademy.wikispaces.net/
Also, I have been working all weekend on planing a retreat for our admin team, here is the first public announcement of where this material is (or will be by Monday!)
http://elearning.qataracademy.wikispaces.net/E4L+admin+retreat
Our objectives for the retreat are simple....everyone stays in the same room until we all agree...it could be a long night, or alternatively you may never hear from me again! Seriously, this is an excellent opportunity to start to make the shift and discuss at the admin level what is needed in our school to embrace 21st century learning. I will blog about this later.......need to go find an ol' Cornish town...or at least a cornish pastie and a bit of peace........
Cheers, Julie
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