So Much to Learn...So Little Time

East Lothian (Science) Teachers Taking on ACfE

East Lothian Science Support Group » Getting to grips with a Curriculum for Excellence

I have just read about a group of 40+ science teachers in East Lothian who got together to discuss A curriculum for Excellence and just felt like saying bravo. What a brilliant idea, if only to meet other colleagues and to realise yoy are the only one thinking the way you are.
Over the next year Scottish education is looking at a massive change and it is naturally both scary and exciting.

ACfE

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A Call to Lothian and Edinburgh Bloggers

A.nnotate a PDF document

I am putting a call out to bloggers in Edinburgh and the Lothians for feedback on their school week, particularly in the secondary sector.
Aberdeenshire are currently "consulting" on the new Curriculum framework with regard to A Curriculum for Excellence. One of the proposals, and the one which is bound to generate the most discussion is that to unify and change the arrangements of the school week.

As you guys down there have this in place can you shed any light on how it has affected teaching, learning, collegiate working and childcare issues amongst others.

consultation acfe

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Some nice videos from the Beeb, 'specially with my nice IWB

BBC - Learning Zone Clips Library - Secondary Search Results

BBC - Learning Zone Clips Library via kwout

Those nice people at the BBC have published a whole swathe of videos in their Learning Zone pages.

There appears to be a nice selection of ones in French and German, which I shall be hoping to use on my new IWB...when the projector decides to work.

languages bbclearning

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A 21st Century Agreement...when it concerns them

I consider myself fortunate to live in Scotland and work in the Scottish education system. We have a very grown up contract implemented in 2002 called A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century (aka McCrone.) It brought far reaching changes to the teaching profession in Scotland.
One of these conditions is that of working at a time and place of our choosing. To quote Part 2 Section 3 paragraph 7 of the SNCT Handbook of Conditions of Service:

3.7 All tasks which do not require the teacher to be on the school premises can be carried out at a time and place of the teacher’s choosing: teachers will notify the appropriate manager of their intention in this respect.

In effect this means that if we have a free period at the end of a day for example and are not needed for cover or a meeting etc we are not obliged to be on the premises. In other words we are to be trusted to do what we have to do, but can do it at a time and place which is most convenient. (This was not the case when I worked in Barnsley.)

Today, though, has seen some  difficult to comprehend decisions being taken on high. Tomorrow the janitors, technicians, cleaners etc in TGWU, Unite and Unison are taking industrial action. This means that the school keyholders and integral members of the fire evacuation team (janitors are not on site) thus creating a health and safety risk. Thus school is not open for pupils. However Headies have been told in no uncertain terms that schools will be open and that teaching staff WILL be present.  This leads to the  situation that a colleague who has non-contact time from lunchtime on a Wednesday could, under normal circumstances when kids are in, request to work at a time and place of his choosing for the rest of the day. Tomorrow he cannot, even though there are no kids present because he risks disciplinary action.

Colleagues are being forced to travel 40+miles to get to school when they could quite easily carry out tasks at home, really environmentally friendly

The one and only reason I think of for this decision to deny our contractual rights is one of public image. The authority wants to be able to say that after having 6 weeks off we are making sure that teachers are working (or at least in the workplace.) I personally have a stack load of stuff I could do at home such as finishing off the plans for our Connecting Classrooms partnership or rerecording some podcasts.

Maybe you think this me just being arsey and that I should live in the real world but what is the point in having a very decent conditions of service document if our leaders think they can just take unilateral decisions because they perhaps don't like a particular part.

So I shall be going into work tomorrow, under protest, and I shall have to find some other way to support my fellows trade unionists.

Go Animate

Via Ollie  I have got wind of Go Animate. Here'e my feeble 10 minute attempt whilst watching the rowing in Beijing, BUT it shows what you can do in a short time...classroom here we come.

La Rentrée...hmmm!

I consider myself a glass half full kind of bloke and usually look forward to the beginning of a new school year, mainly because I'm excited about the things I want to get up to in my classroom.

This session really should be the same: I've got a new smartboard in my room to play with (when the projector gets fixed/ replaced) and we are finally going to get our teeth into ACfE.

So why am I not quite so fired up as usual. Here's why: I have a sneaking suspicion (and I am very willing to be proved wrong) that our experience of ACfE is going to simply be some kind of statistical analysis of curriculum areas where results are "best" and this will determine in some way or form how we are going to proceed. I suspect there is going to be a ridiculous amount of paperwork which will have little or no effect on classroom teaching and learning.

But if I generally have a Postitive Mental Attitude about change why am I so glum abot this. Well, our headie (of all of 18 or so months) is off to a bigger school (more money) and we are getting another rector from another school as head to tide us over whilst a permanent boss is found, in the meantime we also lost our senior depute to promotion. Therefore I wonder who is going to have the drive and motivation to push forward the far reaching innovative changes that I feel ACfE demands.

I want ACfE to change the way education in Scotland is delivered, not solely in how we assess or categorise students but how educators work (together!) Sooooo, I think I am going to have to be a little creatively subversive in this and just simply ensure that creativity, imagination and enjoyment are watchwords in my class. Can I do this? Yes I think so.


Hmmm I feel a bit better about going back already. Blogging=catharsis

Typical Englishman abroad...Steve Maclaren

I didn't think Steve MacLaren could sink any lower after the umberella incident however he has shown himself to be somewhat idiotic.
Rather than learning Dutch it seems he has decided that the way to communicate with a fluent English speaking Dutch interviewer is to speak slower and put on a Mike Myers-like Dutch accent. Utterly ridiculous and supremely funny but unfortunately sterotypically representative of the average brit abroad. When are we going to really learn the importance of learning another language...We have a long way to go I feel.
Way to go Steve

Benebet.com | Steve McClaren regarding FC Twente Champions League draw

Caught In The Act

This is what I caught my three little bandits up to AFTER they had finished the washing up. (I cheated a bit and added better sound...naughty me.)

Music is "Seka Seka" by Marechal

Animoto for Education

Great news for animoto fans in education. The folks at animoto have finally launched animoto for education, which allows you (AND YOUR STUDENTS) to create free unlimited videos.
Brilliant.

Introducing Animoto for Education « From The Guys at Animoto via kwout

Adam's Utterings

Mobile post sent by chuffin using Utterz. Replies.  mp3