So Much to Learn...So Little Time

Live Mocha Language Learning

Live mocha is a superb, free language learning resource, which as well as giving learners reading, listening and writing exercises there is also the option to interact with speakers of the kanguage you have chosen to learn.

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The second in a mini series of web-based language learning resources looking at Livemocha.

Pr(o)of of the Pudding...

I was going to call this post "A Negative View of the Web by Academia", but then I read on and around my subject and this is what I found. This is how an article from Mashable starts:

University Of Brighton Professor Places Ban On Google And Wikipedia

January 13, 2008 — 08:06 AM PST — by Paul Glazowski — Share This

So I read on and find out that a university professor at the University of Brighton has banned her students from using these tools for their research because " professor Tara Brabazon claims that students have grown too accustomed to taking

“the easy option when asked to do research.” "

And that is it with regard to direct quotes from the original source of the article. This Mashable piece goes on to decry academics, particularly in the fields of history, literature, science etc as almost Luddite in their fear of new technology. Apparently these educators fear the Chaos and will revert back to the "officially approved" doctrine.

Now, because this article interested me it almost prompted me to write a rant, but I thought ,"No, I'd better get more info," so I clicked the hyperlink shown in the picture below.

Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!

This took me to this headline from The Argus: Lecturer bans students from using Google and Wikipedia.
This article starts off in a similar vein until we get to the quotes from Professor Tara Brabazon:

"Too many students don't use their own brains enough. We need to bring back the important values of research and analysis."

She said young people were finishing education with shallow ideas and
needed to learn interpretative skills before starting to use technology.

The article goes on to explain that Professor Brabazon is giving a lecture locally entitled, Google is White Bread for the Masses.

Now it is obvious that Prof. Brabazon does not particularly like her students using these tools for their research but I feel that her main bugbear is that students are using them, and them alone as their research. To my mind she trying to encourage a sense of academic rigour into her students, who seem to believe the first Google find or Wikipedia page they see. She is trying to get her students to go beyond those original sources.

I then went on to (ironically) google Prof Brabazon. Very interesting to say the least what she lectures on:

Tara Brabazon is Professor of Media at the University of Brighton, United Kingdom.

Not only is she no Luddite she lectures on subjects such as "Thinking Pop and Creative Industries". She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Internet Studies and has written 10 books, including The University of Google:  Education in a (post) information age.

Google is a
brand name that has transformed into a verb for web searching.  The
word has also entered popular culture.  But an absence in this
narrative of commercial success is the impact of Google on education.
Googling signals simple and intuitive surfing, rather than planned
researching, and quick answers to difficult questions.  The costs and
consequences of students entering this digital shopping mall for
research, scholarship and interpretation require attention.

Interesting eh? Obviously this professor knows a heck of a lot more about this than you would have believed from the first article.

This is what I had to do to write this post. And this is what Prof Brabazon is trying to get her students to do(ish). If I'd have simply written a commentary on the mashable article I would only have seen half the story, whereas by finding the original article and looking up the person concerned I got the whole story.
And I'm rather pleased with myself about that.

Did you like the title???

Technorati Tags: tarabrabazon, adamsutcliffe, google, mashable, wikipedia, research, universityofbrighton

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The Importance of Learning Another Language...or not, if league tables are invovlved

I caught this from Education Guardian in my Google Alerts for "languages" today and although I'm not directly affected being an MFL teacher in Scotland it got my goat.

Headteachers today blamed school league tables for a dramatic decline in the number of children taking languages.

I'm am in no way a supporter of league tables, but it is blatant rubbish that it is the fault of league tables that fewer kids are studying languages. I am willing to be corrected if wrong but is it not the choice of individual schools whether or not languages are compulsory post 14.

As the government published the latest tables for GCSE and A-level in England, John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said they created perverse incentives for schools to skew the curriculum for 14- and 15-year-olds towards easier subjects.

So is Mr Dunford saying that the sole incentive for dropping the obligation for language study is the incentive to make a school look better in a league table? Hardly the most educational rationale is it?

I always thought we were in the business of producing well rounded young men and women with a drive for lifelong learning and an ambition to to their best in whatever they attempt. Yes it is important to kids and mums and dads what grades appear on their certificate but it also important...no vital, that students come out of their time in school as confident, responsible ,world aware citizens. The study of a foreign language goes a long way to doing this.

I think more H/T's need to be stronger to resist the temptation to make their school look good through tables. A good school with good teachers and a strong ethos of achievement in the broadest sense will always shine through...except to those who are so blinkered as to believe that a league table in something  like education actually means something (politicians for example.)

But Dunford said the target had contributed to a dramatic fall in the numbers taking modern foreign languages now that pupils were no longer required to a take a foreign language after the age of 14. "This is widely regarded as a hard GCSE, a view that is supported by reliable research evidence, so, instead of taking French or German, students have taken subjects in which it is easier to reach grade C.

Oh dear, so languages is seen as a hard subject...SO WHAT?. What is wrong with a little academic rigour? Nothing for those that respond to that. But learning a language doesn't always have to be so difficult. Surely in England there are lower level courses students can take where students don't dwell so much on the hard grammatical stuff, but learn more about the culture of the countries where those languages are spoken, whilst still covering the basics. Any language teacher will tell you that parents at parents' evenings constantly bemoan the fact that though they didn't like languages at school they wished they had paid more attention because they go to France every year on holiday...

It's easy to blame league tables...they can't exactly respond via a blog can they.It just seems to me that everyone is taking the easy option: H/T's because they get to skew their stats a bit and pupils because they don't want to do something thats a bit difficult.

There have been so many articles written worrying about our lanck of linguistic prowess and what it means for future generations. This is just one I picked up on. (The Language of Ignorance?)

The rest of the world is becoming more multilingual - and monolingual English speakers are being left behind. Those that have learned English as a foreign language have every right to compete for jobs in the English speaking market, and if they are more qualified than those that speak English as a primary language, this could leave a huge chunk of the UK population without jobs.
Many think of languages as a non-vocational option of study, but in reality learning a foreign language can open up a vast array of career opportunities, ranging from work with well-known multinational companies to international organisations or charities, with the added benefit of travel abroad.

  

Without a language skill more and more of our kids will be at the back of a queue for all the good jobs. Come on give them a chance. Yes its hard, yes it can be a pain in the arse sometimes but it is encumbent on  us as educators to give our students every chance to succeed in a world which is changing everyday...it's then up to the students to grasp the opportunity given.

And yes I know H/Ts have lots to think about when making their decisions about the curriculum but simply blaming the league tables is to my mind down right daft.

Technorati Tags: languagelearning, language, johnduford, educationguardian, adamsutcliffe, gcse,

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What Kind of Teacher are You?

Are you this kind of teacher?

Or are you this kind?

Images courtesy of Alec Couros from his Doctoral Thesis, Examining The Open Movement: Possiblities and Implications for Education, and were originally uploaded to Flickr by Alec. 
Thanks to Mr W. for bringing them to my attention.

May I be so bold as to suggest that if you are reading this you are probably a networked teacher, or on the way to becoming one. I find myself more and more a networked type and I have to say it suits me down to the ground. I have never thought so much about my job (vocation?) ever, and have never had so much contact with fellows world wide; at this particular point in my life when due to my ruptured discs I am not in my "Typical Teacher Network" it is really quite comforting and stopping me wallowing in too much of my own pity.
For example I was ironing a few clothes on Sunday ( I can still do a bit of work) with Twitteriffic chirruping in the background and Ewan wanted some contributions for a piece he was in the course of writing. I had a few thoughts and so did a few of our mutual followers. You never know I might vaguely recognise something he writes in The Economist.
Yesterday I caught a tweet from Lucy Gray asking for examples of presentations showing good practice in Global Ed. I sent her a link to one I did for our Welwitschia Partnership...lo and behold I discovered she has set up a whole network dedicated to Global Education.Fantastic.
One BUT though. I put out a tweet for any GLOW monitors to ask about their role. Nary a tickle. Glass half full version, non of them are online tonight. Glass half empty version...they don't know about Twitter...oh dear, better not utter my true thoughts.

All hail the network.

Technorati Tags: Aleccouros, networkedteacher, network, adamsutcliffe,

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Teddy Bears Around the World

Sylvia over at Langwitches has been doing some fantastic work concerning global collaboration and global awareness. She is looking for other Primary / Elementary Schools around the world (do I have a worldwide audience) to get involved in the project.

Here's the promotional flyer:

And here's the website:

Teddy Bears Around the World


Technorati Tags: langwitches, globalclassroom, globalcollaboration, teddiesaroundthe world

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Ready for la rentrée

In actual fact I won't be. Still laid up with my prolapsed discs and looking like surgery (according to the chiropractor)
However never let it be said that I have stopped working. I have a great S4 French class, most of whom I have taught all through school. Just in their moment of need their favourite teacher isn't there...me that is. Due to the supply situation in the 'Shire there is no MFL teacher to fill in so they have a really nice lady who unfortunately isn't a French teacher.
Now I would dearly love to really put 2.0 tech to the test and deliver the odd lesson via my apple and the pc in my room, but this ain't possible. So in order to give a helping hand I've put together this wee presentation to assist with the prep of a folio piece. I will be posting this on the departmental resource blog along with written details.
How nice am I...more likely how frustrated at being out of the loop.

Click To Play

Technorati Tags: teaching, learning, technology, french, languages,

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Learn 200 words a day

200words-a-day.com

Just got this link through my google alerts for languages. For any of you MFL teachers out there have you heard of this, do you have experience of it. If so drop me a comment.
It sound to be too good to be true, but I like the idea if only for increasing students grasp of vocab.

Teaching Modern Foreign Languages in Schools Using Accelerated Learning Software
Free Trial in your School - read on only if you are open-minded...
Many modern foreign languages (MFL) teachers have difficulty in attracting, and retaining the interest of students who are studying languages in schools. Teaching vocabulary is one of the areas of difficulty.

The 200 Words a Day! techniques, which use the
teachings of the world's memory masters, might hold the solution if
this sounds like you might be facing.

Now to approach my PT. What is there to lose by talking to them and trying it out. We are always complaining about how students don't learn enough vocab. Obviously it wouldn't/shouldn't replace the usual courses etc but it could be useful.


Technorati Tags: language, learning, teaching, french, german, spanish, 200words-a-day

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Stinkin'Thinkin'

I know this  article on bbc has already been blogged about by Ewan and Doug Dickinson, but just felt the need to add my 2 penn'orth.

Children often bring the fascinating gadgets they were
bought as Christmas presents into class, but these can cause disruption
and hamper learning.

I wonder if Kevin Brennan has been into a classroom where this disruptive technology has been harnessed to fantastic  educational effect. Let me think off hand who do I know from the blogosphere in MFL teaching has successfully disturbed a lesson with great educational output. Lynne Horn, Sharon Tonner, Me, Ewan, etc.
Yes these "toys" can be disruptive IF the purpose of using them is not explained and the penalties for misuse calmly pointed out. My classes erupt with joy when I say get out you phones and turn on Bluetooth, but this is always accompanied with a proviso that if a student uses their phone in class for something other than waht they have been tasked to do it will be confiscated...thus far no probs. Don't worry I have heard all the arguments about losing things and damaging things as well and these are real arguments, but they should not be excuses for trying.

When oh when oh when are politicians going to shut up about education and leave it to those who really care or alternatively see what can happen in classrooms before reacting to

Technorati Tags: education, teaching, web2.0, technology, "kevin brennan", gadgets, mp3, ipod

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A 2oh student's plea.

Sean The Bass Player has come up with some interesting thoughts in his latest Students 2.0 blog post. In short he would like not only to be taught to pass exams but to ensure that students are kept up to speed with technology. His thoughts were piqued by the Queen going all 2.0 by posting her latest Message to the Commonwealth on YouTube, along with a variety of historical films.

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He asks that if an institution as old as the monarchy can move with the times, why can't education?

I think this question is very valid. Why indeed does the education establishment not move and evolve more quickly. Well we all know the stock answer boils down to funding, or lack thereof; but unfortunately there also tends to be quite a lot of inertia in classrooms. If a certain way of doing things has got kids past their exams for the last10 years ago then it will jolly well do so now...if it ain't broke don't fix it.

The inertia thing is quite a difficult problem to deal with as it involves trying to persuade folk to do things they have no desire to do, and I don't wish to go in depth about that here.
But what about the other issue that crops up...funding. Many schools operate on networks that are long past their sell by dates. (My place has only just replaced the Windows '98 machines we were operating.) Now obviously updating these costs a heap of cash, but many of the very usable applications available on the net are free, especially to educators. I'm thinking of applications such as YouTube (or any video hosting site), Flickr, Animoto, Voicethread, Skype etc., etc. All these and more are free and are outstanding resources for educators and their students, BUT how many of us can actually access these sites in schools? Many are banned in the name of child protection, for (a very real) fear that kids will access inappropriate content.

This is where we the educators and students such as Sean ( and his 2.0 colleagues) need to step in by dealing with digital literacy on a daily basis; by educating and encouraging thoughtful, sensible use of the resources on the web. Then maybe, those who hold the keys to the filters may unlock them when they see that these tools are being used wisely and how useful they are to education. And then Sean et al  will feel that they are getting an education that goes some way to preparing them for a future that we cannot yet know.

Photo credit:  Dia 48 - School's Out, originally uploaded on April 18, 2007
by MëL

PBwiki Tutorial - 2

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