So Much to Learn...So Little Time

Digital Learners in Analogue Schools

This is a really interesting video by students in American Universities complaining about not being able to learn in the way they feel will help them best.
Although it's university students how much does this apply to us as ordinary school teachers. How valid are text books now? Why aren't we using the info and tech that is out there? Is it the profession which is holding itself back or is tech advancing too fast and authorities are financially unable to keep up with students?
In my humble opinion it is a good mixture of both.

Technology Gap

Is there now a technology chasm between the developed and the developing worlds?

For a while now something has been bugging me about all this wonderful web-based technology and these fantastic, new, freely available whizz-bang applications which could have an amazing effect on the education of our children. Don't get me wrong all these ideas really are superb, and there is a serious amount of work being put in to analyse the effect web 2.0 etc can have. BUT I am worried that all this stuff is being done for a generation for whom education is no-longer seen as a right with the accompanying responsibilities but as a mere disruption for 5 days a week; a generation to whom huge amounts are given yet relatively little is asked (that should be DEMANDED) in return.
Turn that around, what effect could all these resources, technology have on kids in the developing world, for some of whom school is an unattainable goal. Why shouldn't they be able to download free resources off the net to help them learn. Imagine if they could freely access learning resources instead of buying pre-loved text books (at close to brand new price). I, and many other fortunate people in this country, have experienced African children's desire to learn...over 200 students used to turn up to my Saturday morning classes.
If we could get this content to them the educational gaps which currently exist would surely shrink along with cultural misunderstandings. But here's the rub, HOW? I really wish I had an idea how something like this would work but I don't. Would pre-loaded mp3/4 players be an idea (a la DoBe)? How can countries whose telephone network barely functions bring it up to the necessary quality to enable high speed broadband...at an affordable price?
To be honest I would think using landline technology in somewhere like Cameroon would not work. But what about mobiles. Africa is the fastest growing mobile market in the world. Mobiles have completely changed how Africa communicates with itself. Would mobile phone companies allow for example educational resources to be placed on their portals and to be freely accessed by subscribers? Obviously requiring the necessary capacity on their networks? But then that would bring in the old chestnut of censorship...SMS has been disabled on the Ethiopian networks because anti-government protesters organised themselves via text during the last elections!!! Unfortunately I don't know the answers to these questions, but I am sure there are folk out there who do...and who will probably make a fortune out of the poor as usual.
Lets hope Nicholas Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child idea manages to work out and overcome Intels Classmate.

A top 10 minutes

Had one of the best ever meetings today. 10 mins at break time, 3 buttered pancakes and a cup of coffee...BUT. Someone who wanted to hear about some of the stuff I've been doing, who sounded genuinely excited about it and who thought my latest idea (see below) was rather interesting. Thank you Tracey Stewart from she Determined to Succeed...and thanks to Fiona for letting me know she would be in school.

As a result I have now spoken to Louise McDonough from DoBe about the possiblity of providing some content...could be interesting.

TGStv takes off

TGStv has started with a bang.

We have 4 films available for download over on TGSi: Sports Day, Health Fair, P7 Parents Evening and House Assemblies.

Enjoy.

ECML Photos

Here's my photo's from ECML BLOGS Workshop

Why we should learn a foreign language

Here's a couple of good reasons why learning (any) foreign language is a good idea.
Thanks Kees-Jan.

Peter Ford: Blogging to Creativity and Beyond

This is Peter's presentation at the ECML BLOGS Workshop.

Peter gave the keynote at Communicate.06 which kind of launched me on  my merry blogging way.  A couple of points I picked up on:

• if you don't like blogs don't use them. They are only a tool to be used if you so wish
• a blog is just a box you write in with buttons to click
• teachers need to take risks in order to move forward
• blogs help give students a concept of audience
• "teach not tech" - whatever blogging platform you use the software should flow into the background and not become a hindrance to creativity

I've not edited the presentation at all so theres about 10 seconds until it starts:

Download peter_ford.MP3

Download ecml_final_workshop.ppt

ECML WEB JOURNALS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION WORKSHOP

Here I am at another multi-cultural conference. Teachers and teacher trainers from all over Europe.

About 30+ teachers and languages being represented. Simultaneous translation in both French and English.

Already networked with Denis Cunningham who is President of the International Federation of Language Teacher Associations...why is SALT not a member???

Check out what the ECML does.

This is the BLOGS project we will be working on.

New and Improved In Service Podcast with free extras

  Here's the souped up version of the previous post's podcast.
It includes screenshots of my slides, url links to the relevant web pages and some music.
I recorded this presentation using a Griffin lapel mic connected to a Griffin iMic, connected to an Apple PowerBook G4 and Garageband 3.

Download aberdeenshire_and_city_modern_languages_in_service_day_may_2007.m4a

Notes to accompany presentation:

Promoting School/Departmental Activities
Resource bank / homework details
AifL/Peer Assessment
Reflection
Enterprise Activity
Collaborative Blog

What is a blog?
What is a podcast?
Typepad blogging tutorial
How to make a podcast

audacity download
audacity users guide
audacity tutorials

garageband 3
garageband tutorial

a good starters usb microphone

griffin imic / lapel mic

Some useful sources of information:
Joe Dale's ICT in Modern languages
Ewan MacIntosh
Ollie Bray
John Johnstone@Sandaig Primary
The Ashcombe School
MFLE blogs and podcasts
eggdeutsch

MFL Blogroll (courtesy of Joe Dale...thanks Joe)

This is a great list of links to MFL themed blogs from all over.

• A ship in the country
• Campo's Corner
• Edgehill College Spanish
• Eggdeutsch
• Ewan McIntosh
• Facing the currently unknown
• Inchinnan Primary
• Kirklandneuk Primary
• Langwitches
• Leanne Simmonds
• Lynne Horn
• MFL Innovations and Ideas Bank
• MFLE
• Montrose Academy
• Northgate High
• Partners in Excellence
• Rate my Mates
• Spectacularspanishandfabulousfrench
• Steph Hopkins
• TES ICT Blog
• TGS MFL HW
• Two Stars and a Wish
• Woodhill Primary
• York MFL PGCE

In Service 18th May 2007 (Blogging, Podcasting, Digital Video...in 30 mins.)

Blogging and Podcasting for busy teachers.
As promised here's the podcast of my performance today. This is just the basic recorded version. I'm going to link it with the powerpoint so the slides will show at the appropriate moment.

Download Inservice.mp3