Adventures in Teaching and Learning

Right. Tomorrow’s task is to plan a lesson for 11 year olds on Confucius. So I need to learn a little more first … If anyone happens to know of any resources that would be suitable for that age group on that topic, please feel free to post them in the comments box!!! Thank you!!

That is the question that Terry Freedman is asking on his blog, and he is asking bloggers / writers to complete a survey which can be found here, with their views on the difference. So first of all, I thought I’d put up the link in case any of my readers would like to complete the survey to help Terry with his research.

Anyway, it’s an interesting question. I enjoy blogging, but some of the topics I blog about aren’t exactly what I would choose to write about if I were writing fiction, for example. Last November I took part in NaNoWriMo, and the resulting writing was quite different from my posts here. A lot of stream-of-consciousness, for example, which, although I do a little of it from time to time here, might not always get across the main point or link that I want to share.

Also, Samson’s book is completely different from his blogging style. I’m sure there are many other people who would be able to give such examples. After all, the purposes of a book, essay, short story or blog can be very different.

I suppose for me, the big question in relation to Terry’s article is, what is a writer? What makes a writer different from a blogger? Is a writer a novelist, an author, a journalist, a blogger? Are they interchangeable? Am I blogger on here, but a writer when I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo? If my blog were more literary, would I be a writer who blogs, or still a blogger who writes?

Well, it’s getting late now and I wouldn’t want to reflect too much this late at night! But I would look forward to any responses … (That could be another difference … a blogger should be able to get quicker feedback, presumably? If we have any readers? Whereas a writer might have to wait for longer and look for letters in the feedback pages of newspapers or hold their breath for reviews?)

An ice cream analogy to explain social media. With thanks to Ant Jessop, who left a comment at Ben Annett’s blog … it’s those digital breadcrumbs again!

A lot of teachers online have been blogging about using ToonDoo and other cartoon sites to make cartoons. I am currently trying to make some classroom rules cartoons as a trial. I came across the cartoon above, and it made me smile, so I thought I’d share it with the world as an example.

(Oops! Forgot about the width of the page … ah well, enjoy it in all its glory for now!)

(Please find a link to Caryl Oliver’s website here. Caryl, who made this cartoon, is an Australian educator specialising in mobile learning.)

It’s always nice to share ideas and get ideas from others. I came across Box of Tricks when I began using Wordle; today I thought I would revisit and discovered that the blogger has been using Voki in his classroom, with Year 9 boys. Having listened to some of them on his school blog, I have been very impressed (and reminded of my years living in Nottingham!) Then I discovered Senor Picardo’s Animoto challenge - and an entry produced by a student. These are certainly very good ways of using ICT in the classroom, and I have found them quite inspiring. I hope you do too!

I have also been experimenting with PulpMotion today for the first time as well. Here is my first attempt at sharing some of my pupils’ work from the past year. Key Stage 3 students have to produce a title page for each new unit of work.

Download

first-proper-attempt-export

I have attempted to use iStopMotion for the first time today. Wanted to make it look more like animation than like a video gone slightly wrong, so obviously wanted to include a background and foreground. Here is my first short attempt, less than about 1 second long. I had a red background that I tried to use. Unfortunately I then chose a Russian doll that is also mostly red, so it’s quite ghostly! I also had to hold the red folder between my teeth so that I could move the doll and press the button at the same time. I think I have a lot to learn with this one!

Weird, weird, weird!!! I do not watch Teachers’ TV as often as I should, even though I’m an Associate, and when I do it is almost always online. But just now I thought I’d put it on in the background while I went to cook, and had some difficulty finding it (880 on Sky, so you don’t need to spend so long looking for it). Imagine my surprise when it starts up, and there is one of my own pupils talking, then I see another of my pupils, and then my voice - followed by me! Very strange experience when I was least expecting it! I had seen it before - in fact, I think I mentioned it on my blog at the time - but I didn’t expect to see it today! (I was talking about blogging. With far too much make up. I think I thought it would be like being on stage, where you might need to wear more make up to be seen. It’s not!)

Right. I was about to go and cook …

Additional Note: When I opened up the Teachers’ TV website, our programme, Online Social Networks - Friend or Foe?, was the highlighted programme.

As a Haringey teacher, it was about time I visited this local celebrity of a shop. And I was not disappointed! Although the space is small, there is a lightness, openness and friendliness about it that means I am looking forward to going back. Made a nice change to the huge superstores that most bookshops are today (although I have to confess, I like those too!). Anyway, it felt a bit like visiting a friend, which was a bit bizarre since I have never met Tim or Simon, the owners, before, but I had seen photos on their Facebook site and on their blog, and since our superb librarian is also connected to them, I feel as if I am part of the Big Green Bookshop family. So, having bought a book (the Freedom Writers’ Diary, since you ask), I am now devoting a whole post to this special Wood Green bookshop. Please follow the links above to find out more! (And, if you’re near North London on 9 August, I’m sure Tim and Simon would be delighted to see you at their Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cookbook party … See the Facebook group for more details!) (And I should also point out that there is handy parking nearby, as long as there are spaces, of course, but you should take some cash with you for the machine so your visit isn’t as rushed as mine was!)

I hardly ever forget to write a title on my posts, but I was so determined to write about the National Year of Reading in my last post, that I forgot to write a title. I noticed a bit later that something looked odd, went back and changed it, and thought nothing of it. Until now. When I received a message from the International Edubloggers Directory wiki letting me know that posts from those registered on the directory could now all be found in one place using the RSS feed. So I thought I would go and have a look at what other people are blogging about in the world of education today, and also, while I was at it, check that my own offering was there.

Which it wasn’t. Only a blank space, with no link, to mark the place where my post would have been! All because I forgot to add a title! How foolish. I’ll try not to do it again! At least it gives me an excuse to point readers in the direction of the International Edubloggers Directory - check out some of the other bloggers, and, while you are there, why not sign up yourself?