Sunday 15th May 2011
Finally got the last piece of the critical analysis of a pedagogic text completed today. I am happy. Spent the evening writing up the Innovative Lesson task and now I'm going to print this out. Overall, I have enjoyed this part of the task, and although I could have been more reflective more often, it has helped me to think about my practice.
My original assessment was that I could have been more reflective, and I have taken the comments made by Yvon and tried to incorporate more reflection in this blog. Reflecting on my lack of reflection, I can only apologise: Many of the edits I have done here, I have tried to carry on the theme of what I was thinking about at the time. Most of the time, I was reflecting on my practice, but I have not made this as overt as it should have been. I rarely reflect on texts I read, or on educational theories, but I do reflect on how I feel my students learn, about how I impart knowledge and understanding and about how I perform as a teacher. I hope this is more clear in this re-submission.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Reflections - 25
Tuesday 10th May 2011
I had a letter on Friday from the Student Loan company, saying that they might owe me money. I dismissed this as a ploy and I thought it might be a tactic employed to get me to ring them to see if they could get more money out of me. Then I reflected... Perhaps they did owe me money after all... I called them on Saturday, only to be taken though a series of menus to be eventually told that the Student Loan company was not open on Saturday.
I rang them again today. They owe me money! Whoo hoo!
There has been learning from this. Persistence pays. I need to be more persistent in many aspects of my teaching, particularly in the pursuit of this qualification.
I had a letter on Friday from the Student Loan company, saying that they might owe me money. I dismissed this as a ploy and I thought it might be a tactic employed to get me to ring them to see if they could get more money out of me. Then I reflected... Perhaps they did owe me money after all... I called them on Saturday, only to be taken though a series of menus to be eventually told that the Student Loan company was not open on Saturday.
I rang them again today. They owe me money! Whoo hoo!
There has been learning from this. Persistence pays. I need to be more persistent in many aspects of my teaching, particularly in the pursuit of this qualification.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Reflections - 24
Sunday 8th May 2011
After a four day working week, I am dreading the thought of a full week in work... I will be absolutely knackered!
We had a weekend off from working on van, and we didn't really fancy going away in it... Sometimes, just doing nothing is the best way to unwind. We were supposed to be driving down to Somerset for a VW weekend, but we decided against it. This meant that we were available on Saturday to go to a friend's daughters 21st birthday party, in Darwen. We were home and in bed by 11. Old age is really catching up with me, or perhaps it is just the fact that I am constantly tired...
Work is full on, getting students ready for their summative assessments hand in date next Friday. You can really feel the air of panic around the fourth floor, from students and staff!
After a four day working week, I am dreading the thought of a full week in work... I will be absolutely knackered!
We had a weekend off from working on van, and we didn't really fancy going away in it... Sometimes, just doing nothing is the best way to unwind. We were supposed to be driving down to Somerset for a VW weekend, but we decided against it. This meant that we were available on Saturday to go to a friend's daughters 21st birthday party, in Darwen. We were home and in bed by 11. Old age is really catching up with me, or perhaps it is just the fact that I am constantly tired...
Work is full on, getting students ready for their summative assessments hand in date next Friday. You can really feel the air of panic around the fourth floor, from students and staff!
Monday, 2 May 2011
Reflections - 23
Monday 2nd May 2011
It is a Bank Holiday today and we had a three day week at work last week due to the extra day off on Friday 29th for the Royal Wedding - I'm not sure if it is a public holiday or bank holiday but the roads and shops very quiet in the morning as we went into town to buy a DAB radio for the back of the van. The three day week was a great way to ease yourself back into the routine, and we have a four day week this week, too!
On Saturday we went wild camping in Trough of Bowland. It was nice, but very windy. We made sure that we left the area tidier than when we got there, and no-one was disadvantaged by our slightly illegal act.
Yesterday was spent cleaning Carol's scooter and then photographing the scooter today. It is surplus to requirements so we will sell it. I spent a little time this afternoon on my critical analysis, but I really need to get motivated and get some hours into writing. Or analysing.
The dog and I had a good walk this morning and I was thinking about how he learns. Sometimes, he refuses to come back when on the field, for example. I can't find out what the trigger for this is, but he'll just stand there and look at me when I call him back, and you can see the defiance. It is as though he is thinking 'What can you do?' When this happens, I have to just let him come to me on his own. It's frustrating. But it is equally frustrating when a student gets it into his or her head that they can't do a particular task. I suppose I should take learning from how I handle the dog, and let the students come to me, rather than prompt, cajole or try to encourage...
It is a Bank Holiday today and we had a three day week at work last week due to the extra day off on Friday 29th for the Royal Wedding - I'm not sure if it is a public holiday or bank holiday but the roads and shops very quiet in the morning as we went into town to buy a DAB radio for the back of the van. The three day week was a great way to ease yourself back into the routine, and we have a four day week this week, too!
On Saturday we went wild camping in Trough of Bowland. It was nice, but very windy. We made sure that we left the area tidier than when we got there, and no-one was disadvantaged by our slightly illegal act.
Yesterday was spent cleaning Carol's scooter and then photographing the scooter today. It is surplus to requirements so we will sell it. I spent a little time this afternoon on my critical analysis, but I really need to get motivated and get some hours into writing. Or analysing.
The dog and I had a good walk this morning and I was thinking about how he learns. Sometimes, he refuses to come back when on the field, for example. I can't find out what the trigger for this is, but he'll just stand there and look at me when I call him back, and you can see the defiance. It is as though he is thinking 'What can you do?' When this happens, I have to just let him come to me on his own. It's frustrating. But it is equally frustrating when a student gets it into his or her head that they can't do a particular task. I suppose I should take learning from how I handle the dog, and let the students come to me, rather than prompt, cajole or try to encourage...
Monday, 25 April 2011
Reflections - 22 (new)
Monday 25th April 2011
Carol finished seat cushions at 1:30 on Saturday morning and we took Anne and my Dad for tea and biscuits on Sat 23rd for Anne's birthday.
When we got back mid-afternoon on Saturday Carol carried on with sewing, getting seat backs finished for about 10:00 pm - we had to try them out then, so the neighbours were treated to the sight of us pretending to sleep in the van on top of the drive.
On Sunday, we did some final bits and pieces but really the van was all but finished - we took the afternoon a bit easier and started ticking some minor things off the list. We have a list containing all the jobs we need to do on the van. Like Earl's list in the US sitcom 'My Name Is Earl'. It is a good system, and I think I may need to adopt it for my studies too.
Today I decided to have a go at seeing if the electrics would work on the new (second hand) seats that we had bought to replace the front seats in the van. These are grey leather seats from a Jaguar XJ6, and they are very comfortable. And the electrics work.
I always thought that I couldn't do electrics, until I sat and looked at a wiring diagram. As I looked, tracing the routes of the wires, it occurred to me that the colours of the wires were irrelevant... They could all be blue or pink or purple or whatever colour they wanted to be... the route of the wire was the important factor, not the colour. This was a revelation, and since then, wiring has not phased me. I need to come up with a similar 'eureka' moment to de-mistify design. The closest I have to this is a phrase I often use to students: 'There is no right or wrong answer in design'. This takes some explaining but the premise is that design is subjective, so the appreciation of design is a negotiation between designer and viewer. If the designer has incorporated enough visual cues to imply a message, and that message has been interpreted by the viewer, then the design is more successful. I will write this up more succinctly, though... This will really help my teaching.
Carol finished seat cushions at 1:30 on Saturday morning and we took Anne and my Dad for tea and biscuits on Sat 23rd for Anne's birthday.
When we got back mid-afternoon on Saturday Carol carried on with sewing, getting seat backs finished for about 10:00 pm - we had to try them out then, so the neighbours were treated to the sight of us pretending to sleep in the van on top of the drive.
On Sunday, we did some final bits and pieces but really the van was all but finished - we took the afternoon a bit easier and started ticking some minor things off the list. We have a list containing all the jobs we need to do on the van. Like Earl's list in the US sitcom 'My Name Is Earl'. It is a good system, and I think I may need to adopt it for my studies too.
Today I decided to have a go at seeing if the electrics would work on the new (second hand) seats that we had bought to replace the front seats in the van. These are grey leather seats from a Jaguar XJ6, and they are very comfortable. And the electrics work.
I always thought that I couldn't do electrics, until I sat and looked at a wiring diagram. As I looked, tracing the routes of the wires, it occurred to me that the colours of the wires were irrelevant... They could all be blue or pink or purple or whatever colour they wanted to be... the route of the wire was the important factor, not the colour. This was a revelation, and since then, wiring has not phased me. I need to come up with a similar 'eureka' moment to de-mistify design. The closest I have to this is a phrase I often use to students: 'There is no right or wrong answer in design'. This takes some explaining but the premise is that design is subjective, so the appreciation of design is a negotiation between designer and viewer. If the designer has incorporated enough visual cues to imply a message, and that message has been interpreted by the viewer, then the design is more successful. I will write this up more succinctly, though... This will really help my teaching.
Friday, 22 April 2011
Reflections - 21 (new)
Friday 22nd April 2011
Good Friday today
I went over with Edd on Monday (18th) to drop his van off for windows and floor fitting. It should have been ready on Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday - I have been on alert to take him over to collect it, so I'm kind of hanging on. On Thursday we managed to sort foam supply to be collected from Oldham, and sure enough, on the way back, Edd rang to say his van was ready to collect;we had to rush back home then back out to take Edd over to Batley. There was a traffic jam on way (a selfish driver had managed to turn his caravan over at the top of the M62) so I was running really late and I had Doctors appointment for my three monthly diabetes checkup at 17:00. made it (eventually) only 10 minutes late, and they proceeded to take my blood pressure! That was OK, but the rest of my appointment wasn't... I will have to go on insulin, which is a bad thing.
When I got back in, Carol had done one seat cushion for the van - she really plays down how well she has done and doesn't like to take any credit for a good job well done - I just need to motivate her to finish them all off!!! The results are fantastic, though, and I am really proud of her. It is a bit like some of the students I have, with issues about confidence... I always feel false when I have to overplay the 'It's really good' thing.
The praise issue is one which I often reflect on at work. If you praise too soon or too much, students often think that the work is 'good enough', and stop developing ideas or innovations. Conversely, too little praise reduces motivation. I am curious if there has been any studies into praise versus motivation, as I am sure that it is a factor in teaching and learning. Students often complain that some lecturers give them too much input, and the work ends up being a facsimile of 'what the tutor was thinking'. This is also another issue I have to watch out for in my practice.
Today, Carol asked for help in measuring, marking and cutting out fabric for the seats. She is very organised that way (so much more than I am), and she even has a spreadsheet to work out all the cuts required! It took a lot longer than I expected, then Redy turned up with Edd's foam. We were then waiting for over an hour until Edd was able to come round to collect it which was a waste of a day.
We are planning to take my step-mum out for a cup of tea and biscuits in the van for her birthday tomorrow, so Carol is focused on getting at least the seat cushions finished (still at it now, with two more to go!)
I have just finished the final coat of varnish on the interior woodwork this evening. It is looking good!
Good Friday today
I went over with Edd on Monday (18th) to drop his van off for windows and floor fitting. It should have been ready on Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday - I have been on alert to take him over to collect it, so I'm kind of hanging on. On Thursday we managed to sort foam supply to be collected from Oldham, and sure enough, on the way back, Edd rang to say his van was ready to collect;we had to rush back home then back out to take Edd over to Batley. There was a traffic jam on way (a selfish driver had managed to turn his caravan over at the top of the M62) so I was running really late and I had Doctors appointment for my three monthly diabetes checkup at 17:00. made it (eventually) only 10 minutes late, and they proceeded to take my blood pressure! That was OK, but the rest of my appointment wasn't... I will have to go on insulin, which is a bad thing.
When I got back in, Carol had done one seat cushion for the van - she really plays down how well she has done and doesn't like to take any credit for a good job well done - I just need to motivate her to finish them all off!!! The results are fantastic, though, and I am really proud of her. It is a bit like some of the students I have, with issues about confidence... I always feel false when I have to overplay the 'It's really good' thing.
The praise issue is one which I often reflect on at work. If you praise too soon or too much, students often think that the work is 'good enough', and stop developing ideas or innovations. Conversely, too little praise reduces motivation. I am curious if there has been any studies into praise versus motivation, as I am sure that it is a factor in teaching and learning. Students often complain that some lecturers give them too much input, and the work ends up being a facsimile of 'what the tutor was thinking'. This is also another issue I have to watch out for in my practice.
Today, Carol asked for help in measuring, marking and cutting out fabric for the seats. She is very organised that way (so much more than I am), and she even has a spreadsheet to work out all the cuts required! It took a lot longer than I expected, then Redy turned up with Edd's foam. We were then waiting for over an hour until Edd was able to come round to collect it which was a waste of a day.
We are planning to take my step-mum out for a cup of tea and biscuits in the van for her birthday tomorrow, so Carol is focused on getting at least the seat cushions finished (still at it now, with two more to go!)
I have just finished the final coat of varnish on the interior woodwork this evening. It is looking good!
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Reflections - 20
Sunday 17th April 2011
This is the end of week one of the Easter break, and our weekend spent at Bus Types in Oswestry, Shropshire. I managed to get the majority of the van completed, although we slept on air beds as we had no foam; Our foam contact, Redy, has let us down, and it looks as though we are going to have to sort our own foam out. Carol looked at some websites and found a company in Oldham that we will ring tomorrow.
It was also my birthday weekend, and I had a full two bottles of beer to celebrate! I was in bed by half past ten, though. I'll be honest. Not a lot of reflection or work on my essay went on last week. Sorry. I really must try harder! Mr Ceizerak was right when he kept writing that on my school reports. Geography was never my strong subject, though.
This is the end of week one of the Easter break, and our weekend spent at Bus Types in Oswestry, Shropshire. I managed to get the majority of the van completed, although we slept on air beds as we had no foam; Our foam contact, Redy, has let us down, and it looks as though we are going to have to sort our own foam out. Carol looked at some websites and found a company in Oldham that we will ring tomorrow.
It was also my birthday weekend, and I had a full two bottles of beer to celebrate! I was in bed by half past ten, though. I'll be honest. Not a lot of reflection or work on my essay went on last week. Sorry. I really must try harder! Mr Ceizerak was right when he kept writing that on my school reports. Geography was never my strong subject, though.
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