Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Brick walls, fluros and a sore brain
I spent a week at residential school in Rockhampton embarking on my Post Graduate teaching degree. In a word - daunting. There was no place to hide from the moment of entering the student digs - which were just how I remember them - a single bed, brick walls and a desk - oh and fluros. Thrown in to a wonderful mix of personalities it was time to swim or sink. Luckily everyone rocked! Such a nurturing and experienced bunch. So there was very little sinking after all... and plenty of buoyant laughter. I guess if you are entering the profession of teaching you probably don't mind a chat, enjoy sharing stories and have a caring nature - so I guess that makes sense :-) Big love to you wonderful people for the inspiration - I think we were all 'scaffolding' each-others learning journey without knowing the term yet. Our friendly (and less friendly) marsupial friends help set the mood. Here are some vids from outside our dorm...
The lectures were where the really daunting bit comes in. It had been a long time since I had sat through hour upon hour of information absorption and my brain felt like it has completed a marathon at the end of each day - lucky I am having a year off the booze or I think I may have developed an unhealthy relationship between learning and drinking during the week. The part I found most challenging to get my head around was the "teaching is a conservative profession" bit. My experiences with teaching - predominantly in the Music Biz - have always been on a first name basis and in creative environments that encourage alternativism (is that a word?). There was also a lot of focus on "you are now a teacher" "you will be a teacher" "when Education QLD calls you will take the job"...... and very little "for those of you who decide to use your degree for teaching" or "whether you take your knowledge and skills into the teaching profession or utilise them in another sector or profession..." Hmmmm Mr Thomas it is.. time to pull your socks up!
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This is great! The kangaroo and it's joey are so gorgeous and friendly!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the point you make at the end about 'conservatism' verses 'alternativism'... I think it is important not to get too caught up with social impressions and how we brand ourselves as educators - and instead remember why we are doing it and the impact we make in a person's life. Whether you shave or don't makes no difference to the student sitting in front of you... it's whether you can connect on their level and move them in some way. And more often than not, kids and people in general can relate easier to someone who displays a little bit of unique expression rather than a seemingly colder 'conservative' look.
Another point I find important to bring up is that perhaps we need not focus so much on the information we're teaching students these days (as it will not doubt be obsolete in years to come as we progress with the changing times) but instead focus more on encouraging students to develop the ability to go out and find their own information. Encourage initiative, drive and passion.
Upon listening to this talk (below) by Sugata Mitra on the TED website, perhaps teachers would be best effective as Grandmother types, rather than conservatives¿
That maybe rather than 'pull up your socks, Mr Thomas'... we should be saying 'get your head in the clouds' !!!
http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_build_a_school_in_the_cloud.html
Wow that was too cool. I agree that the some of the content and learning methods in school classrooms I have facilitated workshops in appear (to an outsider) obsolete and in some case irrelevant to both the student's future real life application and their current interests and life. Here is the original Digital Natives and Immigrants paper from my course at CQU http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/prensky%20-%20digital%20natives,%20digital%20immigrants%20-%20part1.pdf
DeleteAlso the Doidge presentation on neuroplasticity and the brain healing itself :-) Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbm3jL7CDI
DeleteNice to see you have put a personal touch to your blog Michael. Can't wait to see your reflections about the readings and content. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jayde. Do you hasve a blog? I had a quick search but couldn't find it. Probably some obvious button I am missing
DeleteFound it - great reference for me - thanks :-)
DeleteFabulous, Mr Thomas!! I can see you walking into a class room with one blue sock and one red sock on, and when the students have a laugh and tell you, you got it wrong! You can tell them, you go by thickness!
ReplyDeleteThe length of socks would probably both make a better lesson in maths - ratio and fractions - especially if they the were different colors :-)
DeleteNice to see you up and running. Look forward to seeing more of you.
ReplyDeleteHi Lyn - Your blog (I am trying to work out a way to link this here :-/?? anyone??) is amazing by the way. I used it as a reference before getting started. Thank you :-)
DeleteApparently one way to get your blog active is, indeed, to link to other blogs. Yours are well written and enthusiastic. I wonder if they need be so long - but that might be a requirement. Remember, when on the internet, people's attention span is minimal.
ReplyDeleteI will certainly link yours to mine, and you are welcome to link mine to yours.
I feel you will make a resilient, engaging and open-minded teacher, Mr Thomas.