John Spencer’s New Years newsletter arrived in my inbox a few days ago with details on his SLIME method of making goals for the new year. For me 2023 is going to be filled with changes and challenges and if there was ever a good year to start in a purposeful manner this is the … Read moreSLIME Resolutions 1 – START
Rethinking Education · S3E1: Sarah-Jayne Blakemore – The GCSE is misaligned with adolescent brain development I have really enjoyed listening to this Rethinking Education podcast interview with Sarah-Jayne Blakemore. The catchy title caught my eye as I have struggled over the past number of years to transition from teaching the more concept based IB MYP … Read moreThoughts on pruning synapses
I just listened to a thoughtful essay on EdSurge Podcasts by an instructional coach in California who argues that we shouldn’t be asking teachers to cope right now, instead we need to recognise the trauma they are dealing with and help them to come together to support each other and resist the pressures they are … Read moreHelping teachers to resist
My notes from the 4 Shifts Protocol Overview TPACK and SAMR are not very specific when it comes to helping teachers think about what to change to make their technology integration better. When we use digital technologies for learning and teaching, those uses should be intentional and targeted and not simply ‘tech for tech’s sake.’ … Read moreDeeper Learning Schools: 4 Big Shifts
While doing my back exercises today I was (unknowingly) mulling over what I would say if I was asked about my approach to solving problems in a job interview. It suddenly occurred to me that the approach I have been using for many years is basically variations on the design thinking method. In particular: I … Read moreA Designers Mindset
Scott McLeod’s 4 Shifts Protocol Systems thinking and how I use it in my day to day, specifically Senge – I could re-read sections of my Senge book and reflect on them Ewan Macintosh and problem finding
Being on holiday makes it really hard to write every day. But all the time in planes and driving around has been very conducive to thinking about what to write about. The problem is that I promptly forget, so I thought it might be helpful to write down some ideas. Here goes … Topics to … Read moreThings to write about
I just read the coolest theory for how birds are able to migrate thousands of miles accurately using the earth’s magnetic field and wanted to see if I can explain it in my own words. To start with you have to understand that a single spinning electron has its own magnetic field. This means that … Read moreBird Navigation
With a bit of luck by the end of next week, I will have purchased one of these plastic upcycling machines for my school (Uplands). This has been a long shot project I have been pursuing for a while now for 2 reasons. This machine gives my Design Technology students a chance to get hands-on … Read morePlastic Upcycling