Archive

What's the point of assessment?

Aug 22, 2011 | Category: assessment

Came across an interesting challenge by @purposeducation - #500words campaign, This week the topic is #purposedassess, so here goes... Everyone knows that there's two different types of assessment, ri...

#learning #AfL #formative assessment #Dylan Wiliam #Sir Ken Robinson #summative assessment

What's the point of lesson observations?

Jul 17, 2011 | Category: Featured

I feel I need to start by saying that I am not questioning the need for lesson observations. They're a crucial part of developing our professional practice and ensure T&L is quality assured. No, what...

#learning #AfL #coaching #lesson observations

So, what are learning spies?

Jul 11, 2011 | Category: learning

A few years ago an Ofsted inspector told me I talked too much and that as a result the lesson that had been observed was 'satisfactory'. I was gutted. I was also determined to do something about it.Th...

#learning #critical skills #observers #roles #spies #Zoe Elder

Getting to grips with PLTS

Jul 11, 2011 | Category: learning

This was first written in October 2009So, the PLTS. What are they and why would you want to embed them into anything? I’m quite sure that I won’t be surprising many people by telling you that Personal...

#learning #PLTS

Team Meetings: some stuff I've learnt

Sep 01, 2011 | Category: leadership

What with the introduction of Personal Learning & Thinking Skills, I've done loads of team work with students over the past few years and it was timely that tonight's #ukedchat's topic was 'How do you...

#motivation #Dan Pink #learning focussed agendas #meetings #vision

How to fix your attitude

Aug 31, 2011 | Category: learning

Can you change how intelligent you are? Can you alter your personality? Can a student predicted a D grade get an A*? Are there things it is simply impossible for us to do?I’ve always fancied the idea...

#Carol Dweck #growth #mindsets #fixed #motivation

How to make friends and influence people

Aug 29, 2011 | Category: leadership

So, you’re starting a new job. You’re probably 1 part excited to 9 parts terrified. Don’t worry: that’s fairly normal. This post aims to suggest 10 straightforward ways to settle in to your new role w...

#Feargal Sharkey #friends #Machiavelli

Exam analysis

Aug 28, 2011 | Category: assessment

September looms and I've already been given an appointment for my Progress Meeting to discuss last year's results and strategies for this year's.On the one hand, I could be forgiven for feeling quite...

#Chris Weadon #failure #GCSEs #Ian Gilbert #results #Woody Allen

How to write an outstanding job application

Aug 27, 2011 | Category: leadership

Everyone dreads those personal statement boxes on the job application form but we’ve all had to write ‘em and, if we’re in employment, they’ve clearly done the trick. Why would anyone literate need a...

#Creative Education #Hays Education #job application

Teaching texting

Aug 23, 2011 | Category: English

A lot of folks are very worried about the impact of teenagers texting. In a Daily Mail article (oh! the shame), John Humphrys expressed the view that "SMS vandals... are doing to our language what Gen...

#gcse english #spoken language #texting