Androgogy - this sounds like something that google phone freaks would like, with their androids in tow. In fact, it is a term that I prefer to pedagogy because pedagogy somehow implies that the teacher is the expert in learning and looks down benignly on "those who must be educated."
Androgogy is the science or art of teaching adults or your peers. It has been used extensively in adult education. Today, there is a paradigm shift happening and teachers are being urged to think of themselves as the guide on the side rather than the sage on the stage. So you are no longer the font of all knowledge. You are fellow travelers in the learning journey.
Androgogy implies that you are teaching and learning alongside your peers. This is why I like this word in preference to pedagogy when applied in the classroom. Of course, the teacher is often the well seasoned traveller but as all travelling buddies know, you don't exclude going to one destination because you havent been there before. Try it, you may like it!
Sunday, 7 July 2013
Eduspeak Part 2
In response to prompts from my colleagues, a little bit more on the topic of Eduspeak. You know, those awful words that teachers use.
Nathaniel Louwrens, whose blogs can be found here and here, has asked me about pedagogy. Actually this is one of my favourite words. I use it all the time and so I forget how it is not an everyday word except in the realm of education.
Pedagogy - you would expect it to be something do do with feet or children (pod or ped) and the connection is of course with children. Pedagogy is the way you teach. Some people think it is an art and some people think it is a science. If you think it is an art then you are more inclined to think that it is some magical charismatic miracle of osmosis that some people have the gift of performing and some people don't.
I tend to think it is more of a science because I believe there are certain methodologies and like a good science experiment you need to know the aim, the method, record what the result is and make a conclusion based on that result and then, like any good scientist, you have to go back and do another experiment, which is designed better. If this sounds slightly familiar, then look into the New Zealand Curriculum on page 35 at "Teaching As Inquiry."
The difference between those who have the "gift" and those who don't is often just a lack of experience, but sometimes those who seem to be able to teach effortlessly from the beginning, are those who carry out a good experiment from the first time. And then build on their skills.
So if you are one of those who hasn't been able to make a go of teaching, go ahead, try another experiment, but don't expect improvements unless you change the recipe.
Watch out for my next Eduspeak blog, coming soon, courtesy of late night musings.
Nathaniel Louwrens, whose blogs can be found here and here, has asked me about pedagogy. Actually this is one of my favourite words. I use it all the time and so I forget how it is not an everyday word except in the realm of education.
Pedagogy - you would expect it to be something do do with feet or children (pod or ped) and the connection is of course with children. Pedagogy is the way you teach. Some people think it is an art and some people think it is a science. If you think it is an art then you are more inclined to think that it is some magical charismatic miracle of osmosis that some people have the gift of performing and some people don't.
I tend to think it is more of a science because I believe there are certain methodologies and like a good science experiment you need to know the aim, the method, record what the result is and make a conclusion based on that result and then, like any good scientist, you have to go back and do another experiment, which is designed better. If this sounds slightly familiar, then look into the New Zealand Curriculum on page 35 at "Teaching As Inquiry."
The difference between those who have the "gift" and those who don't is often just a lack of experience, but sometimes those who seem to be able to teach effortlessly from the beginning, are those who carry out a good experiment from the first time. And then build on their skills.
So if you are one of those who hasn't been able to make a go of teaching, go ahead, try another experiment, but don't expect improvements unless you change the recipe.
Watch out for my next Eduspeak blog, coming soon, courtesy of late night musings.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Eduspeak
Deep understanding, rich understanding, unpack a concept, what that looks like in your school, resonates, dispositions, teaching as inquiry, digging deeper, scaffolding, synthesis, best practice
These are some of the words I hear a lot, and probably use a lot more than I want to. They are the eduspeak of the day. What educators say when they talk about teaching and learning. The trouble is that our audiences are not always educators. So I had this thought that maybe I should try to find some other terminology to explain these eduspeak words what someone might think they are and then perhaps what I think they are. Open the doors a little and let others comment on what they might be.
So here goes
Deep understanding - you know more than the average Joe? - really means having extensive knowledge about the detail
Rich understanding - costs a lot? - really means you have deep understanding and you know how it fits into the big picture of the world
Unpack a concept - take it out of the suitcase? - really means take a look at the detail of how ideas are put together into a whole package
What that looks like in your school - where is the visual evidence? - really means if you say it happens in your school, what will I see happening in the school to reflect that it is happening?
Resonates - echos a lot? - really means it makes a lot of sense to me
Dispositions - natures? really means attitudes to certain things
Teaching as Inquiry - no-one knows what they heck they are doing? - really means you should always ask yourself why you are doing things a certain way and check the data to see if it really works and if it doesn't then change it
Digging deeper - being nosy? - really means you are looking for that deep understanding (see above)
Scaffolding - supporting something that is weak? - really means making a safe environment for students to build their knowledge
Synthesis - making something up? - really means a bringing together of elements of a whole thing that is useful
Best practice - the rehearsal that was awesome? - really means a strategy that is proven to have the best outcomes for students
So that is the list I have come up with this morning. There are more! Please, feel free to send me more words, add your own.
I really would like to have a deeper, richer understanding of this unpacked concept, so I can see what it looks like in your school, how it resonates with me and changes my disposition to teaching as inquiry, because when we dig deeper and scaffold learning we are able to present a synthesis of best practice available for all educators.
 |
| It all becomes clear to me now. |
These are some of the words I hear a lot, and probably use a lot more than I want to. They are the eduspeak of the day. What educators say when they talk about teaching and learning. The trouble is that our audiences are not always educators. So I had this thought that maybe I should try to find some other terminology to explain these eduspeak words what someone might think they are and then perhaps what I think they are. Open the doors a little and let others comment on what they might be.
So here goes
Deep understanding - you know more than the average Joe? - really means having extensive knowledge about the detail
Rich understanding - costs a lot? - really means you have deep understanding and you know how it fits into the big picture of the world
Unpack a concept - take it out of the suitcase? - really means take a look at the detail of how ideas are put together into a whole package
What that looks like in your school - where is the visual evidence? - really means if you say it happens in your school, what will I see happening in the school to reflect that it is happening?
Resonates - echos a lot? - really means it makes a lot of sense to me
Dispositions - natures? really means attitudes to certain things
Teaching as Inquiry - no-one knows what they heck they are doing? - really means you should always ask yourself why you are doing things a certain way and check the data to see if it really works and if it doesn't then change it
Digging deeper - being nosy? - really means you are looking for that deep understanding (see above)
Scaffolding - supporting something that is weak? - really means making a safe environment for students to build their knowledge
Synthesis - making something up? - really means a bringing together of elements of a whole thing that is useful
Best practice - the rehearsal that was awesome? - really means a strategy that is proven to have the best outcomes for students
So that is the list I have come up with this morning. There are more! Please, feel free to send me more words, add your own.
I really would like to have a deeper, richer understanding of this unpacked concept, so I can see what it looks like in your school, how it resonates with me and changes my disposition to teaching as inquiry, because when we dig deeper and scaffold learning we are able to present a synthesis of best practice available for all educators.
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Awesome students
How awesome to be shown and escorted around this school by one of its leaders, this lovely young lady,
having conversations about the learning going on in every class at Pukehamoamoa School. The school has started its iPad journey this year, rolling out 80 ipads to all students from year 3 up, and the learning has been transformed!
Another awesome young man is the tech help, assisting the principal with all sorts of on the spot remedies.
Today he was cleaning up jumbles of wires and sorting out who was going to be his successor next year. I didn't need the principal standing next to me to point out the awesome learning going on in every class-
I was treated to feedback from many students throughout the morning on the learning they had done, from Van Gogh interviews on Puppet Pals to Skype interviews with an author, to buddy classes in Australia, using maths apps like Wings and Bingo and Coop fractions to the perennial favourites like Book Creator and GarageBand, iMovie and the like.
These students are so creative and so enjoying their education with the new tools. Alongside books sit very comfortably, and evidence of learning is posted up on the school blogs.
Thank you, Pukehamoamoa and Brendon. I guess the old adage is very true here. Behind every awesome student there is an awesome teacher.
Watch out secondary schools, these talented students are coming your way next year. I hope you are ready for them.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
having conversations about the learning going on in every class at Pukehamoamoa School. The school has started its iPad journey this year, rolling out 80 ipads to all students from year 3 up, and the learning has been transformed!
Another awesome young man is the tech help, assisting the principal with all sorts of on the spot remedies.
Today he was cleaning up jumbles of wires and sorting out who was going to be his successor next year. I didn't need the principal standing next to me to point out the awesome learning going on in every class-
I was treated to feedback from many students throughout the morning on the learning they had done, from Van Gogh interviews on Puppet Pals to Skype interviews with an author, to buddy classes in Australia, using maths apps like Wings and Bingo and Coop fractions to the perennial favourites like Book Creator and GarageBand, iMovie and the like.
These students are so creative and so enjoying their education with the new tools. Alongside books sit very comfortably, and evidence of learning is posted up on the school blogs.
Thank you, Pukehamoamoa and Brendon. I guess the old adage is very true here. Behind every awesome student there is an awesome teacher.
Watch out secondary schools, these talented students are coming your way next year. I hope you are ready for them.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, 24 May 2013
Driving to work
I must have one of the best jobs in the world. On my way to Taumarunui this morning, Ruapehu stands out on the volcanic plateau
Of course his mate, Ngauruhoe- stands nearby, too.
As I left Taupo ths morning i could see a pink tinge to the snowy caps across the lake
Last week I had other views to die for. This one of TARANAKI in the distance.
And the flat table top mountain whose name escapes me.
My other journeys around New Zealand give me access to some of the most stunning places. Napier across the sea.
Lake Tutira on the way to Gisborne.....
Stunning Gisborne
Tauhara and Taupo in the distance across Lake Taupo.
Gisborne countryside.
And all this just travelling from place to place. Maybe next blog will be in the schools in towns. Lucky woman!
Of course his mate, Ngauruhoe- stands nearby, too.
As I left Taupo ths morning i could see a pink tinge to the snowy caps across the lake
Last week I had other views to die for. This one of TARANAKI in the distance.
And the flat table top mountain whose name escapes me.
My other journeys around New Zealand give me access to some of the most stunning places. Napier across the sea.
Lake Tutira on the way to Gisborne.....
Stunning Gisborne
Tauhara and Taupo in the distance across Lake Taupo.
Gisborne countryside.
And all this just travelling from place to place. Maybe next blog will be in the schools in towns. Lucky woman!
Location:Turaki Street,Taumarunui,New Zealand
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Google apps in Education
Saturday morning and I am listening to the keynote at Bucklands Beach.
Google rocks. This is my second Gafe conference and each time I have been exhilarated about the potential in schools. I feel like an old hat as I know how fab Gafe is.
but honestly why would schools not go with Google Apps?
A May Zing!
Google rocks. This is my second Gafe conference and each time I have been exhilarated about the potential in schools. I feel like an old hat as I know how fab Gafe is.
but honestly why would schools not go with Google Apps?
A May Zing!
Monday, 22 April 2013
A little Dr Seuss
― Dr. Seuss
Sometimes I am a stroppy cow. I don't like it when people are mean, and I don't mean mean with money, I mean just straight mean-spirited. But I guess everyone has their own motives. Some don't even know when they are being mean. They are so caught up in their own persona that they do not see how their remarks are perceived by others. Dismissive, patronising, judgmental, bullying, self-righteous....I have had them all. But your turn will come. I do not turn the other check. I wait for my moment to make my point. I don't mean with a big bat, but just enough so that you will know, and stop and think about your actions and maybe not do them again.
“A person's a person, no matter how small.”
― Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!
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