Don Ledingham
Oct 11th, 2006 by Don Ledingham
- I am a teacher.
- My current post is Acting Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services for East Lothian Council.
- I’ve been a teacher, principal teacher, university lecturer, depute headteacher, headteacher and head of education. Other jobs have included operating theatre orderly, night watchman and bricklayer’s labourer.
- My professional interests are: learning and teaching; and educational leadership and cultural change.
- Other interests include: poetry; photography; travel; natural history; fishing; Scottish traditional music; rural heritage; walking and sport.
- Banner photograph - my two sons and their cousin.
- I write a monthly article for the Times Educational Supplement Scotland
- Favourite quotation: “He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.”
- Favourite historical character: Abraham Lincoln
- Favourite fictional character: Winston Smith, George Orwell’s 1984.
- Favourite musician: Ally Bain/Phil Cunningham
- Favourite poet: Sylvia Plath
- Favourite country: France
- Favourite City: New York
- Favourite Film: Groundhog Day
- E-mail - dledingham@eastlothian.gov.uk
Public Speaking:
I regularly contribute to national events and conferences on a range of educational topics. I see such contributions to be important personal learning opportunities as they give me a chance to share and test ideas in a wider forum. I’m particularly happy to visit countries outwith the UK to share my experiences and to learn about other educational systems.
Over the last three years I’ve presented on the following topics:
- Leadership for Learning
- Reconfiguring public services
- Accountability and educational leadership
- Creating a culture of self evaluation
- Single outcome agreements and children’s services
- Entrepreneurial leadership and education
- Using ICT to enhance education
- Devolving responsibility in education
- Leading A Curriculum for Excellence
- Learning logs and leadership
- Giving up control and improving results
- The seven sides of educational leadership
- Promoting Active Learning
- Creating a learning community
- How do we create reflective practitioners?
- Engaging with our communities - the role of social media
- Integrating education and children’s services - a joint planning approach
Why a Learning Log?
I’ve been keeping this learning log since August 2005. It started of simply as a means recording what I was up to on a day-to-day basis. Since then it’s grown into something which has had, and is having, a profound effect upon my professional practice.
A “Learning Log” can be captured in a relatively simple tri-colon:
“Where you’ve been; where you are; and where you’re going”.
I’m not talking here of travel in any sort of geographical sense, but more about the journey which relates to opinions, ideas and perceptions.
A Learning Log imposes a discipline upon the reflective process, which, although it may be going on informally, or tacitly, all of the time, can often be lost in the ‘clutter’ which forms much of our daily, weekly and monthly work.
The Learning Log gives me that brief - and ever more valuable, opportunity to step outside and look back upon my practice and direction of travel.
The reflective power of the on-line Learning Log is magnified when the contribution of others’ comments is taken into consideration. The Learning Log therefore provides an invaluable strategic map, in that enables me to retrace my steps and see where I’ve come from, identify where I am at any one point in time and, hopefully, enables me to explore the future in a relatively safe environment.
The other, incredibly useful role for the Learning Log is that it enables me to see connections between various things that I’m doing that might not be apparent if they were contained within their normal silos. For me it’s this connecting function that helps me to make sense of some the very disparate things that I do in my day-to-day work.
If this seems focused upon the personal benefits of keeping a learning log then that has been deliberate - the benefit of a Learning Log to other people is very much dependent upon the reader’s perception - whilst at the same time modelling the kind of transparency which I believe should be characteristic of modern public service systems
Hi Don
This is probably the wrong place to drop you a note, but people I know keep bumping into you. You are off to Harvard with Jennifer Wadley, Judith’s Head. She asked if I knew you I said yes and probably should have stopped there. No okay dont panic! Just thought all the people who said they have met you over the years should drop you a note to say hi. You will not believe I am still in education given the interest I showed at college. I have actually joined the dark side and am on the SMT at the Anderson high in Shetland. As this might be going public I will not bore people further.
Glad to hear at least one of us made good. Hope to hear from you sometime.
Your old buddy
Peter
Peter
Wonderful to hear from you. You must be something of legend in Shetland as every person I’ve ever met from the island claims to know you - then they laugh!!! I, of course, am a completely reformed character from what I was at college and have turned into a responsible, reliable and sober individual (aye right!!)
Take care
Don
Very very inspiring - is it possible for us to speak - I have been developing and working with some very innovative/empowering tools/models/ideas that expand people’s possibilities and personal potential- we’ve have some major successes in the Prince’s Trust and the NHS - my nos 01803 865 657 or 07838 1966 28 - take it easy ( but take it) - mo
Don,
I have been following your blog for some time and have found it interesting and informative. So thought I’d say hello. Last time we met you were at Duns and Dougie MacIntosh and I made the long journey from Tain for a senior girls Basketball match.
I’m still at Tain where I’ve been Depute for 7 years. I am interested in leadership development and have enjoyed reading your thoughts. I have just returned from a days training on Highland’s online leadership support package http://highland-leadership.sitc.co.uk/ at which we were introduced to blogging, wiki, swikis etc.
I look forward to hearing how things go for you at Harvard in the summer.
Regards
Alastair
Alastair
Good to hear from you. Glad to know you are enjoying the log - even if rambles a bit.
Are you hoping to make the next step to HT? If you want to keep an edubuzz blog please feel free - I’d recommend it - http://edubuzz.org/blogs/wp-signup.php
Hi Don!
A very interesting blog! I came across it when researching for a course I have been asked to deliver for AHDS. I am a DHT council member of the union and have been invited to deliver “Becoming a new DHT/Leadership skills”. I am very interseted in Adaptive Leadership and we are very much along the road regarding this in our school in Ayr.
The course will contain some experience of this obviously. There are other areas I will cover in the “challenges” apsect. Any advice on how to develop a course such as this? Your own blog will be of help if I may use some ideas I have found.
Ken
Thanks for your comments.
You might like to contact Eileen Brown,HT Kyle Academy, who was one of my colleagues at the recent Harvard Graduate School of Education. As someone who works in the same authority she might be able to give you more specific advice.
You might also like to take a look at http://www.sevensides.typepad.com.
Thanks,
I know Eileen from various events. I’ll get in touch.
Ken
I am a pupil at Knox Academy High School. I just thought you might like to know that I also love to write poetry and most of them rhyme! I also love to take photos because I find it fun and relaxing. I found out about this blog from my teacher Ms Watson.
Hi Emma
Why don’t you ask Ms Watson if you could get your own blog and then you could start to put up your own poems and photographs.
Don,
Just found this website and have enjoyed reading through some of the blogs and comments made. I am also a PE teacher and was a student of yours at Moray House (Cramond Campus). I was particularly taken by the blog on the extra curricular site and totally agree. Enthusiasm for activity is the key for all sports and how we as PE teachers gain that is the goal. I will always remember my rugby coach at school ( the tremendous Alan Crow) and how his zest for the game transferred to all his players, it’s certainly something I aspire to. Love the idea of a Director of Education coming out to classes to observe what is happening at the chalk face and would welcome an out of authority visit.
I’m also currently in year three of the CT course and hope that this site will help to progress my thinking and research. Keep up the good work.
Phil
Hi Don,
Just wanted to say…Great to see a council actually wanting to push the way forward for the use of ICT and blogging, felt like an odd one out in previous council and having debate after debate in the staffroom about blogging became a drain! Glad I was appointed in East Lothian who see the importance of it!
John (Drama)
Tis Don Tis Good
G’day Don from your mate Mark.
Imagine my surprise when I was sitting in an international conference in Sydney last week listening to this speaker talk about the use of ICT in education/leadership and your name was quoted several times. I have a photo taken with your friend and colleague John Connell which I will send via email. Anyway one of the challenges that was put out at the convention was to join the digital world and create your own blog. Your blog has inspired me to take up that challenge and once set up I will send you a link.
Many fond memories of the Harvard Experience. Please say hello to the girls.
Mark
Great to hear from you..
I’m meeting up with the girls on the 5th November so will pass on your best wishes.
You might - or might not remember this place! http://www.flickr.com/photos/15056027@N00/823081938/
When are you coming over to Scotland? - we would be delighted to host you and your family.
I’ll never forget your words of wisdom “Me ——dull?”
Take care
Don
Hello Don,
It’s been a very long time since we were in touch! well who would have thought you would have got so far from THE flat above the haidressers!
Bruce
Great to hear from you. Memories of the flat are still very vivid! It would be good to meet up some time.
All the best
Don
Don,
Afraid that I am on missionary work in England and very rarely get back home, although my folks are still in Dunf.managed to see WME when I came up at half term. heard from Ian? Saw Pete had been in touch- a true legend!Any one heard of the biggest legend “Sammy”?
Have a good festive time,
Bruce
Don
At last looking at your blog as advised.
I think I am getting the idea of a refelective learning community
Is there a gender bias ?
Are most bloggers and readers of blogs male??????
Anne
i left sspe in 79, and our paths huvnae xed since then. but…i still ski and last year whilst teaching 4 BHS on an alpe d’huez trip i met wee laura (newly promoted to a SMT job sumwhere in the borders) and she said you were big and famous these days. weel dun to you.
i’m still involved in reffing rugger under bob easton in caledonia and live in newtonmore. i am a committed golfaholic, cannae pit it down.
good blog site!!!
keep smiling, dinnae work too hard
cheersthenoo
laurie skuodas
Skooby
Never to be forgotten! Don’t know if I’m famous but I’m certainly bigger!
I’m meeting Broon in January and will pass on our news.
Once a drillie - aye a drillie!!
Take Care
Don