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Yesterday saw me up and away to Stirling bright and early for day two of my second module of the MEd. The theme of the day was ‘What is improvement?’ - however, I don’t remember ever actually addressing this question!

Most of the morning was spent considering the nature of ‘ability’, ‘attainment’ and ‘assessment’. I’m still amazed that it’s possible to take some words we use everyday and pick them apart which leads to a long and complicated discussion. We finished this session by considering how all of these concepts are interlinked and how they impact on learning. This was followed by a discussion on the uses of metaphors on the classroom - should we be ‘covering’ or ‘exploring’ the curriculum?

Most of the afternoon was spent considering the focus for our assignment. For this module we have to prepare a proposal for a professional enquiry intervention in our classroom which aims to improve learning. I’m thinking of trying to address the mindset of my pupils: trying to encourage a different approach to their learning. Got to think how this can be evidenced though!

I attended the SLF on Wednesday of this week for the first time, and I have to admit I left with mixed feelings on my experience. I’ve hesitated to write this, but I feel I have to be honest.

Initially, I was overwhelmed as I explored the exhibition hall in the morning (in between manning the East Lothian stand). It felt fantastic to be able to experience all of these cutting edge developments all in one place, and I enjoyed my conversations with many of the exhibitors. As the day wore on however, an unsettled feeling began to grow in my stomach. I couldn’t, and still can’t quite, put my finger on what was bothering me. I think it was something to do with the very commercial air in the exhibition hall. It was also something to do with the lack of practicing teachers who were there (apart from those of us who were there representing our councils). It certainly wasn’t aided by the disappointing nature of the two seminars I attended.

I think to me, the words ‘learning festival’ evokes a lot of classroom practitioners having an opportunity to learn. It certainly didn’t live up to this impression for me.

Why is it held at a time when teachers would require cover (which schools can ill afford) to attend? There were a lot of educationalists who are out of the classroom present - which is understandable given that their roles would require them to be there and they do not require cover - but where are they staying on the Wednesday night? Who is paying for this? Don’t these people get these opportunities to network etc. a lot anyway? Could this money be better spent? How can we get more classroom practitioners there?

As I said, I know this is a controversial reflection. But it’s my reflection, and I can’t deny it.

Perhaps ‘learning festival’ is just the wrong name and it will always struggle to live up to the images this evokes?

I’m really proud of a group from my S5 Higher Biology class who took a homework task and really made it their own. They were were set the task of producing something which could be used to raise awareness of global and local conservation projects. Six of the pupils decided to make a video on the work of Edinburgh Zoo and the reintroduction of beavers into Scotland. They used their own equipment, money and time to do this and you can see their product below:

For me, this is exactly what Curriculum for Excellence is about. It’s my task to find a way of incorporating these sorts of activities into lesson time, and hopefully a reduction in content will assist in this?

I like comments.

They make me feel that people are reading this drivel and encourage me to keep going. They also seem crucial to this whole blogging concept. The beauty of it is that it is a two-way (in fact more of a multi-way) communication method.

However, I’m quite often surprised at which of my posts get commented upon. A fairly mundane post might get five, whereas my more out-on-a-limb efforts (which I deliberately often end with a question) get none.

It’s not as if people aren’t visiting, the Firestats are quite healthy. So, dear lurker, please feel free to comment.

Why not start by letting me know why you don’t already comment, and what I could do to encourage more comments…?