Tuesday 26 February 2013

TeachEat

Having just moderated an #addcym session on Twitter this evening, looking at how TeachMeets impact on Teaching and Learning, it only seems fitting that I share how a group of my amazing colleagues have taken the format (called it TeachEat) and used it to improve teaching and learning within our school. So....

What are they?

TeachEat meetings are informal get togethers where colleagues share ideas about teaching and learning.

When do they occur?


Every Wednesday lunchtime for 40 minutes. 

How does it work?


Sometimes we have a focus (plenaries, feedback, questioning) and sometimes it is more open ended. We informally decide the 'agenda' the week before and anyone can share anything they think others will benefit from knowing. The length of presentations depends very much on what we are covering, for example, next week every attendee has two minutes to share a lesson which they are really proud of.

We also have a group on Edmodo (which we covered in a TeachEat session) where we can share additional ideas/ resources. 

Who attends?

Anyone interested in becoming a better educator. So far there are about twelve regular attendees, however, word is spreading and interest is growing. 

What impact have they had?

Quite a substantial one, I would argue. Personally, I have taken lots of great ideas from our TeachEat sessions. Everything from 'effective questioning' to 'brilliant hooks' have been covered and duly embedded into my classroom. Furthermore, the TeachEat sessions have really inspired me to become a better educator - something I am really passionate about as I have previously written about here.

Finally, it is because of these TeachEat meetings that I want to take the next step and organise a TeachMeet for my LA. And thereafter? Who knows.......

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Animoto

I've been using Animoto for about five years now, however, after sharing it with some colleagues (who were very positive - as they always are) at a recent TeachEat session it only seems fitting that I write a short post about it.  Also, I can honestly say it is one of my favourite tools for engaging pupils at the start of a lesson. 

So, what is Animoto? In their words 'Animoto is a video creation service (online and mobile) that makes it easy and fun for anyone to create and share extraordinary videos using their own pictures, video clips, words and music'. Easy, fun and extraordinary. I would have to agree with all of those points. Here is an example of a video which I made within 10 minutes:



The only thing that takes any time is actually sourcing the pictures or video clips. Customising the video is very very easy. 

As previously mentioned Animoto videos can be used to introduce a lesson or a topic. Also, they are great to use for revision purposes. Oh, and best of all, Animoto is FREE for educators. Indeed, click here for our free educators account (they last 6 months but the admin team will renew your account if you get in touch with them). 

When using these videos the pupils will often say 'did you really make that, Sir?'. Yes, technically I did....


Sunday 10 February 2013

Five Easy Pieces (or steps to becoming a better educator)

When I was a teenager I had somewhat of an obsession with Jack Nicholson films. I made it my goal to collect and watch all of his films and acquire a Mastermind-esque knowledge of JC's cinematic history. Why? Well, i suppose it can be partly attributed to my family's predisposition for OCD and partly to the fact that he was, and still is, an amazing actor. Anyhow, since the Nicholson phase I have gone through various obsessions, trying as I did to fulfil an insatiable appetite for learning. For the past couple of years I have become increasingly obsessed with becoming the best educator I can possibly be within the boundaries of my own capabilities. To that end I have devised my own five easy pieces...or five six easy steps to becoming a better educator:


  1. Engage. With your peers. I ensure, where possible, that I contribute to at least one PLN each week. We have a weekly T&L meeting in school (TeachEat). I also contribute to most weekly #addcym meetings on Twitter. It is all about learning from my peers, sharing ideas and becoming a better educator
  2. Create. At least one brand new spanking lesson each week. I'm forever tweaking my lessons but I also ensure that at least one lesson a week is something completely new. This is not a case of baby-out-with-the-bathwater but rather keeping myself fresh and becoming a better educator
  3. Share. At least one lesson per week. I borrow many many ideas from other teachers, it is only right that I give something back.  Also, I think long and hard about the resources I am going to share (usually on TES) and adapt them accordingly. Hopefully, with this, I am becoming a better educator
  4. Blog. I try and write one new blog post per week. If I'm writing then I am reflecting. If I am reflecting than hopefully I am becoming a better educator
  5. Consume. I make sure that I read, continuously, about education. I tend to have two or three books on the go at any given time, dipping in and out of them as time allows. I also read lots of brilliant blogs by educators who really inspire me to becoming a better educator.  
  6. Listen. Especially to your pupils. I am constantly getting feedback on lessons or SoL. I use this feedback to inform my planning and shape future learning. This, again, is helping me to become a better educator and thus improve the learning experiences of the pupils which I teach. 
Finally, if you've not had the pleasure of watching Five Easy Pieces, then you should, it might not improve you as an educator but it is rather brilliant.......


Sunday 3 February 2013

The Battle of Hastings (Recreated)

Looking for ways to get your pupils really enthused about the Battle of Hastings? Want your pupils to show off their creativity? Need your pupils to enhance their communication skills and their ability to work with others? Then please read on........


A work of art - I think they are horses at the bottom :)
I can't take full creative ownership of this Year 7 lesson on the Battle of Hastings as it was introduced to me by Stacey McCabe at a Dragonfly Inset a few years ago. I can, however, offer my version of the lesson and ultimately how it has helped my pupils to consolidate their understanding of the battle and communicate this understanding to their peers. 

Prior Learning:

Before recreating the battle the pupils spend a few lessons covering the key events by, amongst other things, watching sections of Peter & Dan Snow's Battlefield Britain, acting out the battle and creating a storyboard (homework task). 

Resources:


  • You will need a number of tubs containing various small items. I use cotton wool, Play-Doh, pipe cleaner, beads etc. 
  • You can find a copy of the PP and peer assessment sheet here: http://tinyurl.com/cmcn4x2 which is all quite self-explanatory.
  • You will also need some sort of device to take pictures of the models. I use an iPad as this can be easily connected to my digital projector and the pupils can hold it during the presentations. If we had more than one iPad I would love the pupils to use Skitch or Explain Everything to annotate their work.....

The lesson:

Firstly, pupils are given 10 minutes in their groups to recreate the battle using the items in their tubs. They are able to use their storyboards as a reminder of the key details of the battle.
Secondly, pupils are given five minutes to prepare their presentations. Everyone in the group MUST say something during the presentation. This also gives me time to walk around and take pictures of the models. 
Finally, pupils present their work whilst the rest of the class completes the peer assessment sheets. After the presentations I randomly select pupils to give oral feedback about the presentations. Instant peer feedback reinforces the importance of the task and makes pupils feel great about their work. 

The Impact

This lesson really helps pupils to understand the key points of the battle and, more importantly, develop their communication skills and tap into their creativity. Even more importantly, they love it. I have just finished reading my Year 7 pupil blogs where they summarised what they have been learning about, many pupils wrote about this lesson as one of their highlights. 

I've also done the same lesson with my GCSE pupils for the Battle of Little Big Horn. Their engagement would suggest that you're never too old for Play-Doh........