Disqus - Latest Comments for TonySearl

Re: http://drapestakes.blogspot.com/2008/12/eddies.html

TonySearl — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:24:38 -0000

Never heard of this blog, no thanks to you, now I'll follow with some interest.
I like your sense of...... well just get in and do it.

Ta Muchly, if you can be bothered looking for it.
Good stuff, I like half dead geckos, especially Gordon's.

cheers,
an irreverent tongue firmly planted in cheek
Tony

and I'm totally devastated I didn't win too.....

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Throw Down the Gauntlet: Break the Chains of Bad Practice, Build Our Future

TonySearl — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:40:13 -0000

Thanks Vicki
Love the global sharing of learning stories.
I will continue to follow CCT with interest, RSSed in my igoogle and
netvibes.
Regards from down under
Tony Searl
http://tsearl.edublogs.org/

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Lauren O'Grady Says to Drop the Buzzwords! (A point worth listening to!)

TonySearl — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:33:39 -0000

Hi Vicki
Great discussion points you raise. Thanks for visiting us 'down under'.

Individually I include students in planning their learning and guided research. Teaching them to ask the meaningful "fat" questions is challenging, but when they get it, the long tail of learning is off and running. Talk about niches of eclectic "I want to know that, wow" what students choose to learn about, all still within the acceptable realms of our syllabus, is amazing.

The sharing and teaching of their new group knowledge is then even more powerful, they become the expert key note presenters for the class. The reporting lessons we've had are just so much fun. When learning teams conduct well founded seminars for 45 minutes with guidance and support from their classmates how good do they feel about learning then?

The next step in 2009 when we install our artefact learning centre will be to leave a correctly curated legacy for the classes that follow and to invite more community groups to also contribute. We want it to become a hub for our town within the school. Can't wait. (No buzzwords yet either.)

If students have real ownership, a reason to want to find the why and be passionate about their own enquiry then learning becomes meaningful. The old 'establish intrinsic need' and the learning process stays with them for life. This moves far further than a nebulous choice task, which only really amplifies the meaningless nature of unconnected or imposed choices. This takes time to establish and lately I hear others call it PBL.

Many moons ago, students were invited for a few years to have meaningful, prepared and sustained input about their learning needs at our thrice annual school development days. Unfortunately it became a rather tokenistic event and these student input and powerful ideas were left to wither. For me, exit stage left out of that place. The overwhelming lack of acceptance by adult leaders and brick walling by most teachers and their lack of engagement with student needs just cut too deep.

Back to where I can make a difference I think; receptive open minds, no time warps and enjoying my flat classroom without the baggage of those who don't get it. Happy as a pig in mud. On Any Sunday. Better go riding, the sun is up.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Throw Down the Gauntlet: Break the Chains of Bad Practice, Build Our Future

TonySearl — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:22:43 -0000

Go Vicki,
My gaunlet is for our NSW DET to update their decade old walled garden portal.

Ask savvy 21st century learners what would be beneficial or how they best learn and then include their suggestions. This portal is there for the sake of teachers and students, not the red tape meisters.

Stop pretending the bureaucratic layers are helping. The flat learning many speak of will not eventuate without individuals taking control of learning at all levels, a somewhat scary concept for those educated along industrial age concepts, "group hiders" I call them, not lifelong learners as they often profess in their platitudes.
I love the CCT, a minor award of recognition awaits you Vicki at http://tsearl.edublogs.org/...