Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 24th, 2007 2 Comments »
Lots of talk in education circles recently about the fairly recent discoveries going on in brain research, how the brain works being translated into how people learn and unlearn, and some scientists (though not many yet) looking to what this might mean for how we teach.
One article this week, looks at the ‘gender’ of the [...]
Posted in curriculum, education-news, politics on Jul 18th, 2007 No Comments »
Don’t quite know why we need overseas experts to tell us, but good to see someone at least taking the other viewpoint; that, far from being natural and inevitable, national curriculum might alienate (and marginalise) teachers and students. Maybe, once again, it’s more politics than good education policy.
US Professor Michael Apple says:
“What you get [...]
Posted in curriculum on Jul 13th, 2007 4 Comments »
The Guardian reports today of UK plans to free up 25% of the school timetable by introducing a ’slimmed down’ curriculum for 11 to 14 year olds. Just as our government is busily mandating Gallipoli, UK authorities are moving for flexibility by moving Churchill, Hitler and Stalin from the compulsory curriculum.
Interestingly, (thanks Jamie Oliver) cooking [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 12th, 2007 1 Comment »
The new Avatar feature of the edublogs posed some confronting problems. What picture should I post of me? Something casual; strolling along a beach contemplating the universe, or at work posing at a whiteboard or hovering around the edge of a group of students? Or what about a comic look: a unicorn, or a martian [...]
Posted in learning on Jul 12th, 2007 No Comments »
Nice to hear that Dr Carol Anne Tomlinson, author of 13 books focusing on differentiation, was in Melbourne recently, although typically the AGE opened with a statement that seemed critical of most teachers:
MOST teachers are pitching their lessons to the average student, with both the top and bottom students routinely missing out, according to a [...]
Posted in values on Jul 2nd, 2007 No Comments »
After a hectic last week of term it sure was nice to take some time out and head up to the north-east of Victoria for a long weekend of taking in the Murray river country, tasting some good wine, relaxing with friends and generally slowing down. I really enjoy visiting the Rutherglen area and it’s [...]
