Doug Belshaw's Open Educational Thinkering - Latest Comments in My way or the highway.

Re: My way or the highway.

Doug Belshaw — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:58:45 -0000

That's the difficulty, isn't it? Keeping the balance. Good luck! :-)

Re: My way or the highway.

Doug Belshaw — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:58:45 -0000

That's the difficulty, isn't it? Keeping the balance. Good luck! :-)

Re: My way or the highway.

Kelli — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:56:29 -0000

This is just my second year of full time teaching (English), and my year 12 students are about to sit their Higher School Certificate (HSC is the last year of high school in NSW, Australia).

I have tried over the past year with them to blend traditional learning with a class blog. Recently I also introduced them to Voicethread for a creative writing workshop. I email a lot of work, and connect the to a range of online sources, youtube videos etc.

It sure is difficult, when you spend most of the year up your high horse, complaining about how exams are narrowing the curriculum, when at the end of the day the students are the ones who are most effected by a bad result. But at the end of the day I really DO believe that I am teaching them '21st century' skills and knowledge that are going to pay dividends in the future once their results are long forgotten. I also believe that what I am doing is pedagogically sound - although like yourself I have seen areas where I am slack that need tweaking in future, and like you, mine are discipline and homework!

We won't see our results until after Christmas. I'm hoping for the kids sake that the results are good...but if they're not, I'll also be reflecting on how to improve my e-learning pedagogy, not chucking it out the window.

Re: My way or the highway.

Kelli — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:56:29 -0000

Re: My way or the highway.

Guest — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:50:17 -0000

I recommend "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. A highly controversial blockbuster.

Re: My way or the highway.

Guest — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:50:17 -0000

I recommend "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. A highly controversial blockbuster.

Re: My way or the highway.

Adam — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:03:55 -0000

Just remember whatever the results you are dealing with human beings (well kids at any rate) not automatons who can be programmed. If you feel you have done your best by them, and more crucially thay feel they did their best no one can (should) ask for more.

Re: My way or the highway.

Adam — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:03:55 -0000

Re: My way or the highway.

Jonathan Gower — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:59:59 -0000

I think you're right. I teach KS2 and have had some disappointing SATs results. And I was upset. But I know that I don't 'believe' in SATs. In fact they're silly. But the power of public judgment is quite a force.

Re: My way or the highway.

Sara at On Simplicity — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:48:57 -0000

Emerson is always inspiring. :) I have to say, I never imagined I'd hear him quoted alongside Fred "Hot Dog Flavored Water" Durst, but it just proves Emerson's point about the value of individuality.

Re: My way or the highway.

Jonathan Gower — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:59:59 -0000

Re: My way or the highway.

Elona Hartjes — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:35:46 -0000

Doug,
To thine own self be true! :)

Re: My way or the highway.

Sara at On Simplicit — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:48:57 -0000

Emerson is always inspiring. :) I have to say, I never imagined I'd hear him quoted alongside Fred "Hot Dog Flavored Water" Durst, but it just proves Emerson's point about the value of individuality.

Re: My way or the highway.

Daniel — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:38:50 -0000

Great to hear - I missed your earlier post when I was on holiday but I'm really happy to read this one!
You have to do things your way and not let one set of results get you down.

Re: My way or the highway.

Elona Hartjes — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:35:46 -0000

Doug,
To thine own self be true! :)

Re: My way or the highway.

Daniel — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:38:50 -0000

Great to hear - I missed your earlier post when I was on holiday but I'm really happy to read this one!
You have to do things your way and not let one set of results get you down.