After four and a half years of university I finally finished up my studies in May 15. Oh what an adventure and I was happy to be handing in my last assignment, but knew I would miss the simplicity which came with University life.
I took a celebratory trip to Bail, which depleted my bank account but was great. Then it was time to get stuck in. Networking has already proven to be the best way of getting a position in Canberra. I've received an abundance of casual work I'm sure I wouldn't have without these connections. I'm frustrated not to have a "real" job yet, but know that's foolish. I'm restless for my own desk and my own school, but also for travel and excitement.
I've started to look more into international teaching and while I know getting 2 years experience in Australia will assist in the future I can't help but want to be off already. Maybe only a year who knows, I still wish to get my bus license and also move up my professional standards. Maybe I'm making too many goals and setting them to high, but I can't wait to start achieving them.
July 2017 could see me with no more excuses and heading overseas, oh wouldn't that be lovely.
I plan to actually update this blog again, about being a new teacher, causal and hopefully with a position and eventually about going and teaching overseas.
Tuesday, 25 August 2015
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Managing Data
Presented in my lecture this week was the concept of Managing Date and our Digital presence.
With growing technology, growing consumption of information and availability of data, we are presenting ourselves on a number of different platforms.
As well as the idea that the number of ways to gather and present data gathered through technologies such as GPS, heart rate monitors, speed/altitude trackers and so much more. The number and quality of apps which have appeared on the web is astounding, yet with so many different platforms to collect and present data, incompatible platforms are a difficulty. While some sporting codes and teams are overflowing with data and accesses to information that they just aren't using to their full possibility, other teams don't have accesses to nearly the plethora of technologies athletes in these codes often track their own data.
Interestingly Jarrod Robinson explores using a number of different technologies being used in Physical Education class which where once reserved for elite athletes in his article "Using Elite-Level Equipment in Schools." Raising a number of different technologies and their uses in the classroom. There can be no doubt that raising the use and integration of different technologies to engage students on another level and produce relevant data to dissect directly relating to the students, is yet another amazing and inventive product of the technological boom.
With growing technology, growing consumption of information and availability of data, we are presenting ourselves on a number of different platforms.
As well as the idea that the number of ways to gather and present data gathered through technologies such as GPS, heart rate monitors, speed/altitude trackers and so much more. The number and quality of apps which have appeared on the web is astounding, yet with so many different platforms to collect and present data, incompatible platforms are a difficulty. While some sporting codes and teams are overflowing with data and accesses to information that they just aren't using to their full possibility, other teams don't have accesses to nearly the plethora of technologies athletes in these codes often track their own data.
Interestingly Jarrod Robinson explores using a number of different technologies being used in Physical Education class which where once reserved for elite athletes in his article "Using Elite-Level Equipment in Schools." Raising a number of different technologies and their uses in the classroom. There can be no doubt that raising the use and integration of different technologies to engage students on another level and produce relevant data to dissect directly relating to the students, is yet another amazing and inventive product of the technological boom.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Sharing and Presenting Information
HOW we share, WHAT we share and WHO we share with are all variables of astounding proportions.
The HOW can be covered in so many different ways today. While in the past students have been restricted to orals or essays, today these are mealy the beginning and websites like Prezi and Slideshare are just two of a variety of Web 2.0 technologies which have opened doors in the way in which we ask students to present information they have gathered. Not everyone is a great public speaker, some people hate essays with a passion, a variety of presenting and sharing modes offer the ability to work to every students strengths and not inhibit anyones learning. Being flexible and open to new ideas and methods places students willing to explore and experiment with the changing technological world at a huge advantage to counterparts still forced to present in a "archaic" fashion.
I've placed archaic in "" because I don't think these presenting models are archaic, but our new plugged in generations will find them more and more so.
WHAT we share, everything. Instagram seams to be the best place for people to share what they ate, what they are wearing or anything else about their lives and other people will watch!! But if it's how to change a sparkplug, to how to make silverware shine, how to build a nine person beer bong or how to disable a car alarm, today you can find EVERYTHING on the internet. It's awesome. Get amongst it.
The WHO , well it's easier if it doesn't matter who see's the information being shared or not. By relinquishing control and being fine with anyone seeing it, a lot of issues will be avoided. Otherwise, you have to look at where you are hosting the information, if people can and will find it, privacy settings and if they are appropriate.
Awesome Sharing and Presenting already taking place, give them a look;
TED Talks
How Stuff Works
DIY Network
Teacher Tube
The HOW can be covered in so many different ways today. While in the past students have been restricted to orals or essays, today these are mealy the beginning and websites like Prezi and Slideshare are just two of a variety of Web 2.0 technologies which have opened doors in the way in which we ask students to present information they have gathered. Not everyone is a great public speaker, some people hate essays with a passion, a variety of presenting and sharing modes offer the ability to work to every students strengths and not inhibit anyones learning. Being flexible and open to new ideas and methods places students willing to explore and experiment with the changing technological world at a huge advantage to counterparts still forced to present in a "archaic" fashion.
I've placed archaic in "" because I don't think these presenting models are archaic, but our new plugged in generations will find them more and more so.
WHAT we share, everything. Instagram seams to be the best place for people to share what they ate, what they are wearing or anything else about their lives and other people will watch!! But if it's how to change a sparkplug, to how to make silverware shine, how to build a nine person beer bong or how to disable a car alarm, today you can find EVERYTHING on the internet. It's awesome. Get amongst it.
The WHO , well it's easier if it doesn't matter who see's the information being shared or not. By relinquishing control and being fine with anyone seeing it, a lot of issues will be avoided. Otherwise, you have to look at where you are hosting the information, if people can and will find it, privacy settings and if they are appropriate.
Awesome Sharing and Presenting already taking place, give them a look;
TED Talks
How Stuff Works
DIY Network
Teacher Tube
Thursday, 4 April 2013
Using Digital Media: Producing Resources
The internet has grown at an amazing rate and continues to grow. The socialisation, globalisation and mobile learning environment which has been created holds numerous and growing possibilities for educators and teachers. Providing a wealth of information at the fingertips of students and multiple possibilities for representing and presenting this information.
Yet while this globalisation has made the world a smaller place and enabled a whole new level of learning and collaboration, it's also opened up a whole new level of plagiarism and copyright issues. Which is discussed well and briefly here copyright and the internet. As well as this there is a whole issue of young people being venerable to deception and the darker side to the digital world, which is explored in greater, horrifying depth in places like Crime Library.
How do you balance this? How do you monitor this? And importantly how do you not stunt your students technological exploration and growth?
There are many different situations and questions which arise, as a result of such rapid changes and variations. Who can say where the future will lead us. It's important to take into consideration your students and what will work the best for them. After taking this into consideration there are many, many different platforms which you can use and take advantage of which can be made safer for students in the form of a closed community and strong privacy settings. Educating the youth about risks and how to be safe on the internet is a important issue in classrooms today.
Yet while this globalisation has made the world a smaller place and enabled a whole new level of learning and collaboration, it's also opened up a whole new level of plagiarism and copyright issues. Which is discussed well and briefly here copyright and the internet. As well as this there is a whole issue of young people being venerable to deception and the darker side to the digital world, which is explored in greater, horrifying depth in places like Crime Library.
How do you balance this? How do you monitor this? And importantly how do you not stunt your students technological exploration and growth?
There are many different situations and questions which arise, as a result of such rapid changes and variations. Who can say where the future will lead us. It's important to take into consideration your students and what will work the best for them. After taking this into consideration there are many, many different platforms which you can use and take advantage of which can be made safer for students in the form of a closed community and strong privacy settings. Educating the youth about risks and how to be safe on the internet is a important issue in classrooms today.
Friday, 15 March 2013
Mentor-where?
Mentoring isn't a new concept at all, to me or the education/sporting community. First as a TouchFootball Refeere in my younger years, we where otften assigned different mentors from the higher level refeeres at carnivals to help us to develop as compatent refeers and make sure noone abused us!
Mentoring programs are invaluble as they allow relevant and productive information to be provided to the mentee, after observing the class/sport. Mentors can then provied pointers and ideas which can be directly applyed to the mentee's skills.
As a student teacher I am assigned a Mentor Teacher during every prac-placment which I undertake. Having completed two pracs, I have had the oppertunity to observe and work with two very different but capible teachers, with a number of years experiance. This allowed me to recieve constructive and invaluble feedback from people who are in the indestry and really know what they are talking about. Being supportid and guided by Mentors, with the continual communication and non-formal feedback, provieds invaluble experiance which prepers student teachers for the "real world". This also allows questions to be answered and discussions held on a continual basis, which is integural to teacher development. Formal feedback and assesment is also provieded by the Mentor teachers, which allows future employers to view student teachers progress and development.
This year the NSW Govenment has decided to impliment new criteries which both student teachers and mentor teachers will have to meet. Mentor Teachers will "...have to undertake accredited programs to create a more professional class of mentoring teacher..." now while this sounds like a brillient idea, making our teachers better and putting more back into the community. Being a Mentor Teacher is entirlley vollentary, yes they get paid a few bucks for taking us, but I've spoken to a number of teachers who don't think we are worth the hassle now, let alone if they have to undertake extra training to take us! Another great idea in theory, yet a stiffling difference from the reality of classroom politics. Already student teachers are forced to "cue" to recieve a placment, waiting till another is done and replacing them in the same school, I can only image the result of these new standereds on the whole procces.
New Teachers are also given a mentor teacher during first year of work(and free counsling), this is to help them develop, provied someone which they can converse about classroom probles or bounce new ideas around and give advice, as new teachers navigate the experiance of their own classrooms!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/nsw-raises-bar-for-new-teachers/story-e6frgcjx-1226591681671
Mentoring programs are invaluble as they allow relevant and productive information to be provided to the mentee, after observing the class/sport. Mentors can then provied pointers and ideas which can be directly applyed to the mentee's skills.
As a student teacher I am assigned a Mentor Teacher during every prac-placment which I undertake. Having completed two pracs, I have had the oppertunity to observe and work with two very different but capible teachers, with a number of years experiance. This allowed me to recieve constructive and invaluble feedback from people who are in the indestry and really know what they are talking about. Being supportid and guided by Mentors, with the continual communication and non-formal feedback, provieds invaluble experiance which prepers student teachers for the "real world". This also allows questions to be answered and discussions held on a continual basis, which is integural to teacher development. Formal feedback and assesment is also provieded by the Mentor teachers, which allows future employers to view student teachers progress and development.
This year the NSW Govenment has decided to impliment new criteries which both student teachers and mentor teachers will have to meet. Mentor Teachers will "...have to undertake accredited programs to create a more professional class of mentoring teacher..." now while this sounds like a brillient idea, making our teachers better and putting more back into the community. Being a Mentor Teacher is entirlley vollentary, yes they get paid a few bucks for taking us, but I've spoken to a number of teachers who don't think we are worth the hassle now, let alone if they have to undertake extra training to take us! Another great idea in theory, yet a stiffling difference from the reality of classroom politics. Already student teachers are forced to "cue" to recieve a placment, waiting till another is done and replacing them in the same school, I can only image the result of these new standereds on the whole procces.
New Teachers are also given a mentor teacher during first year of work(and free counsling), this is to help them develop, provied someone which they can converse about classroom probles or bounce new ideas around and give advice, as new teachers navigate the experiance of their own classrooms!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/nsw-raises-bar-for-new-teachers/story-e6frgcjx-1226591681671
Friday, 8 March 2013
week5
Week 5, oh what a week. As we quickly approach the ever hectic week 7 the pressure rises to establish clear guidelines for the assignments due and how to tackle them. Continuous converstations to establish the paths I want to take and how I will succeed in getting there is my general approach. One of my units has a very airiy-fairy feel and getting the tutor to nail down what is "right" and "wrong", is as easy as catching smoke with your hands.
Unfortunately it seams that while our tutor encourages conversation, honest opinions about the University of Canberra are not welcome. I did not think what I said was in anyway offensive to my tutor or even the unit I was in, but when asking follow up questions after the tutorial I received the cold shoulder and a quick dismissal. While this would might have insighted a devious plan involving melted chocolate, mushy bananan and a robot. I have chosen the path less traveled by, it's yet to make all the difference.
Reflecting on the idea of 'Sharing and Presenting Information' I looked back on my own schooling and the many different ways which I was presented with inform. The main methods I recall are as follows; Lecture, Whole Group Discussion, Small Group Discussion, Demonstration, Role Play, Simulation, Exploration, Individual Work & Group Work.
The concept of peer-demonstration appered regularly in my Physical Education classes. Teachers would have prior knowledge of students back ground and sporting abilities, utilising these to optimise the learning experience. Ensuring that the demonstration would be the most beneficial to the students leaning process. This however needs to be monitored to take into consideration that no matter how good as student is at an action, they just might not want to demonstraite. Another point to concider is if the same student is demonstraighting all the time, this could cause jealousy and resentment within the class.
Peer learning as a whole, demonstraited or otherwise, proves to strengthens relationship between students and establishes a scense of community connection. This kind of support network can prove invaluble throughout schooling and in latter life.
Unfortunately it seams that while our tutor encourages conversation, honest opinions about the University of Canberra are not welcome. I did not think what I said was in anyway offensive to my tutor or even the unit I was in, but when asking follow up questions after the tutorial I received the cold shoulder and a quick dismissal. While this would might have insighted a devious plan involving melted chocolate, mushy bananan and a robot. I have chosen the path less traveled by, it's yet to make all the difference.
Reflecting on the idea of 'Sharing and Presenting Information' I looked back on my own schooling and the many different ways which I was presented with inform. The main methods I recall are as follows; Lecture, Whole Group Discussion, Small Group Discussion, Demonstration, Role Play, Simulation, Exploration, Individual Work & Group Work.
The concept of peer-demonstration appered regularly in my Physical Education classes. Teachers would have prior knowledge of students back ground and sporting abilities, utilising these to optimise the learning experience. Ensuring that the demonstration would be the most beneficial to the students leaning process. This however needs to be monitored to take into consideration that no matter how good as student is at an action, they just might not want to demonstraite. Another point to concider is if the same student is demonstraighting all the time, this could cause jealousy and resentment within the class.
Peer learning as a whole, demonstraited or otherwise, proves to strengthens relationship between students and establishes a scense of community connection. This kind of support network can prove invaluble throughout schooling and in latter life.
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." -William Arthur Weard
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Don't talk to me about O week
So it's week 4, things are heating up; assignments are looming, life is knocking on the door and insurance company youi would not stop calling me!
While I love all my mates at other unis and recognize O-week is an awesome time, I quickly lost interest in hearing all the stories and events as I put my nose to the grind stone again.
Having an interesting and full on week I wound into Friday, already wishing it was the weekend. At an ungodly 9:30am I had a lecturer who insisted on writing one thing on the slid and then saying an entirely different thing, so much fun. It didn't help that Andrew from youi decided to call me for a 3rd time in the middle of the lecture to see if I had chosen a company, seriously feeling stalked. I think I confused anyone listing to my converstation as I eneded the phone call with a "If I want you, I'll call you!"
Rolling into my SPC tut in less than the best mood, but it's just so damn hard to stay pissed with Keith as the tutor. Intrestingly enough my bi-polar coaching worked rather well to display how different people/teachers/coachs present feedfoward and the then result or lack thereof it can have on people/students/athletes.
Wow, I was sooo close to finnishing tyhis blog for the week before I got ulitmatly caughtup in the hype and crazyness of the online community. What's that, teachers sharing and mentoring online from all over the world. I HAVE to share but a sample of the great teaching blogs I found before I continue with my blog;
To Learn About It, Write About It
Teaching With Soul
Musings On Teaching...
The eLearning Buzz
SO, I really enjoyed Keith's description of Feedfoward and the difference seeing the positive possibilities of the action/activity which is being preformed. This opens the augmented information concept into a whole different light for me. While we are consistently providing our students with information about their performance and actions is this being carried out in the best way? Admittedly it would be difficult to video each individual student in a class of 25 and provide this kind of information, especially in PE classes where often you only get to spend one or two lessons on any give topic.
The question this raises for me is; how else can this information be used in teaching and the classroom? Students often learn from observation and imitation, while I may not be able to video them, what about having pre-prepaired videos of students showing the correct form and places in the action which students often perform incorrectly, allowing them to view this on someone else their age may be the thing they need to connect the dots.
The Spectrum of Teaching Styles opens up a number of discussion topics and reflection, which teaching styles suit, which ones would I like to incorporate more or less, just to name a few.
I'm sure every teacher wishes students would find their subject and material engaging enough to be "Self-Teaching", although this might put teachers out of a job! Whether students know it or not they are continuously learning, in such a connected world it has put questions and explanations just a google away. In my opinion it's important to incorporate every one of the teacher styles into the classroom, as different students and subjects require a different way of teaching. Mastering these styles, well thats a different kettle of fish!
While I love all my mates at other unis and recognize O-week is an awesome time, I quickly lost interest in hearing all the stories and events as I put my nose to the grind stone again.
Having an interesting and full on week I wound into Friday, already wishing it was the weekend. At an ungodly 9:30am I had a lecturer who insisted on writing one thing on the slid and then saying an entirely different thing, so much fun. It didn't help that Andrew from youi decided to call me for a 3rd time in the middle of the lecture to see if I had chosen a company, seriously feeling stalked. I think I confused anyone listing to my converstation as I eneded the phone call with a "If I want you, I'll call you!"
Rolling into my SPC tut in less than the best mood, but it's just so damn hard to stay pissed with Keith as the tutor. Intrestingly enough my bi-polar coaching worked rather well to display how different people/teachers/coachs present feedfoward and the then result or lack thereof it can have on people/students/athletes.
Wow, I was sooo close to finnishing tyhis blog for the week before I got ulitmatly caughtup in the hype and crazyness of the online community. What's that, teachers sharing and mentoring online from all over the world. I HAVE to share but a sample of the great teaching blogs I found before I continue with my blog;
To Learn About It, Write About It
Teaching With Soul
Musings On Teaching...
The eLearning Buzz
SO, I really enjoyed Keith's description of Feedfoward and the difference seeing the positive possibilities of the action/activity which is being preformed. This opens the augmented information concept into a whole different light for me. While we are consistently providing our students with information about their performance and actions is this being carried out in the best way? Admittedly it would be difficult to video each individual student in a class of 25 and provide this kind of information, especially in PE classes where often you only get to spend one or two lessons on any give topic.
The question this raises for me is; how else can this information be used in teaching and the classroom? Students often learn from observation and imitation, while I may not be able to video them, what about having pre-prepaired videos of students showing the correct form and places in the action which students often perform incorrectly, allowing them to view this on someone else their age may be the thing they need to connect the dots.
The Spectrum of Teaching Styles opens up a number of discussion topics and reflection, which teaching styles suit, which ones would I like to incorporate more or less, just to name a few.
I'm sure every teacher wishes students would find their subject and material engaging enough to be "Self-Teaching", although this might put teachers out of a job! Whether students know it or not they are continuously learning, in such a connected world it has put questions and explanations just a google away. In my opinion it's important to incorporate every one of the teacher styles into the classroom, as different students and subjects require a different way of teaching. Mastering these styles, well thats a different kettle of fish!
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