When the wind changed.

"Don't make that face, the wind might change."  I remember my mother telling me this when I was little.  I would look around to see if the wind was about and then check the mirror just to make sure it hadn't changed my face.  It's funny the stories we remember from our childhood.

As a teacher, the wind means something else to me now.  Usually craziness.  While team teaching a class of 30 students last term, we decided to have a little fun.  Bring back some of the old fashion teaching and focused on 'faces' for the day.  This decision was not made until ten minutes to 9 o'clock.  With two of us on the job, we each took a different activity and ran around getting ourselves ready for a busy day.

It was such a simple idea.  An outline of a face with it divided into three parts.  The top section was for the hair and eye brows.  The middle section for the eyes, nose and ears and the bottom section for the mouth, beard and neck.
We walked the students through the activity without telling them about how the finished product was going to look.  When each of the students finished their picture I collated it into this 'faces' book.

The students' loved seeing their faces' mixed up with someone elses.  The detail that some of the students put into their pictures was amazing.

This session was simple but very effective.  You could easily make it into a art lesson, a writing session or a follow up activity to the book!

Mel

Usually a Teacher, sometimes a Student!.

Well...  We all know that sourcing PD Workshops and seminars as a CRT can be somewhat problematic.  PD for teachers usually has a significant portion which is aimed at full-time teachers supplying tactics that take time to implement in the classroom.  Unfortunately it rarely has that much time devoted to ways in which CRTs can implement the same theories on a much quicker timeline!

This can make sourcing your own PD, which we often have to do, more than a little daunting.

Topics;

The good news?  As a CRT drifting in and out of classrooms there's very little that won't prove relevant to your teaching sooner or later!  Even those long setup time strategies prove useful when you take over from a teacher that is using them!  You know exactly where you stand and know how to carry through on what they have set up.

While you need to pick Professional Development that improves your own knowledge and practice as a classroom teacher, it's a good idea to also keep an eye on what's going on in the schools you teach for.  Keep your finger on the pulse of their PD!  Being on the same page as the schools makes you far more likely to recieve work in these schools once they clue in to the fact that you can carry through on school policy and practice.

It also helps to integrate you into the school's community rather than being an outsider all the time!  You understand the "policy jargon" in general conversation and the teachers you replace will be far more comfortable just to supply you with what you need to know and walk away confident that the job will get done and get done well.  You begin to become an integral part of the community and will be fully recognized for your efforts and skills.

Format;

Sometimes you do need to be a little careful.  We've probably all been to "one of those PDs" where the information was all technical, leaving you to try and sort out how to apply it in a classroom and sometimes even if it does.  It was based on out-dated teaching practice.  It was just presented in such a dry manner that regardless of how good the information was?  You can't remember half of it because you were too busy doodling or watching the birds out of the window.

So what does current classroom practice teach us about our search for PD?  If "hands on" and other such buzzwords play such a big part in today's schooling why wouldn't you apply this to yourself?  There's such a large pool of research out there that prove that hands on learning improves engagement, the retention of information, the self-motivation of students of all ages from prep to university.

When selecting PD it is quite worth remembering that for those hours you are there you are no longer "the teacher", you are "the student".  So you can take all that stuff you know about helping to teach students things and get them to retain that information and put yourself in that position for those hours.

The Presenter;

Here's an interesting little insight for you.

Go to VIT's YouTube channel.  We've sent you here before but this time it's not the videos we want to have a look at, it's the channel itself.

If you look at the top 3 videos (as of right now).  They have been there for 6 months.  There's six views on the first, six views on the second and nine views on the third.  And two each of those are from me!

Now scroll all the way to the bottom and look at those 3.  These videos are from 2 years and 3 months ago (June 2010).  There's 120 views on the first, 177 views on the second and 163 views on the 3rd.

Now scroll up until you see this gentleman's face (Glenn Pearsall):

Glenn Pearsall - VIT Twilight Seminar 1 - 2011

These videos have been up about a year and a half (March 2011).  First video?  1008 views.  Second video?  543.  Then 652, 369, 643 and 605 views respectively.

More than 3 times as many (on average) as the videos that have been there for an extra 9 months and more than any that follow either.

Let's face it, YouTube is voluntary.  Why this guy?  What's making people want to watch his video more than the others?

Watch his presentation and then a couple of the others and you will begin to understand why.  While everyone on VIT's YouTube channel has something valuable to say, Glen Pearsall is a little different.  He's jokey, he's dynamic, he's engaging.  On top of having something valuable to say.  People want to watch him in action and want to hear what he has to say because of it.

The presenter is important to a PD workshop too.  A good presenter not only provides you with good information, they will engage you in the topic helping to ensure that you not only have a good time but retain as much of the information they deliver as possible and provide you with the enthusiasm which will motivate you to try these things out in the classroom.

It's that whole "I'm a student for a few hours" thing again.  If you provide your students with a fun and engaging classroom they will not only learn the information faster and retain the information for longer, they will be motivated to not only apply what they have learnt but also to learn even more.  You are just the same!

But....

Yes, there's always a "but".  Sometimes you just really need to know something and there's not a lot of choice in the matter.  You need to sit through a boring or generally non-productive PD to get those couple of things you need.  There's just no way around it; needs must when the devil drives.  You are better off having it at the cost of a bit of boredom or sitting through some largely unproductive information.

When you do have some choice though?

Put yourself in the shoes of a student and, knowing what you know as a teacher, pick the PD opportunity that's more likely to give you the most engaging experience on offer.

You'll learn more.  You'll remember more.  You'll even have more fun.

Regards, 

Mel.

October Inspire Magazine

Here is the October edition of the DEECD's Inspire Magazine.  Clicking on the picture will take you to the online version of the magazine.

Alternatively you can download the PDF version on the following link;

http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/inspire/inspireoct2012.pdf

Happy reading!
Mel

New Page - VIT CRT Networks.

We have a new page up featuring an online presentation about VIT CRT Networks.

You can view this page here.

Regards,

Mel.

40 weeks, 40 classrooms - Resourceful CRTs.

Being Resourceful as a CRT - 2min 09sec.

This weeks "40 weeks, 40 classrooms!" video is up.

As a CRT it can be difficult to know what classroom resources you are allowed to use.  The teacher has earmarked everything in the classroom cupboard and taking the wrong thing can throw a spanner into their works.

Here's something I find is usually a safe bet to use for those times when you have no lesson plan and have to pull out something interesting for the students to keep them engaged in your classroom activities!

Do you have any suggestions to add? We'd love to hear them!

Regards,



Mel.

It's Thursday...

...and as promised, here's the Network's very first "Individually Unique, Together Amazing" video!

Individually Unique, Together Amazing - "Your Relationship with Classroom Games".

Please remember, there is no "scheduling" for these videos and they will be released on an "as available" basis through member input.  We've gotten the ball rolling and will continue to contribute to the channel occasionally with videos from my "40 weeks, 40 classrooms!" YouTube channel.

After that we need member input to give us places to go!  Do you have something unique that you do in a classroom that you would like to make a video about OR you would like us to make a video about and post on your behalf?

Please contact us on wodongacrt@vit.vic.edu.au.

We don't expect the monetization to bring us a fortune, just a little on the side, but the videos themselves will contribute to the Victorian (or larger) CRT community and through that our students!

Share and share alike and we can all come out winners!

regards,

Mel.

Graduating with Technology.

"Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives: we use it to learn, to shop, to pay bills, and to entertain ourselves. Not surprisingly, younger generations are heavily influenced by computers in a way that changes the way they retain information and the ways they develop opinions about culture. Today 70% of children between the ages of 2-5 can operate a computer mouse, but only 11% of them can tie their own shoes."

A while back we had an email from Hannah Edwards, a contributor to learnstuff.com, regarding an interesting infographic about technology in schools.  It's an interesting look at some statistics about how technology is changing the school experience for modern students!

You can read the full article and have a look at the infographic over on Learnstuff.com.

Thanks Hannah for the heads up about this infographic!

Regards,

Mel.

The Horsham/Wimmera Network becomes news-worthy!

During the holidays the Horsham/Wimmera Network made a newspaper appearance with it's first PD workshop!

Well done Shayne on both getting PD workshops off the ground and making it into the paper!

You can read the article in PDF format here.

Regards,

Mel.

Shepparton CRT Network Coordinator changeover.

Hello everyone!

It feels like the end of an era with Wendy, the Coordinator of the Shepparton CRT Support Network, stepping down yesterday.  Wendy has provided 4 solid years of Professional Development opportunities to Shepparton teachers and I am sure everyone there appreciates her efforts!

I have assumed the role of the Shepparton CRT Network Coordinator as well as remaining the Coordinator for the Wodonga CRT Support Network.  As you may also have noticed on the main blog, I have also started my own YouTube channel.

I just want to assure all of you that despite the extra work involved with these things the Wodonga Network will continue to be run in the same way as it always has been.  There will only be minor changes in anything we do and the chances are that if I don't point them out you'll never even notice!  The only definitive change will be a bit of the juggling of scheduling because I just can't be in 2 places at once! 

We will still be holding 4 x full day PDs each year, continue offering 2.5 hour evening PD sessions as the opportunity arises and also continue holding our monthly meetings. 

My dedication to all of you remains just as strong as it has always been! 

Regards,

Mel.

40 weeks, 40 classrooms!

The Wodonga CRT Support Network Coordinator has today embarked on a new tangent!  As many of you realise the Network has had it's own Youtube channel for a while now, used to host our promotional and PD feedback videos.

We have always had further goals for this channel and today marks the first steps down the road to the intended improvements.  Melinda is establishing a new YouTube channel of her own, called "40 weeks, 40 classrooms!", to begin to release content-based videos intended for CRTs, Tutors and parents wanting a deeper involvement in their child's education.

 

 

You will notice that unlike our regular videos, these are monetized.  Over time Melinda will be donating some of her videos to the Network which will also be monetized on the Wodonga CRT Support Network's YouTube channel.  The income from these donated videos will be given directly to the Wodonga CRT Support Network to help generate a little bit of extra funding to help the Network along in it's day to day operations.

This will allow us to have a little bit extra for catering at meetings and to buy supplies and equipment that the Network needs to operate.  Keep in mind that the Network is volunteer run and none of it's officers or members are paid in any way for their services from Network funds!  It all goes back into supporting local CRTs.

Melinda hopes to inspire other CRT's to follow in her footsteps down this road of alternative funding for the Network.

So... How will it work?

Having held meetings for over 3 years now, one thing we have come to understand is that everyone has something to offer the CRT community.  Whether it be a strategy, a resource or even words of encouragement we havn't run into anyone who doesn't have something valuable to add.

If you want to plan and film a video using your camera, phone or other video device?  All you need to do is get the raw video to us and we will edit it, add credits and upload it to the channel.  You will get to see the video before it's released and have final approval!

If you don't have the know-how or equipment to make your own videos?  We will be organizing days for those of you who wish to bring something to the table!  We will organize a venue, bring our camera gear along and help you through the process!

If you are camera shy?  That's perfectly OK too!  We will play email tag with you about your ideas and when it's all in good shape?  We will find someone to go in front of the camera on your behalf.  You will recieve full credit for being the one with the ideas and putting in the hard yards, ensuring that you can claim the appropriate amount towards your PD hours should you wish to!

Why video?

Well, we set ourselves a bunch of criteria when we were deciding on which avenues we should pursue (and this won't be the only one!).

First, we wanted to give those of you that keep wanting to give us extra money a way you could give us extra money without actually having to give us money! Online monetization just seemed an obvious way to allow this to happen.  Video is one of the easiest ways to go about this one!  While we don't expect a huge influx that allows the Network to start funding it's own PD any time in the near future?  Every little bit helps.

Next we wanted something that would spread outside of the Network itself to benefit as many CRTs and their students as possible!

We also wanted to do something that you could point to in other arenas (like in job interviews, community events and the like) and say "here's me, not just being a teacher but being an active member of my profession interested in the whole educational community".

And most importantly?  We wanted these to be avenues where you could branch out on your own, independant of the Network, and build your own solid offering for the benefit of the world wide CRT community.

This is just a first step and there are places to go from here.  We are attempting to ensure that the Network, it's members, other CRTs and our students all gain the maximum benefit possible out of these moves forward.

Where to go from here?

For the time being this will be it.  Things like this take time to build up a following and it can be a lot of hard work to get it off the ground.  We don't want to take steps that are too big to manage and see everything fall in a heap just because we rushed it like a bull at a gate!

Rest assured there are plans in place on where to go from here and we will be taking those steps when it's time!  Until then?  We need help to build.

Do you have Facebook?  Google+?  Twitter?  When new videos are posted please share them!  Help us get the word out and build a following for our Youtube channel.  Do you have a Youtube channel of your own?  Please follow us and subscribe to the Network's channel.

So when will all this start?

Soon.  We are currently working on a video or two to kick off the whole process and get the ball rolling. 

Do you have some good ideas for us?  As always you can email wodongaCRT@vit.vic.edu.au to get in touch with us.

If you think you can beat us to the punch?  The race is on, lets see who wins!  Donate your video to us and we will edit it, add credits, give you some approval time and upload it if you are happy with the result.  Alternatively you could even start your own Youtube channel, send us the video link and we'll give you a guest spot on the blog!

Lets get cracking!

Regards,

Paul
(Network 2IC).

** This Youtube Channel has now been added to the YouTube channels links in our sidebar! **