ilectures!

ilectures - it had to happen and whilst I am not completely sure that apple should have the monopoly (perhaps it will be that other audio formats will be available soon). I am sure that giving access to lectures through itunes as university college london, the open university and trinity college dublin are, will be very successful. I can see so many advantages to having information in another format that students (in fact all learners) will be comfortable with. as well as the written word of course. read more on the bbc web site

today

I haven't been home long tonight, it has been another long for the most part less than productive day. at least I was able to see students of mine who I have been teaching for the last five years take another very big step in to their future. a thing that can never be under estimated. I am very tired and looking forward to a couple of days when work is not handed to be with the expectation that it will be completed in minutes as has been the case over the last few days. administering an education based web site is largely thankless task but at least today I saw a few soon to be ex-students move forward, and that perhaps that should be thanks enough.

do computers stop creatvity?

I am often involved in conversations with colleagues in education when I find myself as someone who uses, teaches and even spends time (probably too much) using computers of some sort at home as well having to justify the positive aspects of web based media, digital applications and the rest.

however, I am also of the belief that good design or a good idea will be able to stand without much help from mr gates or mr jobs & all. no matter how much software or how cool the pc or imac looks it will not make a bad design better. I have mentioned this before on this blog and I am sure will again. but it seems still that many fellow professionals still think that having the best software and the fastest processor will make students learn more and even make their ideas better.

so much of the work I am involved in is teaching applications and so much of that process seems to teach out the creativity that everyone I believe is born with. don't misunderstand me I am in no way wishing for time to go back or that I am anti-digital applications. just simply that their use should be monitored and encouraged when appropriate. it is all too easy for the software to take over the think and the design process. I think that planning is key the design/creative process is best when the initial thinking is not constrained by what a piece of computer software can do. more that once the thinking and design ideas are established it is time to make use of the machines whatever they maybe.

paul bennett >> hospital experience >> teaching?

I know again it might seem that I have taken the easy option and posted a video and an old video (2005) at that but I still think this has real relevance, especially the hospital experience section. perception is a consideration often forgotten.
I have spent the last few hours talking to parents of students I teach & wonder how their experience of sitting in front of a talking-head (me) measures up to expectation.
it would be very interesting to discover how much of the communication is actually received, as well as how much is relevant or even helpful. I will have to get back to you on that one.

more software >> more options >> learn less

I have thought a lot about the post I made about powerpoint a couple of days ago and realised that I am finding myself going backward in the use and application of software. a few years ago the functional skill of pupils reaching the end of KS3 was pretty good, in that they would know what was need to present information in a clear and concise way whether through the use of words or images.
there software knowledge was easily measurable and obvious.
I have just spent the morning teaching macromedia (well adobe now) fireworks, and the results to the untrained eye look pretty good, but the problem is the student don't really know why they are doing what they do.

it could be argued that it doesn't matter (if it looks right it is right) but I think it does, with every new piece of software and upgrade the thought process becomes less and the software create the answers for you so you don't have to think.
I have even go to the lengths of getting pupils to draw out how they want their finished work to look on paper before they touch a computer then they have to make the computer do what they want it to do, it makes it harder but the end result is better.

what I like about this >> paper first please

when you are teaching, especially if you happen to be in a good position/location and with a very well equipped room. (technologically I mean). it is all too easy for students to be controlled by the programmes they use.

macromedia flash for instance is initially a reasonably easy programme to use and students will happily make stick men move around a screen, but their work all looks the same and if it were on paper they would discard it. used well flash is fantastic and we are in a position to create very complex layered animations with students who are still in their early teens.

dreamweaver does the same it takes control of what the user is doing, and as the students are so used to having templates to fill in as with bebo, myspace and facebook they just follow and any creativity is lost.

please don't misunderstand me the programmes I mention are very good indeed, but only when the user is in full control. (I hate wizards as they used to be called).

that is why I keep the students away from the computers until they have planned what they want, with pen/paper and paper, this gives them time to think before the computer channels them in to the way it works. it sounds simple but I am scared that we could have a whole generation who expect everything to have a template. so they don't learn they just follow a few simple directions.

then they have to make the programme do it. it is of courses much harder but brings much better return, and that is why I like this......

a working drawing.

long day >> blog - presentation >> myearthdream

it's been an interesting day, seems that I could have actually introduced a whole new (small) group of people to blogging. in a short presentation I gave this morning I used dgthekneelo (blog) to illustrate a form of communication (blogging). the reaction that it got actually surprised me as I was presenting to the bebo generation for whom myspace, youtube, (msn) instant messaging are part of daily life. they went very quiet and became very interested while I was speaking and within minutes of being able to log on to the computers in the teaching room where creating their own blogs. I genuinely had no idea that a brief mention of blog-land would have this effect.

mike who is working with me on this two day enterprise education project I think was equally surprised at the speed of which blogging was received almost as if it were new. for me I was surprised that they weren't doing it already.
having said all this I have to refer back to davidthedesigner's blog of a few days ago questioning why people stop blogging in remains to be seen how long their newly created blogs last?


I had originally meant today's blog to be about
myearthdream I have for along time been a fan of F1 cars and motor racing (many years ago while at art school my friend ham would drive up and we would go to thruxton in hampshire to watch motor racing) but in the last years I have felt uncomfortable about liking it. even though have I always watched the grand prix on the TV and will be getting up in the middle of the night to watch the australian GP this weekend. I feel a little guilty, as even watching people driving very fast in cars that cost millions of pounds (to develop) round and round for an hour and a half does seem a little silly especially as I can't see it being very carbon friendly. however myearthdream have come up with a nice idea to help me think that it is not so bad and I would image thousands of others feel a little less worried about liking motor racing. I have made a pledge.
N.B.I am not fanatic I just like the way the cars look!