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Maggie Jarvis

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  1. John, I have no intention of 'playing', but I am interested in making learning activities more attractive for the sort of students I teach. If that means using animated characters that will engage low ability students then I feel that this is an appropriate use of this sort of technology. My question was not intended to be frivolous in any way.
  2. Has anyone experience of using Microsoft Agents or Cam Studio? Having just read something about these in last week's TES on-line mag I thought I'd take a look.....Cam Studio appears to be discontinued (no free downloads seem available), and I am rather at sea in knowing how to use the 'Agents'!
  3. I'd like to repeat John's question about electronic whiteboards - "do they result in good teaching?" ... and add another question - how many teachers who have regular access to these 'interactive whiteboards' actually use them as they were designed, i.e. interactively, with children being part of the learning process and excitement that the technology can provide? These are extremely expensive items of equipment that the government is so keen to get into schools - are they simply electronic white elephants?
  4. The homework debate just won't go away will it? We had one on his forum a year ago! Here is the link for anyone who might be interested: What is the value of homework?
  5. Maggie Jarvis

    CASE

    Over the last few years we have used elements of CASE and found that parts of it certainly have improved the 'thinking skills' of many of our KS3 students, as well as their ability to more clearly express some of their thoughts. We only adopted about 10 of the early exercises, however, as our students are not very able and would have found later exercises impossible to understand. For able students it offers some very challenging activities to really get them thinking! It is certainly worth using in any science department but staff do need to try it out together first to really get their heads around it, and the exercises do need to be used sequentially and regularly to really see the benefits.
  6. I don't disagree with these sentiments Andy, but I also have a huge problem with the amount of money such inspections must be costing. The cost of the actual inspection team's training, time, paperwork, expenses and other associated costs is, doubtless, astronomical - probably one reason why the system is to be changed. The additional time and energy spent by each school's teaching and non-teaching staff, the additional paperwork and other expenses are not counted within this expenditure of course. However, the combined cost, in terms of monies and time that should be spent in actually providing better conditions for all within the school system, is a national scandal!
  7. So do I Andy! It even started to get to me this week despite all my good intentions, and I consider myself to be pretty level headed. I don't think any of us has been unaffected by this experience but I really wonder whether the replacement system will be any sort of improvement. The threat of a visit from those 'men in black' will be with us constantly if they come in every 2 years at a couple of days notice...surely not a recipe for reducing teacher stress or for improving the education of the students in our care!
  8. Here is a link that you might find useful Jean - Teachernet is a source of all sorts of 'goodies' re UK education! Teachernet Happy reading!
  9. EAL stands for, as has already been said 'English as an Additional Language' and seems to be the most recent way of describing school children whose first language is not English. It is being used by school AEN departments (Additional Educational Needs - used to be SEN...Special Educational Needs) as the required and correct way of describing such children. AEN and ethnicity has to be one of the identified factors when Ofsted calls...you are required to have your class lists showing levels and types of AEN students and those with EAL so that you can demonstrate how you personalise their learning. See...simple really!
  10. EAL stands for, as has already been said 'English as an Additional Language' and seems to be the most recent way of describing school children whose first language is not English. It is being used by school AEN departments (Additional Educational Needs - used to be SEN...Special Educational Needs) as the required and correct way of describing such children. AEN and ethnicity has to be one of the identified factors when Ofsted calls...you are required to have your class lists showing levels and types of AEN students and those with EAL so that you can demonstrate how you personalise their learning. See...simple really!
  11. Of course there are a whole lot of rather less serious poems - this one is dedicated to you historians...... "My teacher wasn't half as nice as yours seems to be. His name was Mister Unsworth and he taught us history. And when you didn't know a date he'd get you by the ear And start to twist while you sat there quite paralysed with fear. He'd twist and twist and twist your ear and twist it more and more. Until at last the ear came off and landed on the floor. Our class was full of one-eared boys. I'm certain there were eight. Who'd had them twisted off because they didn't know a date. So let us now praise teachers who today are all so fine And yours in particular is totally divine." Thanks to Roald Dahl for that one
  12. I love the pictures that Wordsworth creates in 'The daffodils' and in this one here, 'Upon Westminster Bridge' Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty: This city now doth, like a garment, wear The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie Open unto the fields, and to the sky: All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. Never did sun more beautifuly steep In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill; Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!
  13. The whole issue of pictures is potentially a thorny one, I agree. Isn't it sad that we have to be so cautious? I think that as a general rule pictures of students in groups, not identifiable by names or email addresses etc accompanying the pictures, and wearing normal clothing, should not present a problem. However, if in doubt, it is best to ask parents for their views/ permission before going ahead. It might be advisable to restrict any student pictures to those areas of the site that are password protected for access by school members only. School websites do attract unwanted interest, I know. We were aware, some time ago, of people who were looking at our school site through carrying out searches for 'college girls' - our school's name, at that time, contained those words. I don't think that they were innocently looking at a school site to benefit their intellectual development!
  14. Thomas Hardy - particularly liked 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. Also Chaucer's 'Prologue' to the Canterbury tales ... in the old English with a brilliant teacher who helped us appreciate the wonderfully expressive words it is extremely funny! Also really enjoyed 'The Moon's a Balloon' - autobiography of David Niven which made me laugh out loud on a crowded commuter train! Also 'The Hobbit' - Gollum scared me rigid as a child. Also Journey to the centre of the Earth, and War of the Worlds - started me on a lifelong love of scifi books. The list goes on and on! I wonder how people manage to go through most of their lives not really enjoying books. I know quite a few of those!
  15. Blair has said that he will serve another term but not a fourth - he plans to resign before that election takes place. As was remarked upon during a conversation I heard on the radio yesterday, this is a first that a PM plans his resignation as part of his manifesto for the next term of office....a case of 'vote for Blair as he is leaving'!?
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