International and multicultural views on education

Folk pedagogy and 21st Century Pedagogy

Many of us teachers slip into the trap at times where we share the view that teaching is talking and learning is listening, authority is hierarchical and bureaucratic, assessment is summative, knowledge is factual and procedural, and classroom talk is teacher dominated and per formative.

I've been teaching myself to take a step back and not interfere as much with the learning process. This allows the child to learn through play and make meaningful connections with what they are interacting with. Less manipulated by the teacher. In 2004 Singapore identified a pedagogy framework they wanted to implement. It was called ‘Teach Less, Learn More.’ This framework urged teachers to focus on the quality of their lesson and incorporating technology and not just the quantity of learning and exam preparation time.

There has also been some debate about whether students should be allowed to access the internet during exams. I think this is a great idea. An education technology expert has suggested, as part of an overhaul of exam formats to assess students’ critical thinking skills rather than their ability to memorise information. With Google and a world of knowledge at our fingertips it makes sense that what we now need to be teaching children is how to develop critical literacy skills.

 “We need to ask questions to which there is no answer”, Prof Mitra told TODAY. Allowing the use of the internet and discussions during exams, he said, would sharpen students’ critical thinking skills. The entire world’s library is at one’s fingertips in the digital age, and working styles have also transformed into a greater emphasis on collaboration, he added.

http://www.educationalleadership-digital.com/educationalleadership/201310?pg=40#pg40

Multi Local
I came across this interesting talk where writer Taiye Selasi speaks on behalf of "multi-local" people, who feel at home in the town where they grew up, the city they live now and maybe another place or two. "How can I come from a country?" she asks. "How can a human being come from a concept?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT5OpU2PlS4 

Teaching in Auckland, in the low decile schools especially, you have a rainbow of cultures in your class. I like the three R's concept Selasi talks about. These things connect us to a place and to a group that form our identities. We are not always what we appear to people at surface level.


Hattie on effective pedagogy
Last of all something from Hattie. I like his line, in the clip pasted below, about how a successful teacher asks, "I want to understand my impact". If we are not constantly reflecting on our practice we are stifling our growth. Like many of the deadwood you see floating around for longer then needs to be in the education system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzwJXUieD0U

He talks about how the biggest factor in a child's education is the effectiveness of the teacher. In this talk he covers off the fundamentals for a great personal practice.

The points I picked out from his talk are:
Show students what success looks like when they are starting

Teachers working together

Moving students from what they know towards explicit success criteria

Errors and trust are welcomed as opportunities to learn

Maximise feedback to teachers about their impact

Getting the proportions of surface to deep correct – start making connections from what you know

The Golidlocks principles of challenge and deliberate practice to attain these challenges – not too hard and not too easy. Teaching them so they can deliberately practice.

In this age of information technology it will be interesting to see how teachers' practices develop. We need to keep student focused and move with the times. Updating our skill sets to prepare these children for their bright futures.

How do we lead and inspire?

This morning I meet with a friend for coffee. This friend of mine is a real inspiration to me. When we first meet, 8 years ago, she lived in a rented home and was dealing with a messy break up. Now, she is the director of three web technology businesses and owns her own beautiful home in Kingland in Auckland. She has found love and juggles it well with working sometimes 80 hour weeks.

We got talking about how she started up her bootstrap business and how she manages her time. I was interested in hearing about how she runs her life as she is very successful in doing it. It sounded like a lot of hard work and long hours.

We got talking about leadership styles and I found it interesting that she didn't feel she was a great leader. The approach she took with people is assuming they could do their jobs autonomously and she was very hands off with them. This lead me to ponder the difference between leadership and management in organisations.

Recently in class at Unitech's Mindlab the lecturer discussed with us the idea of fostering a growth mindset in children and the power of different types of leadership. I wonder if this is the case in the business world also. Can we enroll people in the possibilities we want to create for ourselves and inspire them to come along?

I came away thinking great leaders create more great leaders. We can all be a manager and manage a household, our lives and even an organisation. I see leadership in your life and in business is dreaming up the possibilities for the future. 

I am doing a self expression and leadership course which is the final chapter in the Landmark Curriculum. I am creating the future for myself where I run a yogic based early childhood education centre or school here in Auckland. I'm starting to research and plan how I can enroll a community into backing my project.

So how do we become great leaders?

Does it come down to the old adage that we become the five people we spend the most time with?

Here is some great advice from John Cleese on 

How to be what you want to become http://bigthink.com/playlists/the-serious-genius-of-hilarious-comedy

"There's nothing so practical as a good theory." 
Here are ten of them, summarized by Professor Michael Zigarelli, for those who want to lead more effectively.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKUPDUDOBVo

One of the styles of leadership that resonates with me is transformational leadership. It sets out to separate leadership from the leader. Leadership does not reside in an individual but in the relationship between the individuals. This is an interesting approach to leadership, because it stresses that the quality of interpersonal relationships is as important in determining successful leadership as the particular skills and traits of individual leaders. How well do we as leaders get along with everyone?

Within the school, household, our lives or an organisation we want to create a growth mindset in those that we lead. We want those we are leading to become semi autonomous and to be the best they can be. Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0mgOOSpLU


Returning back to my point before, I believe great leaders create the great leaders of tomorrow. In a way the leaders becomes a servant to the people they lead. Great leaders motivate and guide others to achieving their full potential and realise their dreams.

My friend had the dream to start these businesses and it wasn't just luck that it all started working for her. It was because she had the vision and put the effort into taking everyone along with her. Now the question for her is where next?

Finding your Marigold

Greetings everyone and welcome to my blog.

I've just got back feeling refreshed from a stunning 10 day trip to the beautiful Te Wai Pounamu (otherwise known as the South Island).  

While on holiday I did many walks to explore the Wanaka area. Here's a photo I took when I walked to the top of Roys Peak around 1500m up!

I also climbed to see some spectacular glaciers shown here. Its called Rob Roy's Glacier

To get back into the swing of teaching and life I did some readings this morning. I read this inspiring article meant for first year teachers but I think it has some sound advice for us more seasoned teachers to reflect on as well.

http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/marigolds/

After reading this I thought wow sometimes (maybe a lot) throughout my career I've been one of those walnut trees spreading toxicity throughout the workplace. It reminded me we create the world we want to live in even in the workplace! If we want to live an extraordinary life we need to pioneer it and enroll others to come along with us. I hope to be someones marigold this year.

In November last year a friend of mine, who turns out to be my teaching marigold, invited me along to an open evening at the Unitech Mindlab. I was a well matured walnut tree by this time. Resigned and cynical with the whole teaching profession I was about to throw the towel in. I had no intentions of enrolling in the course. She encouraged me to come because she said she didn't want to go on her own. 

I said sure I'll go along but only for the free wine because I don't believe in this and that. You bet I had all the most negative things to say about the course.

Well there was no wine but, after the open home evening I thought there's no way I can miss out on this. Sign me up!

It's been a boost in my career. That walnut tree has been pruned and hacked right down its nearly a stump in the ground. I just need some dynamite to remove the last part of it.

As part of this course I have been embracing, expanding, exploring and sharing all the great ideas they share with me. I had never realised just how out of date my teaching practice was. I mean geez I only graduated from teachers college five years ago surely I was still current right?

I watched this clip on the idea of flipped classrooms. I'm pondering how to set this up in my own classroom for 2016. I'm taking on a year 3 class this year at a new school which is a new challenge in itself for me having come from teaching the senior students.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhq3Yn_QgIA

I like the idea that all the fun hands on learning is done with the teacher and the boring front loading 'stuff' is done at their own pace via a video recording. 

Good luck finding and being a marigold out there in your school. The following clip may inspire you to lead a positive change initiative in your workplace this year. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwxrsngEJDw