[Still] struggling to get our head around social media in schools…
In February this year, I had the opportunity to ask over 1000 senior students from about forty schools across Australia, which statement best summed up how their school taught social media. I’m assuming schools would do this, as I can definitely recall a subject called Media Studies when I was at school back in the nineties… I asked… Which of […]
Read MoreAre You Too Busy For a Thumbs Up?
This was originally written for my regular Generation Next Column. It has a handful of comments there that you might like to read. My 5-year-old son attends swimming lessons each and every Sunday. It’s a busy pool with multiple classes going on at once. During lessons parents sit around the pool and watch their offspring […]
Read MoreWhen teachers say they’ve not heard of Sir Ken
A couple of weeks ago, I asked a room full of Australian teachers if they’d heard of Sir Ken Robinson. One person tentatively raised their hand – and even then, he didn’t seem too sure. I was seriously taken aback, not least because I use Sir Ken’s name in some of my promotional material! Dan […]
Read MoreDriving down Social Media Way
This was originally published in my column for the Generation Next newsletter. Another week, another call for social media to be part of the Australian schooling curriculum. For what it’s worth I wholeheartedly endorse any approach that is more proactive and meaningful to the way we currently address social media in schools. Imagine for a […]
Read MoreThree Things That Could Get You Sacked
(But do them anyway!) 1. Stop Planning Not entirely, obviously. But relax a little. Give your students some choice in what they do, how they do it, when they do it and with whom they will work. Try having students design the way in which they will demonstrate their understanding. Or if you’re feeling very […]
Read MoreWhen’s the right time for change?
I was asked a great question on Twitter this week in response to a tweet I put out as part of research for a piece I’m writing. @danhaesler should teachers/ principals be circulated – fresh ideas or is 'if it's not broke don't fix it' a Better mentality?#acuedu_p — Kimberley (@kcolquhoun1987) May 25, 2012 I’m […]
Read MoreThe Kids Are Alright – In the National Times
Fed up with the constant media attacks on our youth, I sat down at the laptop and wrote this. And the National Times decided to publish it… Another day, another media attack on the youth of Australia. This time it’s the turn of Channel Nine’s A Current Affair, to have a report, “All parents should […]
Read MoreWhat is it with Rs in Education… This week: Root Rating?!?!
The (anti) social media habits of schoolkids have taken up a lot of newspaper and online column space this week in Australia. The latest craze to take hold of our teens (doesn’t it seem like only last month it was planking?) is to “rate roots” via ingeniously titled “Root Rater” pages on Facebook. For the […]
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