Some Interesting Reading
I came across this article this morning in my Google aggregation site NYT ARTICLE and found the content most relevant to the conversations I have had with students over the past 6 months, my own children at home and their friends.
After reading this I immediately re-viewed Don Tapscott’s vidcast which I posted June ‘09 as part of our New Scheme program. Interesting to see the parallels and the divergence in thinking between the two.
I am developing a little survey for our Stage 3 community based on the arguments made in the article and by Don Tapscott. These results will be used to discover ‘the best of what is’ in tech use within our sample at LMPS. The first stage of an Appreciative Inquiry. This will be a whole learning community survey (student, home, business houses and staff).
I will publish the results ASAP.
Glenn.
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and Hattie
As I posted earlier I have been researching AI and it’s use in the classroom and change management in general. I am working on integrating the AI process into my Hattie coding system. This is proving to be a very pleasing. Being a narrative based process of positive change AI is working well with Hattie and changing pedagogy. I will continue to post developments through the term. My Hattie coding sheet can be found by searching for Hattie within this blog. It will be the second entry.
I am aiming to develop a reflective programming doc that incorporates Hattie and the principles of AI.
Sustainability of change seen in the National Partnerships is the aim 
Cheers,
Glenn.
Appreciative Inquiry Citations
Here is the peer reviewed article as requested. Thanks Janine.
RYAN, F., SOVEN, M., SMITHER, J., SULLIVAN, W., & VANBUSKIRK, W. (1999). Appreciative inquiry: Using personal narratives for initiating school reform. Clearing House, 72(3), 164. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.
Another easy read which assists in the understanding of the 4d’s is this one.
Elleven, R. (2007). APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: A MODEL FOR ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN STUDENT AFFAIRS. Education, 127(4), 451-455.
Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.
Best of luck J and we will compare notes.
Cheers, Glenn.
Planning for a year without the IWB.
I am presently planning for a year without the IWB I have enjoyed for the past 18 months. Using the IWB has demonstrated the importance of technology and engagement in our classes.
Through my research I have been increasingly impressed with a change management theory called Appreciative Inquiry (AI). If you Google or you tube the term there will be links to follow to give you an introduction. However, my studies have taken me into the nitti gritti of the theory.
I came across an outstanding peer reviewed journal article outlining how AI is being used to plan for welfare and academic achievement in the classroom.
I can certainly see how this theory could be used in my class to enhance the implementation of the QTF and help sustain our involvement in the National Partnerships.
The use of AI and the QTF will certainly be a major part of the programming in my class without the IWB and a consistent theme for this blog through 2010.
I am certainly looking forward to some action research focusing on this.
Glenn.
Summer Break
Hi all. I have been mailed regarding the lack of posts and whether the blog is still operational.
The answer is an emphatic yes.
During Semester Two I had another role that took me out of the class and redirected my attentions toward a managerial focus.
In addition to this I have re-entered the world of academia and am loving it.
Therefore I have been a little lax in posting.
I am back on class this year and will be posting regularly on successes and disasters in my little class.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Hey Sean, hope you like my site
Take care,
Glenn.
Citation for this site
I just received an email from a colleague who picked up some our little site being used in essays and beyond. I am providing the APA citation reference so if you choose to citate you can. If not, I have no probs, I have thrown my thoughts and research out there in the creative commons world.
O’Neill, Glenn (2009) (…. what ever the title of the post is…) . Available on-line at http://qtatlmps.wordpress.com/(what ever is the link) -> The best way is just to copy and paste what appears in the web address and paste it in.
Thanks to those colleagues who feel we have something to offer to the teaching community.
Cheers,
The learning community of LMPS.
NPP and Focus on Reading
I have had a question from an overseas colleague regarding National Partnerships and Focus on Reading 3-6.
One question that is easy to answer is ‘where do you buy the Focus on reading kit?’ – The answer is, it is not a kit. It is a paradigm shift in thinking about how we teach reading and comprehension. The content focuses on teacher pedagogy, not a kit you pull out of box and distribute to the students. The training will take place over a 12 month period. The implementation phase will be a 2 year period.
I will add links to this post of researchers and practitioners providing the theoretical basis for this program.
The second question was ‘What are National Partnerships?’ To put it simply a federal and state agreement on funding for schools which were considered at risk after extensive analysis of the 2008 NAPLAN data. Funding is provided to develop the skills of the teachers to enrich their pedagogy and turn around the performance in the target areas.
Cheers,
Glenn.
Equity in Technology
In a previous life ‘my favourite saying’ I completed an equity in tech audit across 14 K – 6 schools in the Met South West of NSW. This ended up as a major presentation at the NSW PSFP conference in 2001…… or somewhere around then at the University of NSW. My thesis was the disparity in access to tech could lead to a major equity issue for all students. I just spent a wonderful 45 min re-living those thoughts as I loaded Ubuntu (a Linux based operating platform) on a dusty, old, busted, crashed and dented laptop that a neighbour purchased for their daughter.
It now is quicker than this 4 month old bloated machine I am blogging on now.
The wireless card was picked up directly and operated without fuss.
This young year 5 girl now has a cracker machine at a fifth of the cost of a netbook. It will not run office, who cares we have ‘Open Office’ a great platform. Media???? The new Linux distro surprised me. It is good! Malware?? not now, however, I guess in time, maybe never??
Wouldn’t it be great if old laptops could be used in this way to break down ‘The Digital Divide’ . Just remembered what the title was LOL!
Yes I am still an open source fan boy.
Yours in reminiscing,
Glenn.
National Partnership: Focus On Reading
The most comprehensive training program and package I have been involved in. There will be a lot of reflection, re-reading and planning for the successful implementation through LMPS.
It will re-focus our core business back on to our students and our personal professional learning.
Speaking of which, I have started my journal for accreditation at Professional Leadership with the NSW Institute of Teachers. It will be a long process that I believe will be quite a journey and quite rewarding. It appears I am the 23rd candidate for accreditation at this level.
I have been asked why? The answer is simple. I was feeling increasingly hypocritical as I was pushing our new scheme teachers through the process of accreditation and not really having a true understanding of the pressures and the like the teachers were experiencing. There is another reason. I will learn a lot. Pretty simple
Cheers,
Glenn.
Just a wee break and some personal reflection.
Welcome back to Term Four. I have been mailed and asked what is going on. Well…… the simple reason is i needed a break . I have purposely not looked at this site since late September.
I really needed to focus on my role at school and make sure I was doing the best job I could.
I also took this opportunity to observe private sector management styles. This was a real eye opener for me, an opportunity I feel all school leaders should experience. I have a new appreciation for the role of a leader in business and the performance management frameworks they work within. Thanks to Jesper, Johan and Janelle for letting me be a part of your world.
This week Narelle and I are off to the NPP ‘Focus on Reading’ training program. I am sure this program will provide a great deal of fuel for this blog.
Thanks to those colleagues who thought I was kidnapped or the like…
Hi to NZ. Will be there ASAP.
Cheers,
Glenn.
