The Weblog of Dean Groom
One of the many things that became very apparent in over one hundred days of media-saturated lockdown is just how much attention I have given to it. I know the experts all say and it turns out, I defeinately secummed to the toxi-media-cycle. Lockdown has been aweful for millions of people. I have the good Continue reading Getting back into your life
If you are in lockdown as I am, then you re now involved in Distance Education. For some, this means attempting to replicate the school meta, in a medium designed to supersede it. Online VCs tied to time-tables, content ported from paper to PDF all serve to replicate school and overcome the issues of a failed Continue reading Ghosts in the machine
The possibility of a lock-down looms over Sydney as the newest variant of Covid-19 evaded NSW quarantine aided by the various political failures of state and federal government. Like many people, I ve come to live with and accept the reality that I have to live with a political class willing to experiment with a society Continue reading Head in the sand isn t a good policy.
Each year, I conduct a little piece of research with the year 7 digital technology class. This is some 180 students from a wide range of backgrounds. In this, I try to work on what skills and experience they have with online platforms, different operating systems, hardware and exposure to programming and robotics. This year Continue reading 2021 Post Covid Year 7 E-Skills
It s that point in the year, one which has been more crazy than any other year I can remember where people ask how can we improve? In my case, it s improving software design development results. The answer, given the data of the last decade available to me is remarkably simple more girls Continue reading More Girls Needed
This week, I was in a web conference listening to the speaker talk about the educational Covid-curve. I wondered just how much external non teachers could have possibly learning in six weeks to come up with that, but apparently it s a thing. This then led to discussions about practice, or rather to apparent jump to Continue reading Will students move out of lock-down to return to locked-down…
This post is about making the most of the one day a week with students. Given we re not teaching normally I see this as an opportunity to ask questions in what is going to be a very short window of opportunity. I know some teachers have moaned this is baby-sitting etc., but I think that Continue reading Clarifying and Probing the Covid-Classroom
Australia s media reports about the relative success and failure of what it describes incorrectly as home schooling . This almost always focuses on parental opinions. As news media is propelled by advertising revenue, it is unsurprising they amplify messages of a return to normal . The corona virus pandemic has resulted in rapid, unprecedented changes in consumer Continue reading The battle for…
The conflicted state of education is a power contest between compliance and leadership. It s far too simplistic to see this as another home vs campus debate or a traditional vs digital skirmish. This a boss fight at the highest level between federal and state authorities in which learning is little more than scenery. Decisions about Continue reading Under Pressure
I m about a week into online classes officially. Working online isn t new to me and much like riding a bike, it s mind shift more than anything. I recent years, I ve gone about my classrooms in my own way. I endure PD about the bleeding obvious and can t remember the last time anyone checked what I Continue reading The future is here. Please restart your classroom.