Intellectual Ancestries and Philosophies of Education

For educators dieting on a menu of progressive blog posts and viral education videos, it’s enticing to think that we might just be at a tipping point for transforming education. The Clever Sheep (back in April) cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Truthout.org When I read the above sentence from Rodd Lucier I laughed aloud. I have thought about his quip many times... Read More

Optimism & Resilience: Third Annual Conference

Our annual school conference is a special way to end the year on a high that we all look forward too. I blogged about our last two events and this year we again pilgrimaged to the Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong. It was another rewarding experience. Reverend Yo opened the day with Tai Chi and the conference with some words of wisdom, including her own journey. cc licensed ( BY... Read More

Representation, Composites and Frank Hurley

“…had  a long argument with Hurley who wants to be able to make ‘composite’ pictures for his exhibition” * CEW Bean Introduction I love the story of Frank Hurley (1885-1962). He left school at 12 and escaped the drudgery of a working class life at the turn of the century through a passion for photography and his gift of the gab. He sailed to Antarctica... Read More

Summer Holiday Reading

Because in my memory of childhood there is always the smell of bubbling tar, of Pinke Zinke, the briny smell of the sea. It is always summer and I am on Scarborough Beach, blinded by light, with my shirt off and my back a map of dried salt and peeling sunburn. There are waves cracking on the sandbar and the rip flags are up. My mum, brown as a planed piece of jarrah, is reading... Read More

Voting: Edublog Awards

                                                   GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!  Read More

My Edublog Award Nominations for 2011

The Edublog Awards provides opportunity  to grow the community of edubloggers and let others know how professionally and personally important they are to us. It also gives one a chance to update blogrolls. I couldn’t believe that I had left some of my favourite bloggers of my roll. Apologies…and apologies to any friends, colleagues and bloggers that I leave of this... Read More

Year 10 English in 2012

cc licensed ( BY SD ) flickr photo shared by Josef Grunig I am excited at the prospect of teaching Year 10 English next year; the first time since 2006. The NSW Board of Studies has been instructed to abolish the School Certificate and there are great opportunities for teachers, with the extra time suddenly available, to be innovative in their approaches to programming for the... Read More

Teachers and Social Media

“If you can’t dance a step, you can’t teach it, and if you can’t teach it – we might as well all pack up and go home.” from STRICTLY BALLROOM cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Dell’s Official Flickr Page I read Steve Wheeler’s PLN post, ‘Tools of the trade’ this weekend and it made me wonder, what real penetration... Read More

‘The New Science of the Teenage Brain’

The current October edition of National Geographic has an interesting article on the ‘teenage brain’. I do not usually buy this magazine but waiting for ferries in Hong Kong, and the incredibly inexpensive cover price compared with Australia, has led me to buy a couple recently for articles of ongoing interest. The New Science of the Teenage Brain does not tell educators... Read More

Discovery College

My Twitter buddy @dimac4,  otherwise known as Dianne McKenzie, kindly invited me to visit her school, Discovery College today. I love checking out schools and this was a good opportunity, while we are staying in Hong Kong, on our return from Europe. I love quotes and walking into this school of 1000 students noticed: cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Darcy... Read More