#becomingeducational 1

Well – that’s Week One (W1) over – what do you think of it so far?

Hopefully there was a WELCOME – and some adventure – a little bit of fear? Well, we are becoming educationalists!

Talk to the Object

To get the ball rolling, the group produced 20 questions to ask Tom, the Module Leader (who bravely acted as today’s ‘object’).

The questions were great – ranging from ‘How will we be assessed… and how many assessments are there on the course?’ through ‘What is a workshop… what is the ‘inquiry’ part of the course – is the course more practical or more theory based?’ … ‘What is an educationalist – how is an educationalist different from a teacher’ … ‘What’s more important – the government or the student?’ … ‘Why study education… and can an educationalist change society?’ (Yes we can!) and ‘What is a peer mentor?’ (Check out Sameera’s blog for an idea: http://themetrogirl.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/peer-mentoring-in-practice-ss5073-week-1/)

By the end of the morning – and through the magic discussion – we’d covered the course, its design, the assessments, some hopes and fears … (Um… we’re going to have to do a PERFORMANCE?!?! You cannot be serious?) – and Tom doled out packets of porridge. (We said there’d be prizes!) Here’s a quick breakdown of the Projects and the Assessments:

PROJECTS

Reading – Make it fun

Yes – you are expected to read – a lot… And you will probably resist!! BUT – you will find articles that actually move you – that will influence the sort of teacher you will be… Record your reading in a Dossier – as a Subject Dictionary – and as Comics. Make it relevant – and make it memorable.

Writing – Blog it!!

Everybody worries about academic writing – not just you!! Writing regularly about your learning develops confidence – improves your understanding – and GRADES! So – set up a blog – and write briefly but powerfully about what we do each week – check out:

WordPress: https://wordpress.com/

Weebly: www.weebly.com/

Blogger:https://www.blogger.com/

Develop a Digital Me

The world is digital – we are studying and teaching in the digi-verse. We want you to set yourself a digital challenge – and tell us about it (Presentations W12!) – some tips:

• Find the Digital Storytelling website http://ds106.us/ with a view to producing creative digital resources based on your Research Project. Get started here: http://ds106.us/handbook/ or via the quickstart link: http://ds106.us/handbook/success-the-ds106-way/quick-start/
• Use #ds106 ‘Daily Create’ challenges to develop creative and technical skills – Explore #ds106 assignments – find one that would make a great project – do it!
• Use Zeega.com to make a great artefact – check out Terry Elliot’s one on learning: http://zeega.com/162387
• Do a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). There are free MOOCs on everything from Quantum physics to Song writing – usually from four to six weeks long. Find a MOOC – do it – reflect on it. Tip: Check out https://www.coursera.org/courses
• Check out: Five Habits of Highly Creative Teachers – FREE – STARTING NOW: http://t.co/8LdIwN5gIN
• Produce a student guide on how to search the Web for information or how to use a blog as part of your reflective learning
• Set up a FaceBook study group/use FaceBook as a Reading Dossier – and tell others how…
• Find educationalists on Twitter – follow their posts – read their websites – help other students to do the same.

 End of year Performance: Three Groups – Three Weeks – Three Great Shows

Across the year – in groups – you will plan, develop, produce and deliver an end of course performance (Weeks 25, 26, 27). Get as creative as you want. Devise theatre, music or dance productions. Devise a set of presentations or interactive workshops. Produce an art exhibition… Do anything that will engage, inform and entertain us; that connects to teaching, learning and/or assessment; and that challenges, stimulates and extends our thinking on what it means to become an inspiring, emancipatory educationalist.

ASSESSMENTS

Portfolio Components (30%):

Weeks: 3, 9, 15 formative assessment of logs and/or other portfolio items

Week 30 – final submission of at least three portfolio components (logs/blogs, reading record, digital artefact, Record of Year Performance notes) with brief commentary (30%)

Research Project (30%) – W19; W29:

• Proposal 1000 words – week 19 (10%)
• Report (and reference to Resource) 1000 words – week 29 (20%)

Essay 1500 words – week 30 (40%)

‘To what extent has the module ‘Becoming an Educationalist’ prepared you for the reality of becoming an educationalist? Justify your answer with reference to at least three aspects of or activities on the course.’

HAVE SOME FUN!!!