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<TITLE>Re: [English] are we simply too busy to be using this list for networking?</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>I share your concerns – and my answer is time, time, time. I’m writing this while in a Yr 12 class doing a practice SAC – any other time at school is taken up with a million other responsibilities – I’m sure many people do student management for example, which eats up your time very easily! I spend email time with other staff from my school: working out SAC topics, discussing approaches to the tasks etc, but doing the same with a wider audience has become “indulgent” rather than necessary.<BR>
Wiki of resources? We’ve found that online chat/resources with students varies depending on the group in that year –we had one group who loved it – the last 2 years kids have not taken it up – and a chat group needs a critical mass to make it useful. In themselves, online resources aren’t an answer, although they look cool.<BR>
Cross-marking??? The biggest pain ever. I do it badly.<BR>
Formative classwork? The more we base reports in the middle school on DATA – the more kids will see how to avoid doing anything beyond what’s the bare minimum. We just have to keep plugging on and explaining the intrinsic value of any task we set...most of my kids won’t take it as a given that what we do has value.<BR>
Cheers<BR>
Kathy Skidmore<BR>
Wanganui Park SC Shepparton<BR>
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On 27/07/10 6:46 PM, "Jenny Gilbert" <<a href="nenifoofer@gmail.com">nenifoofer@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT COLOR="#1F497D">Hello everyone<BR>
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I am really beginning to wonder about the usefulness of this list as a tool for resourcing and networking. Are we using other resources such as blogs, nings, twitter etc??? Is an email list too ‘old hat’? I have been on this list for sometime. Rarely do I get an email that is raising something for discussion, sharing a resource or anything that contributes to networking in a forum such as this. In fact since May the only thing arriving here has appeared to be advertising for other professional networks and their conferences and it seems we get these passed on by several people. I don’t mind this but I really had hoped that I would see more networking for VCE English teachers on this list – Am I missing something somewhere perhaps? Is there a better place where there is lively networking going on? I know there are loads of places for networking if I want to know about MOODLe or IWB’s of language arts/English in general . I am able to get lots of this through twitter, ning networks, other educational sites – but to find a place that is focussed on VCE English is proving to be very elusive. <BR>
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Here is a sampling of things that come to mind that might engage some interest-<BR>
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So...how are we travelling? Is there anyone here doing Encountering Conflict? Found any great resources on the Rugmaker? Being from country Victoria we could not get to Melbourne events and could not afford to have speakers come to us – so we have had to rely on the more broadly available material on asylum seekers and Najaf’s webpage...is there more we could have used? Has anyone got suggestions/ideas for Paradise Road that we can look into as preparation for next year? Is there someone on the list embarking on a new VCE text for next year wishing to network with others doing the same text? <BR>
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Got any great classroom activities that have worked for you that you would like to share?<BR>
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I have been developing a wiki of resources – not the best resource in the world but my students have found it useful in doing their research for supplementary material for their course. I would be glad of some feedback.<BR>
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I have also just embarked on constructing my work within the Moodle CMS. Anyone else using MOODLE? Got any tips or suggestions? <BR>
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Has anyone got a magic wand to solve the problem of students not completing formative classwork activities and leaving it all for only those things that are assessed? <BR>
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Who- like me – is struggling to manage correction, leadership of a large faculty and well trying not to forget I also have a private life there somewhere?<BR>
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How is benchmarking/crossmarking managed in your school?<BR>
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Well – I guess you get the idea...I did pass on the recent email requesting ideas for the Malouf text to a Lit teacher – Hopefully she will know something and I can share. <BR>
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Cheers...<BR>
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Jenny Gilbert<BR>
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English Coordinator, St Joseph's College Mildura<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF">Wiki</FONT><FONT COLOR="#1F497D"> <<a href="http://msgsresources.wikispaces.com/">http://msgsresources.wikispaces.com/</a>> <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF">Diigo</FONT><FONT COLOR="#1F497D"> <<a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/nenifoofer">http://www.diigo.com/user/nenifoofer</a>> <BR>
Jens </FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF">PLN at Live Binders</FONT><FONT COLOR="#1F497D"> <<a href="http://livebinders.com/edit?id=6500">http://livebinders.com/edit?id=6500</a>> <BR>
Twitter - @nenifoofer<BR>
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