[English] are we simply too busy to be using this list for networking?

[Kathy Skidmore]

I share your concerns ­ and my answer is time, time, time. I¹m 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 ­ I¹m 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 ³indulgent² rather than necessary.
Wiki of resources? We¹ve 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 aren¹t an
answer, although they look cool.
Cross-marking??? The biggest pain ever. I do it badly.
Formative classwork? The more we base reports in the middle school on DATA ­
the more kids will see how to avoid doing anything beyond what¹s the bare
minimum. We just have to keep plugging on and explaining the intrinsic value
of any task we set...most of my kids won¹t take it as a given that what we
do has value.
Cheers
Kathy Skidmore
Wanganui Park SC Shepparton


On 27/07/10 6:46 PM, "Jenny Gilbert" <nenifoofer at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello everyone
>  
> 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 Œold hat¹?  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 don¹t
> 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 IWB¹s 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.
>  
> Here is a sampling of things that come to mind that might engage some
> interest-
>  
> 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 Najaf¹s 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?
>  
> Got any great classroom activities that have worked for you that you would
> like to share?
>  
> 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.
>  
> I have also just embarked on constructing my work within the Moodle CMS.
> Anyone else using MOODLE? Got any tips or suggestions?
>  
> 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? 
>  
> 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?
>  
> How is benchmarking/crossmarking managed in your school?
>  
> 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. 
>  
> Cheers...
>  
>  
> Jenny Gilbert
>  
> English Coordinator, St Joseph's College Mildura
> Wiki <http://msgsresources.wikispaces.com/>
> Diigo <http://www.diigo.com/user/nenifoofer>
> Jens PLN at Live Binders <http://livebinders.com/edit?id=6500>
> Twitter - @nenifoofer
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> 
> 
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