Campus session, Wednesday 12th February

Well and eventful session this turned out to be!! Firstly, I had used the website to access the Uni library and found that I could have books posted to me, but as I was going there anyway, I put a request in for a couple of books that Alan had recommended. This meant that I just had to go to the first floor of the library with my reservation number and collect the books. I can also post them back when I have finished with them! I intend on using the postal service for a couple of other books as well to aid with my search for literature.
Secondly, the session was very informal with only three of us there and we spent the first half talking about "Love" which had come from a survey that the Uni are holding with reference to the "Love of Learning". We wrote the word "Love" in the centre of the page and came up with all sorts of ideas that the word could mean. So, lust, desire, passion or even its misuse instead of the word "like". We also added the fact that companies take advantage of the fact that "Love" is something that people would like to be on the receiving end of, so internet dating agencies. We chose this as our main focus from the many topics that came up from the initial word.
We were then talking about what we would want to discover about dating agencies and how that information would benefit ourselves and others.
So in summary we looked at something that was a massive topic, provoking many thoughts and ideas and eventually narrowed it right down to one topic.
This exercise was to help us to understand how to find our enquiry topic, starting with a broad topic which produced many questions and ideas and then hone in on the one that we found the most beneficial to research.
After this, we talked individually about our enquiries and any questions or issues that we had. We could have done with a another hour or so, but I did come away feeling enlightened and focused again!
Apart from not being able to get home afterwards because of the weather causing the trains to be cancelled it was a good day.
Points - Use the moodle for "Summon" to find literature. Use the library to find books that you cannot find e-editions of.
Above all - COMMUNICATE!!!

Campus session

Well, I was determined to reach the Uni tomorrow for the campus session despite the threatened tube strike. I had it all planned out, my train to Euston then forego my quick shopping visit to head straight to Hendon on the overground train. However, not needed now as the threatened strike has been suspended. Yipppeee!! London Oxford Street here I come albeit for two hours!! See you there!

Britains First medal on Snow!

Well here I am starting Module 3. I have been reading other people's Blogs over the last day or two and it appears that I am not alone with all my feelings at this point. As usual, at the beginning of the module it seems like I have a huge mountain to climb to achieve my goal. Just like Jenny Jones must have felt a few weeks ago when she was injured with a severe concussion it must have seemed like she had a huge mountain to climb to get to the Olympics. However she reached the peak yesterday as she took to her snowboard to win a medal for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics.

Now I am not expecting an Olympic medal, but this is my medal, a reward for my professional practice and my highly improved skill of reflective practice.

I am determined to use my inquiry to help me improve my understanding of teachers thoughts on the children that they teach and the changes in the reactions of children to people in authority. Hopefully, my research will help other teachers understanding and improve their teaching practice.

As I said in my Youtube presentation in Module 1 "Its not where you start it's where you finish!" so here's hoping that the next 12 weeks see me progress smoothly up the mountain!!