Inside Learning http://www.insidelearning.net The Learning Podcast Wed, 15 May 2013 21:20:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Inside Learning is the definitive UK site for discussion, comment, review and argument about the world of education and learning. Run by Matthew Boyle, Jay Helbert and Stephen Rogers. Matthew Boyle no Matthew Boyle matthew@matthewboyle.net matthew@matthewboyle.net (Matthew Boyle) The Learning Podcast Education, Learning, Leadership, Innovation, Schools, Classrooms, System, Reviews, News, Reform, professional development, complexity Inside Learning http://www.insidelearning.net/wp-content/art.jpg http://www.insidelearning.net Episode 112: “superiors inspect inferiors” http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1681 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1681#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 21:09:05 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1681 Sir Ken Robinson doing one of his engaging TED talks.  Ken Robinson, TED talk: How to Escape Education’s Death Valley

 

 

 

Unfortunately Fearghal is unwell tonight so Matthew and Steve talk through some news stories.  Matthew lays short odds on Steve doing Gove stories, he is not disappointed, and introduces a timer to limit our ramblings.

Does the government really want innovation in free schools? By Rachel Williams in the Guardian

Teachers resistant to CfE’s new thinking, say experts, TES article

Leadership methods ‘stifle innovation’, Keir Bloomer in the TES

Gove’s claims of teenagers’ ignorance harpooned by retired teacher by James Ball, in the Guardian

Jimmy Wales: Boring university lectures ‘are doomed’, by Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent

Summer-born pupils ‘should have exam scores boosted’, by Judith Burns BBC News education reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1681 0 Curriculum for Excellence,Gove,Ken Robinson Sir Ken Robinson doing one of his engaging TED talks.  Ken Robinson, TED talk: How to Escape Education's Death Valley -   -   -   - Unfortunately Fearghal is unwell tonight so Matthew and Steve talk through some news stories. Sir Ken Robinson doing one of his engaging TED talks.  Ken Robinson, TED talk: How to Escape Education's Death Valley       Unfortunately Fearghal is unwell tonight so Matthew and Steve talk through some news stories.  Matthew lays short odds on Steve doing Gove stories, he is not disappointed, and introduces a timer to limit our ramblings. Does the government really want innovation in free schools? By Rachel Williams in the Guardian Teachers resistant to CfE's new thinking, say experts, TES article Leadership methods 'stifle innovation', Keir Bloomer in the TES Gove's claims of teenagers' ignorance harpooned by retired teacher by James Ball, in the Guardian Jimmy Wales: Boring university lectures 'are doomed', by Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent Summer-born pupils 'should have exam scores boosted', by Judith Burns BBC News education reporter                   Matthew Boyle no 43:41 Episode 111: The night the kettle died http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1672 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1672#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 21:37:01 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1672 Tonight we begin a really interesting conversation with Alison McLoy, DHT at Kirkintilloch High about parental involvement. We say start, since once the conversation began it became apparent that there are still  many questions and avenues to be explored on this theme.  So we look forward to Alison’s return to discuss this further, May 29th.

Good golly, it’s Molly, could be one title for the podcast as we get a puppy interruption as michief Molly jumps on Steve’s lap and chews the headphones, in between planting kisses.

In the news: Headteachers and stress, article by Steven Robbins, in “Educational leadership programmes in the UK: Who cares about the school?”  Management in Education, 27, 2, 50-55

Matthew loses sleep over BBC journalism about sleep deprivation

Barry Schwartz “The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less”

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1672 0 parental involvement Tonight we begin a really interesting conversation with Alison McLoy, DHT at Kirkintilloch High about parental involvement. We say start, since once the conversation began it became apparent that there are still  many questions and avenues to be explor... Tonight we begin a really interesting conversation with Alison McLoy, DHT at Kirkintilloch High about parental involvement. We say start, since once the conversation began it became apparent that there are still  many questions and avenues to be explored on this theme.  So we look forward to Alison's return to discuss this further, May 29th. Good golly, it's Molly, could be one title for the podcast as we get a puppy interruption as michief Molly jumps on Steve's lap and chews the headphones, in between planting kisses. In the news: Headteachers and stress, article by Steven Robbins, in "Educational leadership programmes in the UK: Who cares about the school?"  Management in Education, 27, 2, 50-55 Matthew loses sleep over BBC journalism about sleep deprivation Barry Schwartz "The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less" Matthew Boyle no 59:13 Episode 110: The Seventh Hat http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1663 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1663#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 21:20:15 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1663 Tonight we talk to Graham Leicester, Director of International Futures Forum. He is a former member of HM Diplomatic Service and has subsequently developed a special interest and wide experience in areas of governance, innovation, education and the arts.  Graham talks about his latest work with Scottish schools, and futures thinking in the public service in general: Transformative Innovation.

The International Futures Forum site here

Link to the book Transformative Innovation in Education

An interesting background article written by Graham here

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1663 0 Graham Leicester,IFF,Transformative Innovation in Education Tonight we talk to Graham Leicester, Director of International Futures Forum. He is a former member of HM Diplomatic Service and has subsequently developed a special interest and wide experience in areas of governance, innovation, education and the arts. Tonight we talk to Graham Leicester, Director of International Futures Forum. He is a former member of HM Diplomatic Service and has subsequently developed a special interest and wide experience in areas of governance, innovation, education and the arts.  Graham talks about his latest work with Scottish schools, and futures thinking in the public service in general: Transformative Innovation. The International Futures Forum site here Link to the book Transformative Innovation in Education An interesting background article written by Graham here   Matthew Boyle no 58:40 Episode 109: We’re not going on a summer holiday http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1650 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1650#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:58:10 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1650 Unfortunately we were not joined by our scheduled guest tonight so we dove into a spontaneous news programme full of the wisdom and  profound insight that you have come to expect from insidelearning.

First up is Mr G’s speech about needing longer school hours and shorter holidays;

Gove urges longer days and shorter holidays for pupils By Judith Burns BBC News education reporter

But is he misleading us about the evidence? See

Matthew is psyched out by psycho story. or rather by the way it was promoted

We get into a discussion about early years education and insidelearning’s lack of knowledge about the evidence base.  This follows from Liz Truss’s call for more French style nursery education and the reactions it provoked: here here & here

Bill Boyd’s blog

 

 

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1650 0 Bill Boyd,early years,Gove,school hours and holidays Unfortunately we were not joined by our scheduled guest tonight so we dove into a spontaneous news programme full of the wisdom and  profound insight that you have come to expect from insidelearning. - First up is Mr G's speech about needing longer sc... Unfortunately we were not joined by our scheduled guest tonight so we dove into a spontaneous news programme full of the wisdom and  profound insight that you have come to expect from insidelearning. First up is Mr G's speech about needing longer school hours and shorter holidays; Gove urges longer days and shorter holidays for pupils By Judith Burns BBC News education reporter But is he misleading us about the evidence? See Matthew is psyched out by psycho story. or rather by the way it was promoted We get into a discussion about early years education and insidelearning's lack of knowledge about the evidence base.  This follows from Liz Truss's call for more French style nursery education and the reactions it provoked: here here & here Bill Boyd's blog       Matthew Boyle no 43:09 Episode 108: “Beware of the Blob” http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1631 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1631#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:51:38 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1631 Tonight Matthew and Steve discuss the poor state of educational debate in the UK and how teachers are not best served by snapshot inspections and the terrors of audit regimes conducted by senior leadership teams under pressure to ‘perform’.  Whilst we acknowledge that accountability and striving for the best we can be are essential, how can evidence be gathered, disseminated and then coached in a developmental manner when there are single modes of data collection and a lack of trust in the profession to self-improve?  A tone that is antithetical to learning from each other is set politically through such outpourings as Secretary of State Michael Gove’s extraordinary article in the Daily Mail. Why is he reduced to caricaturing and name-calling opponents of his reforms rather than engaging with the arguments and any evidence that critics might present?  A 100 academics who were signatories to a letter in the Independent newspaper warning about the potential dangers of English curriculum reforms, were variously labelled as the “Enemies of Promise”, “Marxists” and characterised as the Blob.  Contemporary educational debate does not seem to draw upon any thing we have learnt about what makes good learning.  Apparently David Laws made a more conciliatory speech about teachers – can he teach his boss something about public debate?

Gove Daily Mail article

100 Academics

David Laws

 

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1631 0 Education debate,Gove,Reinventing Schools Reforming Teaching Tonight Matthew and Steve discuss the poor state of educational debate in the UK and how teachers are not best served by snapshot inspections and the terrors of audit regimes conducted by senior leadership teams under pressure to 'perform'. Tonight Matthew and Steve discuss the poor state of educational debate in the UK and how teachers are not best served by snapshot inspections and the terrors of audit regimes conducted by senior leadership teams under pressure to 'perform'.  Whilst we acknowledge that accountability and striving for the best we can be are essential, how can evidence be gathered, disseminated and then coached in a developmental manner when there are single modes of data collection and a lack of trust in the profession to self-improve?  A tone that is antithetical to learning from each other is set politically through such outpourings as Secretary of State Michael Gove's extraordinary article in the Daily Mail. Why is he reduced to caricaturing and name-calling opponents of his reforms rather than engaging with the arguments and any evidence that critics might present?  A 100 academics who were signatories to a letter in the Independent newspaper warning about the potential dangers of English curriculum reforms, were variously labelled as the "Enemies of Promise", "Marxists" and characterised as the Blob.  Contemporary educational debate does not seem to draw upon any thing we have learnt about what makes good learning.  Apparently David Laws made a more conciliatory speech about teachers - can he teach his boss something about public debate? Gove Daily Mail article 100 Academics David Laws     Matthew Boyle no 48:26 Ep 107: The Glennie Blacklist http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1623 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1623#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:00:21 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1623 Dear friend of the ‘cast Anne Glennie joins Matthew to chew over this weeks news including the “by diverse means” report, more confirmation of summer-born babies bias, some tech nervousness in NEET youngsters and some lower than expected reading levels in Secondary learners!

 

 

The title will be a blow for the generally popular and loveable David Cameron who apparently suffered slipped-halo-syndrome during our 100th episode recording; you’ll have to listen for this shocking revelation. (He is in the good company of Michael Rosen and our own Jay Helbert:-))

Secondary learners shunning difficult books.

Summer-born babies inequalities surface again.

The new “By Diverse Means” report news item.

http://reformscotland.com/public/publications/bydiversemeans1.pdf

Poor IT skills hurt youth job chances.

Thanks very much to Anne for tonight’s “two hander” dramatised version of the ‘cast. If you want more of Anne, then the blog might be a good place to start.

http://anneglennie.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

http://literacyadviser.wordpress.com/

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21747206

 

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1623 0 Dear friend of the 'cast Anne Glennie joins Matthew to chew over this weeks news including the "by diverse means" report, more confirmation of summer-born babies bias, some tech nervousness in NEET youngsters and some lower than expected reading levels... Dear friend of the 'cast Anne Glennie joins Matthew to chew over this weeks news including the "by diverse means" report, more confirmation of summer-born babies bias, some tech nervousness in NEET youngsters and some lower than expected reading levels in Secondary learners!     The title will be a blow for the generally popular and loveable David Cameron who apparently suffered slipped-halo-syndrome during our 100th episode recording; you'll have to listen for this shocking revelation. (He is in the good company of Michael Rosen and our own Jay Helbert:-)) Secondary learners shunning difficult books. Summer-born babies inequalities surface again. The new "By Diverse Means" report news item. http://reformscotland.com/public/publications/bydiversemeans1.pdf Poor IT skills hurt youth job chances. Thanks very much to Anne for tonight's "two hander" dramatised version of the 'cast. If you want more of Anne, then the blog might be a good place to start. http://anneglennie.wordpress.com/           http://literacyadviser.wordpress.com/   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21747206     Matthew Boyle no 50:33 Episode 106: Where the magic happens http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1611 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1611#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:19:42 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1611 Tonight Steve is in conversation with Sarah Burgess and Manjit Shellis, Directors of Learning for the UFA.  The University of the First Age is a national charity that was set up by Tim Brighouse in 1996, and from its roots in Birmingham it has gone on to work with over 750,000 young people and 6,000 adults in 50 regions, to create inspiring learning for all.  A large part of the UFA’s work is enabling young people to enrich their learning experiences through developing their leadership capabilities.  Peer tutoring and leadership of learning are key elements and these are discussed on the programme tonight.  The UFA have recently been involved in the National Citizen Service.

 

Links: http://www.ufa.org.uk/

http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/

Also Sarah’s blog link: https://sarahlburgess.wordpress.com/

Sarah can be contacted on sburgess@ufa.org.uk and Manjit on mshellis@ufa.org.uk _ they do brilliant training, get them in!

Also check out: Whole Education : http://www.wholeeducation.org/home/

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1611 0 Peer Tutoring,UFA,Young peoples' voice Tonight Steve is in conversation with Sarah Burgess and Manjit Shellis, Directors of Learning for the UFA.  The University of the First Age is a national charity that was set up by Tim Brighouse in 1996, and from its roots in Birmingham it has gone on ... Tonight Steve is in conversation with Sarah Burgess and Manjit Shellis, Directors of Learning for the UFA.  The University of the First Age is a national charity that was set up by Tim Brighouse in 1996, and from its roots in Birmingham it has gone on to work with over 750,000 young people and 6,000 adults in 50 regions, to create inspiring learning for all.  A large part of the UFA's work is enabling young people to enrich their learning experiences through developing their leadership capabilities.  Peer tutoring and leadership of learning are key elements and these are discussed on the programme tonight.  The UFA have recently been involved in the National Citizen Service.   Links: http://www.ufa.org.uk/ http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/ Also Sarah's blog link: https://sarahlburgess.wordpress.com/ Sarah can be contacted on sburgess@ufa.org.uk and Manjit on mshellis@ufa.org.uk _ they do brilliant training, get them in! Also check out: Whole Education : http://www.wholeeducation.org/home/ Matthew Boyle no 43:44 Episode 105: The Alchemy of Assessment http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1599 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1599#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:06:49 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1599 Tonight, we are delighted to be joined by Joe Wilson, Head of New Ventures at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.  A title our muckraker general, Matthew, described as windswept.http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/35666.html    http://www.joewilsons.net/

Joe talks to us about issues around assessment and the Curriculum for Excellence. The flexibility evident in some of the colleges and various forms of on-line assessments can pre-configure some transformational changes in learning.  One of the delights of this conversation was discovering the Thurstone Pairwise Comparison, sounds like a real ale, but underlies a serious challenge to how we traditionally consider marking. Thurstone’s Pairwise Comparison, more info at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pairwise_comparison

In the news:

Summer-born struggle: Why August children suffer at school, by Caroline McClatchey http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15490760

Governors story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/feb/27/ofsted-chief-paid-school-governors

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1599 0 assessment,Curriculum for Excellence,SQA Tonight, we are delighted to be joined by Joe Wilson, Head of New Ventures at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.  A title our muckraker general, Matthew, described as windswept.http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/35666.html    http://www.joewilsons.net/ - Tonight, we are delighted to be joined by Joe Wilson, Head of New Ventures at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.  A title our muckraker general, Matthew, described as windswept.http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/35666.html    http://www.joewilsons.net/ Joe talks to us about issues around assessment and the Curriculum for Excellence. The flexibility evident in some of the colleges and various forms of on-line assessments can pre-configure some transformational changes in learning.  One of the delights of this conversation was discovering the Thurstone Pairwise Comparison, sounds like a real ale, but underlies a serious challenge to how we traditionally consider marking. Thurstone’s Pairwise Comparison, more info at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pairwise_comparison In the news: Summer-born struggle: Why August children suffer at school, by Caroline McClatchey http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15490760 Governors story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/feb/27/ofsted-chief-paid-school-governors   Matthew Boyle no 48:23 Episode 104: Move fast, break stuff http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1591 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1591#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:20:20 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1591 We are delighted to be joined tonight by Charlie Love, creator and author of Glew.  Charlie is really passionate about his work and it’s fantastic to think that such creative people are teaching and working in schools with young people. Charlie talks about creating a ‘one-stop’ solution to provide a scaleable, responsive and secure platform for learning.  The chat raises all sorts of issues about on-line learning and the challenges of a national intranet in Scotland, but which are relevant wherever you are listening.  Glew can be found at http://glew.org.uk/

In the news tonight:

Children with disabilities illegally excluded from school, by Janet Murray in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/feb/18/children-with-disabilities-illegally-excluded

The Nesta website: http://www.nesta.org.uk

School wi-fi ‘not fit for 21st Century learning’ By Judith Burns of the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21476385

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1591 0 exclusions,glew,Glow,ICT We are delighted to be joined tonight by Charlie Love, creator and author of Glew.  Charlie is really passionate about his work and it's fantastic to think that such creative people are teaching and working in schools with young people. We are delighted to be joined tonight by Charlie Love, creator and author of Glew.  Charlie is really passionate about his work and it's fantastic to think that such creative people are teaching and working in schools with young people. Charlie talks about creating a 'one-stop' solution to provide a scaleable, responsive and secure platform for learning.  The chat raises all sorts of issues about on-line learning and the challenges of a national intranet in Scotland, but which are relevant wherever you are listening.  Glew can be found at http://glew.org.uk/ In the news tonight: Children with disabilities illegally excluded from school, by Janet Murray in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/feb/18/children-with-disabilities-illegally-excluded The Nesta website: http://www.nesta.org.uk School wi-fi 'not fit for 21st Century learning' By Judith Burns of the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21476385 Matthew Boyle no 1:03:23 Episode 103: Two things strike me… http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1579 http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1579#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:17:06 +0000 admin http://www.insidelearning.net/?p=1579 Unfortunately Jay could not be with us tonight, which means Matthew and Steve get to ramble a bit more and start to imagine how we might reconfigure education for a more equitable system.  Probably beyond our capacity to think clearly but you have got to start somewhere.  Matthew, in the de Bono tradition, lobs Steve some thinking provocations, some of which are ‘virgin’ on the ridiculous.

News links:  Education Endowment Foundation Toolkit: http://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/toolkit/about-the-toolkit/

OECD story that starts it off with 2 key points, which turn into…

BBC story UK weak in school fairness rankings By Sean Coughlan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21411251

 

]]> http://www.insidelearning.net/?feed=rss2&p=1579 0 education and social justice,EEF toolkit,equity,OECD,Pupil premium Unfortunately Jay could not be with us tonight, which means Matthew and Steve get to ramble a bit more and start to imagine how we might reconfigure education for a more equitable system.  Probably beyond our capacity to think clearly but you have got ... Unfortunately Jay could not be with us tonight, which means Matthew and Steve get to ramble a bit more and start to imagine how we might reconfigure education for a more equitable system.  Probably beyond our capacity to think clearly but you have got to start somewhere.  Matthew, in the de Bono tradition, lobs Steve some thinking provocations, some of which are 'virgin' on the ridiculous. News links:  Education Endowment Foundation Toolkit: http://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/toolkit/about-the-toolkit/ OECD story that starts it off with 2 key points, which turn into... BBC story UK weak in school fairness rankings By Sean Coughlan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21411251   Matthew Boyle no 53:17