Welcome back teachers

Welcome back to your first Ed Tech class of 2013.  Just 4 weeks on campus then then block 3 of Teaching Practice and you will have completed the PDE!  How was teaching practice for you this block? How did you feel returning to the classroom after the Christmas holidays?  How are you feeling now having had 5 long weeks of lesson planning, long nights of preparation and organising as well as the demands of your 'usual' life?  I do hope it was a great experience albeit tiring but energising at the same time.  I am looking forward to the next 4 weeks and our final visits in TP Block 3. :-))

This is Reuben the latest addition to the Silke household.  Any tips on house training welcome!

What is it like being out of the classroom?

Welcome back to Ed Tech. Having spent the last 5 weeks in the classroom with the constant pressure of lesson plans hanging over you what is it like being back in college for 2 weeks? How does it feel getting up in the morning knowing that today you will be on the 'other' side of the desk? Would you actually prefer to be back in school? Do you miss the buzz of the school and classroom or are you just relieved that the pressure and focus is off you for 2 weeks?

You have all been working very hard and have made tremendous progress. I have seen some wonderful lessons on my school visits and I know that it is due to your hard work, attention to detail and conscientious effort. Only 4 more weeks of TP left until Easter and I wish you all the very best in your classrooms.

Cooking up a storm!

The Docks Galway Summer 2009

Block TP almost completed!

Well tomorrow is the final day of the 5 weeks of Teaching Practice for the Block Release students. A very busy time for you all as well as a second visit from your TP supervisor. The terrible weather at the beginning of the term didn't help so I am sure you will all be most relieved that it's finally at an end.

Educational Technology classes begin again next Wednesday 10 February and we are planning to introduce Webquests and their usefulness for use withing the classroom. Very exciting stuff.

Personally I have enjoyed the TP visits and was most relieved to make the trip to Letterkenny in relative mild weather. The Gap always makes me nervous as I feel that north of that line there is a different climate to the rest of the west coast!! I was amazed to see the water at from the middle of the lake actually frozen even though the sun was shining. It was an amazing sight.

Easter 2009

Easter holiays are zooming by with just 3 weeks of the academic year left. I feel that this year passed faster than usual - perhaps it was the 5 weeks Block Release after Christmas that made it feel like such a short year. This year PGDE students submitted a sample of a handout, acetate and powerpoint and can now submit whichever one they achieved the best marks. There was peer assessment after each submission.

Good luck as assignment deadlines continue to loom. No Christmas or end of year examinations this year - continuous assessment instead. Wonder how that's going to pan out? Block TP now over with just one TP visit for Sequential students remaining. Scary to think that PGDE 2008-09 is almost at an end.

Ed Tech Deadline Looms

Today we had a full hourse for the final Ed Tech 'Help' Session where students had the opportunity to upload their Ed Tech assignments to Blackboard. For the most part it worked well and there were no problems. The only problems arose when some students had to zip their powerpoint projects but overall it was a successfuly day. The atmosphere was different too with a definite feeling of relief in the air. Now all we have to do is to correct all 245 literature reviews PLUS the practical assignment. There was a choice of doing Powerpoint, Webquest or a Flash quiz. It will all very very exciting..... Watch this space.....

Education Technology Assignment Deadline Looms

On Thursdays we provide some 'Help Tutorial' sessions for PGDE students and the closer the deadline the greater the crowds. This year's deadline is Friday 30 November and the 3 sessions this morning were very civilized. Just about 10 people per session. What is interesting to see is that most students have opted to to the Powerpoint option for their assignment. I have only seen one Webquest so far although Bonnie has 11 students involved in her Second Life Assignment option. I don't know very much about Second Life but from what I have heard from Bonnie it sounds interesting if a little 'different'. Bonnie meets with her group every Wednesday night for an hour 'online' and they teleport themselves off to various parts of the Second Life Universe for discos, hot tubs and marqueritas. Sounds like fun!

The Block students are out on their first sesson of Teaching Practice so I am heading to Donegal after class this afternoon to start my visits tomorrow - all going wel. One never knows one's plans will be dashed due to a school football match, school retreat or half day..... it's like living on the edge.

Sunny Sunday

Today is Sunday and its the first day of sunshine for ages. The Prom in Salthill is mobbed with everying making the best of possibly one of the last bright days we will have before the Winter roars in.

Tomorrow Kevin and I are heading to Dublin for a meeting in UCD and hopefully will be able to show this post to the meeting. Maureen and Marie were in Galway on Friday and presented certificates to the teachers who participated in last year's NQT Induction programme in the west. It was a lovely ceremony and the evening went very well.