Comments for MrHood.net

Comment on Who’s he? by The Deciple

The Deciple — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:34:11 +0000

Hey Mr Hood. Long time. Nice to see the site is still up and running the wiki looks good to. Still in the Army myself. Anyway yeah, cool site.

Comment on Who’s he? by 'The Sheriff'

'The Sheriff' — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:26:01 +0000

Mr. Hood! You must be moving up the ranks in Education now… “Principal Teacher of Physics at Glenwood High School”- i’m impressed. Good to see that the site (although now at a different address) is still going strong, and presumably getting used by the majority of Glenwood High by now!

I’m now into the 3rd year of my degree and still not even half way through my life in higher education…

Kind Regards,

The Sheriff

Comment on CPD by Mr. Hood

Mr. Hood — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:55:14 +0000

Thank you for this, David. I’d certainly appreciate a copy of the paper you mention. I may not be a protagonist but there are people just along the corridor here who would appreciate support for their case.

Comment on CPD by David Gilmour

David Gilmour — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:20:01 +0000

In East Lothian, there has been positive feedback on a decision some time ago to install IWBs in secondary maths classes. That was driven by maths teachers, and central funding was found to do it. I'll dig out a post-investment review paper the maths adviser did at the time and send you it if you like. Engagement was, if I remember right, a key benefit. Time will tell, I suppose, to what extent novelty might be a factor in that increased engagement. Costs are significant, though, and it would be much harder to do in the current climate. Maybe we will have to start looking at radical alternatives!

Comment on CPD by Mr. Hood

Mr. Hood — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:00:59 +0000

Thanks, Jackie. You are referring to David Gilmour’s tweet this evening:

“You might be missing the richest CPD seam: simple things like working with digital images, audio, video may be needed most”

which are, of course, important. I’ve added some of these areas to the list above.

Re: the IWB remark. This remains a controversial issue, but separating the display aspect from interactivity is important. You are right in that the ability to display good images, video and graphics is an essential tool, especially in teaching physics. It can be very effective but it is often used by lazy (or ill-equipped) teachers as a substitute for proper hands-on learning or imaginitive teaching. The “WB” part of IWB is a brilliant asset.

I remain convinced that the horse-feather rare occasions when true interactivity is needed in the classroom does not justify the enormous price tag you have to pay for the “I” part of IWB. I have yet to see the need in any part of the secondary mathematics or physics curriculum (or aCfE). Where it is useful, the functionality can be had much cheaper.

Comment on CPD by J Boyd

J Boyd — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:59:43 +0000

I’m inclined to agree with @dgilmour. The simpler the better. There a few on here that are very relevant & perhaps there are many practioners & theorists would be interested. As for IWBs, I’d never teach without one now. It’s changed my teaching & learning for the better. Ten fold. Perhaps it is different and more suited in the primary sector but it is invaluable to engage the children, especially the usually disengaged pupils. The possibilities are endless. I’d imagine physics teaching comes to life even more than usual with an IWB? no?

Comment on mrhood.co.uk by David Gilmour

David Gilmour — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:18:50 +0000

Sorry to hear this. By way of therapy, I recommend a book I discovered at the Edinburgh Book Festival at the weekend, "What's the Point of School?", by Guy Claxton. I have only dipped into it so far, but have seen enough to be pretty sure you'd find it supportive. The preface starts, for example, with a quote attributed to Winston Churchill: "The only time my education was interrupted was while I was at school."