You Must Learn

You must learn, but who cares how? Fashions come and go. Trends come in and out like errr trendy clothes that people get told to buy by magazines. Teaching is the same. Here is some recent research which shows that there is no basis to the whole learning styles thing - VAK isn't back, it's whack. You'd have thought that one had at least a little more credibility than Brain Gym or summat, but no, it appears that they're nonsense. (Perhaps the most interesting point in that post is that pushing people out of their preferred learning style can accelerate progress - I like this notion.)

Although. Think about it. There may be little neurological basis for learning styles, but, unscientifically, there's a benefit, surely. Nobody wants to see things delivered in the same way all of the time; we know this from INSET. Everyone appreciates it when it's a little different, rather than the staid old delivery from PowerPoint (although Prezi has rather jazzed that up, hasn't it?). My point is that mixing things up is good. Variety is the spice of life, as the old cliche goes. And it's as much a truism as a cliche.

You must learn, but who cares how? Well. I do, for one. And so do your service users within your learning cubes. They want to be challenged and engaged and to learn and to succeed. I care how this happens, and so do they. I know you do to, so let's keep focused on varied, engaging and purposeful lessons, where all know what they're doing and why. Learning styles may be bunkum, like Gideon's economic policies and qualifications for his job, but they can still teach us a valuable lesson.

You must learn, as someone said, and as the two videos below show, great things can change, move and develop, and remain great.

Basic instructions.

Some bloke once said 'Do the simple things right'. Can't quite place him, but it's a phrase which has always struck a chord with me. Basic instructions, simple ideas, plain speaking. Always more effective than wildly over-inflated, pretentious gobbledygook. As Deleuze has noted, the structures of a rhizome are smooth and non-hierarchical, and so our approach to work should be.

Another wise man has recently compared teaching to a playground. I like this idea; it also struck a chord. You can read his words here. They're worth a gander. The idea of playing, adapting and adopting to the new appeals. It's an approach I think we can benefit from when things seem a little tougher, or more oppressive.

As one of you noted, interestingly, during our reflective meeting last week (notes from which will be available soon) those above, both internal and external, can sometimes 'hamper' what we do - yes, I have read the post-its, and illuminating they are most, Luke. This can be for the best reasons, or for no good reason at all. It can lead to change being uncomfortable, or feeling rushed. This does not have to be the way. Entropy is a part of the universe. Nothing is ever the same. Accept this state of affairs and focus on the core business. The Buddhists and Hindus have a concept called the Maya. The Maya creates illusions of permanence and self which we must cut through to retain our focus on the truth of what we do. The simple truth.

A simple, yet effective, approach to what we do, and how we do it, ameliorates the negative, accentuates the positive.

Be clear and focused. Be mindful and adaptable. Smile, and remember to keep building positive relationships everywhere, because when we go, we either leave a smile or a frown. Life is a test, as the Genius below said...

Business Time

The next term is, as the title suggests, business time. If you know Flight of the Conchords you're probably singing 'It's business time' now. If not, you're not - YouTube it. It's also a not-so-subtle link to someone who opened us up for business and has been the subject of much discussion this week. For open to business, read open to exploitation by market forces and venture capitalists, as system which has led to the selfish culture we see every day, and the nonsensical target driven world we inhabit, pawns to the greater forces of neo-liberal economics and the Kings and Queens of the one percent.

Nevertheless, it is business time. Time for us to do what we do, the way we want to do it.

Business time, for us, is every day, really. But it's time for that final push. Year nine end of KS levels, Functional skills exams. Let's get that year group ready to make massive waves at KS4 - they're challenging but potentially great, from top to bottom. We've got the final preparations for the KS4 Language and Literature courses - let's make sure that we give each child the best chance of success they can possible have, regardless of percentages, matches and league tables. Do what we do.

Business time. We know our business. It's 20 or so hours a week in a classroom, making a difference. Let's focus on enjoying that. Let those responsible take the heat and worry about the nonsense from above. Control what we can, and enjoy what we do.

Business time is every day. It's inspiring, improving and invigorating. It's aspiring, perspiring and enquiring. It's lots of other words too, some of which rhyme, and some of which don't. Regardless of schemes and meters, audience and purpose, let's make the most of our privileged positions and use our time powerfully, positively and productively.

The person that died last week left a pernicious legacy of division - a world without empathy or care for others. Let's rebuild society, in the Spirit of 45, step by step, day by day, and act by act.