Do What You Like....

...Just make it about the work!

For better or for worse, that's my general Classroom Management strategy.

When I was seventeen and a 'wet behind the ears' civil servant, the Deputy Area Manager said something to us new recruits that appeared quite flippant.  However, it was a statement of his style and it has stuck with me ever since.

He said, "Dance on the tables for all I care.  Just get the work done!"

Admittedly, I didn't dance on the tables but I did get the work done (mostly).  So, fast forward to teaching.

I encourage collaborative and cooperative work in my learning environment.  Equally, I understand that I am limited to the current furniture and fittings and this arrangement doesn't always fit my collaborative philosophies.

So I allow my students to 'break out'.  My openers tend to conclude with, "Sit where you want.  Sit on the floor; sit under the tables for all I care.  Just make it about the work."

(By the way, students are not allowed to sit on the tables)

Some students take me up on the offer.  I have a few 'regulars' who like to sit on the floor, leaning against one the walls.  Very occasionally, I get a couple who actually sit under the tables.  They start off believing it is a bit of fun, but they soon adopt this space as a working/learning space.

All I am trying to achieve is to make the learning environment more about the student than about me.  'Sitting in rows' suits me as someone who needs to maintain order and control, but it doesn't necessarily suit the student who is trying to achieve the best learning possible.

I haven't had anyone walk into my lessons recently, but a few years ago, my old headteacher did walk in to see 3 students sat under a bench.  Although an eyebrow was raised, he did understand and appreciate what I was (am) trying to achieve: to create a personalised learning environment in a not-so-flexible environment.

Flipping Meetings!!

Long time, no see.

I have been reading a few discussions in LinkedIn and I bumped into one about Flipping The Meeting Place ... as opposed to the Classroom.

One or two of us agreed that meetings weren't always productive; one suggested we adopt a Japanese approach and 'stand up' during meetings, etc.

This was my small contribution.  In particular, watch the TED video at the end.  There's a lot to be learned here.

You're (we're) right. Despite how we are trying to change how learning environments look, behave, interact, etc too many of us still insist on 'traditional meetings' (and yes, I too don't alway get to a meeting and know what the agenda is. I've even been to meetings where the agenda was published but, despite over an hour of discussion, not one item of the agenda was discussed! Anyway...)

In my last two schools, I was/am the leader of some form of 'IT Group' (call it what you like: steering committee, tech team, whatever). In both groups, I introduced a cloud space (Google Sites, in fact, in both cases). Although the structure of each is different, the principle remains the same: We can meet anytime, anywhere ... asynchronously! Equally, importantly, the discussion points we make, the edits, the content all become 'the minutes', without anyone having to go back and type them up.

My point is: even with this online tool/service, there is an expectation that we should meet regularly, face-to-face. Yes, we are sociable beasts and this is great; but how many meetings have you been to where they start at X o'clock and finish 90 minutes later? How can all these meetings last exactly 90 minutes? Every week!? (Although that also begs another educational argument: How can/Why should all students be simultaneously hungry at noon, or all have 'fun' for 30 minutes at the same time during recess/break-time).

I digress. I do intend to get the group together, but not necessarily every month. And maybe I'll try the Japanese approach discussed :)

Finally, has anyone seen this TED Talk video? It's 15 minutes longhttp://www.ted.com/talks/jason_fried_why_work_doesn_t_happen_at_work.html

Be good.  Be great.