Author Archives: tsheko
The joy of student group dynamics
When I started at Melbourne High School several weeks into third term last year, I inherited the co-curricular group, Competition Writing. Co-curricular participation is a big thing here. Yes, it’s compulsory but the students are eager to be involved in … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Our students were told to get lost – online
Yes, it’s true, our blogging boys were told by Nick to ‘get lost’ – Have you ever had the pleasure of being lost? Not just a bit disoriented, but utterly, irredeemably confounded? The excitement of not knowing what’s literally around … Continue reading
Filed under blogging
Flashmob – Copenhagen Phil playing Peer Gynt in the Metro
Jenny Luca normally shares the flashmob goodness. I couldn’t resist this one. Just imagine hearing this spontaneous performance.
Filed under Interesting
2 Year 9 classes, a teacher, a teacher librarian, a couple of Australian YA authors and lots of blogs
This is a progress report for our blogging Year 9s (2 classes). Let me first say that I am loving, loving the learning that’s happening with this cohort. Following Michael Gerard Bauer‘s guest post, ‘I blog therefore I am‘, Nick … Continue reading
Filed under blogging, Collaboration
Writing – audience optional
For a very, very long time we have accepted the fact that teaching writing to students takes place without an authentic audience. Students’ writing is the property of one subject teacher, and if the students are lucky, they’re permitted to … Continue reading
Filed under writing
Videos + rich class discussion = Vialogues
https://vialogues.com/vialogues/play_embedded/3402/?width=540 A retweet by Jenny Luca informed me of Vialogues – Vialogues supports meaningful discussions around video. Video can be a powerful instrument with which to engage an audience. However, while videos are essential to the equation, the conversations surrounding … Continue reading
Filed under 21st century learning
London Unfurled iPad app – beautiful example of creative options
Here’s a wonderful example of the creative potential of iPad apps. Matteo Pericoli has created a guide to London through pen and ink sketches. In 2009 Matteo Pericoli (author of the bestselling iconic book Manhattan Unfurled) made an intensive twenty-mile … Continue reading
Filed under iPad
What’s our future – school libraries and librarians
It disturbs me that we are not seriously thinking about the future of school libraries. This statement will receive incensed objections; teacher librarians are, after all, talking about changes in what we do and how we do it at conferences … Continue reading
Filed under Libraries
Writing for an authentic audience, being real. Thanks Isobelle Carmody.
Nick and I are very excited about the way our Year 9 blogs are developing. But before I go any further – Isobelle Carmody has visited us in a guest post!! Isobelle has been very gracious and has taken the … Continue reading
Filed under 21st century learning, Collaboration
Open minds welcome – Year 9s begin blogging
I’ve noticed that Melbourne High School has two mottos. One is ‘honour the work’ and the other, perhaps more recent, is ‘more than just marks’. The school is a hub of co-curricular activity which attests to that. And yet, not … Continue reading →
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Filed under 21st century learning, blogging, Collaboration
Tagged as blogs, commenting, English, global, learning, Nicholas Fairlie, peer audience, Sinikka Laakio-Whybrow, thinking, year 9