Home Games

Just spent a fascinating hour with a group of students on a games design course. The students (from Chalfonts CC) were at their homes as were their teachers and I. The course leader (Roxana) was in Chicago and another presenter Greg Trefry was speaking from New York. All done using webconferencing with simple webcams and domestic broadband - worked easily. The system used was Adobe Connect and is free for all Bucks schools (talk to Ian Usher). Afterwards it was intriguing to discuss pedagogy with the presenters. For instance, how you can work through the lack of feedback through body language and expression which you get in a classroom but not in a webconference. And I learned so much about games and the principles of designing them. Really interesting evening - yes evening, it was all done between 7.30 and 8.30pm.

A taste for teaching

Everything I write here seems to be retrospective these days. Its about old chords being struck - again. This time by a post from Ian Usher about a Teachers as Writers programme led by Simon Wrigley. What intrigued me was a comment by Simon about the origins of the course in the belief that "That teachers of writing should write". It just reminds me of taking teachers and pupils to stay in Willy Lot's cottage in Flatford to paint together for weekends; of a story-telling course just for teachers, of courses to develop the use of personal journals (art and writing) in Paris and Amsterdam, of teachers and a theatre company developing and presenting theatre in education pieces, of teachers exhibiting their own digital art at Waddesdon Manor. I agree with Simon, and always have, if we want to give children a taste of creativity then I guess we need to know what it actually tastes like ourselves - a taste for teaching.

A Principal Blog

I have long felt that we (educational professionals) should be embracing and using new technologies and exploring the opportunities offered by web2 technology - its why I write a blog - to 'model' what I think is important if I can. So it was good to see that I am not alone and that the Principal of Chalfonts Community College is also blogging. See Sue Tanner's blog here.

Artists and Illustrators: a wasted resource?

Spent a couple of days in a primary school last week - based in the school library. Apart from the fact that it was good to be back in a primary classroom (even sitting on the floor with year one) it was interesting to be reminded of all the brilliant children's book illustrators there are. I always used to remind primary teachers of the wealth of resources and examples of artists' work they have available in their libraries. However, too often 'artist' means dead, white, male, 19th century painters usually from Paris apart from Van Gogh the well known victorian.

Childrens' book illustrators are artists with work which is probably more accessable to children than Toulouse Lautrec and working from texts can provide a richness and sense of purpose which will stimulate childrens imagination and creativity. The techniques illustrators use are often rooted in a free use of materials that we would love children to emulate.

Carols, Culture and Creativity

Just been to the Mandeville School carol concert at St Mary's Church. A really good evening with a programme that ranged from Islamic Nasheeds, raga through Bollywood dancing to Silent night with all the best carols in between. Also really good to hear (as a visual learner I was going to say 'see') teacher colleagues original arrangements and personal creativity. There are times when I really miss being a teacher in a school.

Primary Sculpture

I saw a really good sculpture in a primary school recently (Long Crendon).

The design came from children and it was made by a local sculptor welding the shapes cut from assorted pipes. Brilliant rusted orange colours. It is about values and the leaves that hang from the branches contain words by the children.

I've not seen anything like it in schools but it did remind me of the wonderful African 'tree of life' sculpture welded entirely from old guns, pistols and ammunition clips that was in the British Museum a couple of years ago.

Gormley and Chalfonts at Saatchi

Just a brilliant evening and thanks to Chalfonts Community College for inviting me. Went to the private view of the Saatchi Schools Prize where James Coffey a student at CCC was in the shortlist. The work was a delightful and simple animation entitled Miracle. Following the theme of low tec but sensitive I have added my mobile phone photo of Antony Gormley announcing the prizes and praising the students and their teachers. Technically rubbish but rather Gormleyesque in a modest sort of way I thought.

We (teachers) speculated that for the rest of his life James will visit the Saatchi Gallery and privately note that his work had also hung on that wall in that spot which is currently displaying an Emin or whatever. Evenings like this make it worthwhile. Well done Chalfonts Art Department.