http://distributedresearch.net/Linda Informal learning, Internet technology and Action research Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:05:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en (cc image by The Majestic Fool) I've got a big dilemma at the moment. Do I stay with what I'm doing or leap off the edge? I've just spent a year teaching NCFE2 to a fine group of teaching assistants. I've built up lots of resources and lesson plans and I'd ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-07-20/do-i-want-to-teach-nvq-teetering-on-the-edge/ Unison finally noticed that teaching assistants are being used as cheap teachers: Christine McAnea, of Unison, said the practice was "endemic" as it cost less to use support staff to cover teacher absence than to buy supply teachers. England schools Minister Jim Knight said teaching assistants eased the burden on ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-06-19/teaching-assistants-or-cut-price-teachers/ But sometimes, like this chap, we can't and we have to make the best of the here and now. It's like a game we occasionally play where we sit outside a city cafe with our expresso, our backs to the road and pretend there's a harbour behind us. ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-05-25/oh-we-do-like-to-be-beside-the-seaside/ I'm following my twitter friend Amy's series on photography with great interest. Amy is always a great source of inspiration and I really love the way she mixes words and images. Her first couple of posts on the theme have made me think hard about why I'm not taking ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-05-21/look-and-listen/ A classic combination of questions in action research. I'm going to use them to try to help me reflect on this blog. I got very bogged down in the 31 day Blog Commenting Challenge. It made me really think about what I'm doing with this blog and, well, why I ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-05-19/reflections-on-the-blog-what-so-what-now-what/ I'm a little behind with the 31 day challenge so this is my day 7 reflection. Progress to date: Audited my own commenting behaviour, Commented on a new blog, Installed a blog comment tracking service, Asked a question in a comment, Commented on a post I didn't agree with Responded to another commenter on a blog ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-05-08/three-things-ive-learned-about-blog-commenting/ Exterminate! Originally uploaded by Cloth cat So they bring these kits out when I don't work in a school anymore :-( Grrrrr! If you do work in a school they'd make a great change from fairy cakes. It'd be a great way to get through to some year 5 or 6 ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-05-07/exterminate-in-a-supermarket-near-you-now/ It's so often the way of it. I'm busy, or a should be :-) , and something comes up that seems worthwhile on the blogs. There are soo many other things I should be doing right now! But I've been feeling annoyed with myself for hardly ever commenting on other ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-05-01/31-day-comment-challenge-day-one-a-comment-self-audit/ Unison gives TAs strike advice Unison has warned UK teaching assistants that they could be disciplined and lose pay if they refuse to turn up for work on Thursday. Up to 7,800 schools will be disrupted with as many as 1 in 3 schools completely closed in some areas. Unison has told ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-04-23/should-teaching-assistants-support-the-teachers-strike/ Music seems to be a bit of a theme on the blog at the moment. An old friend from Ultraversity days, Sarah Hackett, got in touch recently to tell me about her new venture. Sarah did some fine research (First Class in fact!) for her final year project on using ... http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-04-17/music-lessons-web20-style-using-moodle/