Observation 4 managers course

I have recently been attending the observation for managers course and found some really useful work on language. Like Ryan Wilde (H&B) I was fascinated with The Milton Model and the presupposition of language. I have been embedding these models of language gradually into my training sessions; Using phrases such as "Once you've completed that section we will move on" and "I am looking forward to reading your blog" It's slow progress at the moment as it requires a lot of effort on my part to remember to do it. I definitely need more practice and intend to keep trying them out.

Thanks Bob for introducing me to these.

One minute paper

I have used the one minute paper a few times now and I have changed the questions slightly. I have added a question asking if the participant plans to try out what they have learned and reworded all the questions stating that I want them to be specific in their answers. This has resulted in improved evaluative comments from staff which I can now use to either improve the sessions or support staff once the session has finished.

I have also added the questions to the comments pop up box as this makes it easier for the user. I do however have to remember to remove this again after each session otherwise it stays the same for all posts.

Stage 1 - Complete

I have nearly completed my Project plan. I need some help on how I am going to measure the benefits the project will make.

I've made a start.

I've decided to try out the one minute paper first and as I will always be somewhere with access to computers, I've set up a blog to use to capture staff comments at the end of sessions. I can't promise I will do this every session but I'll have a go.

This is useful for me as I am much better managing digital files than paper ones. I've also linked it to this blog so everything is kept together and if you are interested (Why are you reading it then if you aren't?) you can take a look at the answers I am getting.... and more importantly what I am doing once I have the answers.

I do usually ask the first question Geoff suggests at the end of teaching sessions anyway (What's the most important (or useful) thing you have learned in this session?) I don't often use it in training sessions though. I wonder why that is, never thought about it before. I am sure this one minute question is one I copied from Jennie Kitteringham when I went through the 7407. Anyway now I'm going to try out both.

Geoff Petty session at Kensington Town Hall

From yesterday's Geoff Petty session I have decided I would really like to develop assertive questioning and also try out the one minute paper. Although I thought I did use assertive questioning already the session has made me realise that I could still develop it further (and do it much more effectively).

Sorry staff but this is going to be tried out on you during some training sessions. I might get you to do it publicly via a blog or discussion board though, just to encourage you to engage with the technology too and to ensure I have all the information collated in a place I can find it.

As a bonus, hopefully by the end of this year of supported experiments many of you will be comfortable navigating your way around a blog and will have started to read and comment on those of your colleagues. This week alone I have introduced about 50 staff to blogger and each has set up a blog to write reflectively about their own supported experiment. It's really funny how once they are set up most people are like rabbits caught in headlights; they just freeze and say "I don't know what to write". We will see loads of first posts that say something like "This is my first blog". Don't worry it gets easier. I originally argued with Martin King that why would I want to waste my boring life reading about his boring life. Funny though.... sometimes I do now... Some people even take the time to read my boring posts.

I've also been setting up divisional del.icio.us accounts and will start to encourage you to use this to share your favourite sites and resources (del.icio.us is use a web page that allows you to all save your favourite sites in a structured way). Don't forget you also have a discussion board to share ideas within the teams. How is a discussion board different to a blog I hear you mutter (or less politely - What on earth is she on about now) ..... The blog is yours to decide on a topic for the post, others can then comment on your thoughts. On a discussion board anyone can start the topic for discussion and anyone can reply to it.

Overall I really enjoyed Geoff Petty's seminar, but I was a little disappointed that the two references to e-learning or ILT were made using ICT teachers in the example (page 32 and 40 in the pack). To me it made it seem as if ILT is only useful to teachers teaching in an IT classroom. I hope you realise though that at EHWLC we are extremely lucky in the range of technology all teaching divisions have available to them and the support they can get to use it from ILT Trainers, Champions, Advisers the design team and LRC staff to name a few etc....

On a brighter note though I spoke to Geoff Petty and told him about the blogs that we are hoping staff will use to write about their supported experiment. He was very interested in these and has agreed to read some of them and make comments. A nice touch I thought. Come on then everyone write something interesting!