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How would you solve the problems in the Education system?

12357…10

Comments

  • #122
    The Black Oil
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,940 CMod ✭✭✭✭The Black Oil


    Dunno. I think kids get pretty pumped up at the thought of breaking away from the school books to use a PC, even if it's older than what they have at home. I'm sure some even like helping teachers sort out some of the minor technical issues.

    Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.

    CMod: Entertainment



  • #123
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Black Oil wrote: »
    Dunno. I think kids get pretty pumped up at the thought of breaking away from the school books to use a PC, even if it's older than what they have at home. I'm sure some even like helping teachers sort out some of the minor technical issues.

    +1, but the facilities need to be there in order for them to be able to use them


  • #124
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    micropig wrote: »
    Why wrong forum?
    Unless you jest then this is the form for you http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=22
    Thanks in advance

    *looks around to see how far away angry mob of teachers are


    From my days in primary school, which was as they say not today or yesterday, I should point out that if someone points at you, laughs, and says "you smell", then saying "you smell too" means you've lost. :rolleyes:

    But 'n'all'n'anyways, your post deserved to be in the humour forum - only it was less funny than a lot of what gets posted there.

    You were having a laugh, weren't you? :eek:


  • #125
    Feeona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,633 ✭✭✭Feeona


    Black Oil wrote: »
    Dunno. I think kids get pretty pumped up at the thought of breaking away from the school books to use a PC, even if it's older than what they have at home. I'm sure some even like helping teachers sort out some of the minor technical issues.

    My boyfriend looks after the ICT for his school. He's just recently started an after school computer club, and will be teaching the children some basic programming. He hopes that they will be able to work on the school website eventually.


  • #126
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Feeona wrote: »
    My boyfriend looks after the ICT for his school. He's just recently started an after school computer club, and will be teaching the children some basic programming. He hopes that they will be able to work on the school website eventually.

    He sounds like a good teacher re taking an interest in after school clubs & has a vision of getting the students to run the website


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  • #127
    #15
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,784 ✭✭✭#15


    micropig wrote: »
    can I ask for a link to show me what the unions are doing about these issues

    You can ask but I won't give you one because

    1) I don't have one and I don't care what the union does. My points stand on their own merit, regardless of what any unions says or does.

    2) The union operates on the basis of defending its members. My points relate to the broader system, so it's not likely that they will have campaigned on, or even agreed with, all the issues I raised.

    3) Given your stated position that money should be diverted from salaries towards resources, why would unions enter such a debate? It's pretty dishonest to slam them for not campaigning on certain issues, and then when they do call for additional resources, they are told that it will come from salaries. That's incentivising unions to keep their heads down and out of the way.

    That said, unions probably have campaigned on such issues. I don't know for sure. There are other posters here who know a lot more than I do about union issues.
    I don't agree the literacy & numeracy plan won't work. Can you explain why you think it won't?

    Because it's a lot of waffle, and it increases the emphasis on standardised testing. It's a rushed response to alarmist media reporting about the PISA results.
    It doesn't address the curriculum at all, save for telling teachers to cut time from other (unspecified) subjects.

    It doesn't really address any wider socio-economic issues in any meaningful way either.

    It is extremely vague in the way it references the evidence for the new policy direction. A basic requirement for policy change is to have evidence or an expectation that the policy will work. They don't offer sources for the research that they ''cite''.
    They could be citing some obscure study as a basis for the N and L plan and we would have no way of knowing.
    Where do you suggest we could get the funding for schools, well stocked classrooms etc(aren't these facilities, I have been talking a lot about improving facilities)

    Yes, they are facilities. My point is that it's not even a topic of debate. Everyone agrees on the need for better facilities.

    I also said that funding won't be available for any of this; It's a bit of a pointless discussion given the state of the public finances.


  • #128
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Deleted User wrote: »
    From my days in primary school, which was as they say not today or yesterday, I should point out that if someone points at you, laughs, and says "you smell", then saying "you smell too" means you've lost. :rolleyes:

    But 'n'all'n'anyways, your post deserved to be in the humour forum - only it was less funny than a lot of what gets posted there.

    You were having a laugh, weren't you? :eek:

    Why not? Surely teachers would be happier with happier students & better buildings & facilities to work with.
    Students would be happier - teachers have more/better resources to when planning their lessons - lesson can be very interesting & engaging in a proper building

    happier students=more engaged students=less behaviour issue=less stress for teacher


  • #129
    Feeona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,633 ✭✭✭Feeona


    micropig wrote: »
    He sounds like a good teacher re taking an interest in after school clubs & has a vision of getting the students to run the website

    He is a great teacher, but extra curricular activities are something that a lot of teachers do whether it's GAA, running, music lessons, singing etc. Extra curricular activities are a nice way to get to know the children outside of school as there's less pressure involved and the children are keen to learn because they're really interested in the topic at hand (if they weren't, they wouldn't be there!)


  • #130
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    #15 wrote: »
    You can ask but I won't give you one because

    1) I don't have one and I don't care what the union does. My points stand on their own merit, regardless of what any unions says or does.

    2) The union operates on the basis of defending its members. My points relate to the broader system, so it's not likely that they will have campaigned on, or even agreed with, all the issues I raised.

    3) Given your stated position that money should be diverted from salaries towards resources, why would unions enter such a debate? It's pretty dishonest to slam them for not campaigning on certain issues, and then when they do call for additional resources, they are told that it will come from salaries. That's incentivising unions to keep their heads down and out of the way.

    That said, unions probably have campaigned on such issues. I don't know for sure. There are other posters here who know a lot more than I do about union issues.



    Because it's a lot of waffle, and it increases the emphasis on standardised testing. It's a rushed response to alarmist media reporting about the PISA results.
    It doesn't address the curriculum at all, save for telling teachers to cut time from other (unspecified) subjects.

    It doesn't really address any wider socio-economic issues in any meaningful way either.

    It is extremely vague in the way it references the evidence for the new policy direction. A basic requirement for policy change is to have evidence or an expectation that the policy will work. They don't offer sources for the research that they ''cite''.
    They could be citing some obscure study as a basis for the N and L plan and we would have no way of knowing.



    Yes, they are facilities. My point is that it's not even a topic of debate. Everyone agrees on the need for better facilities.

    I also said that funding won't be available for any of this; It's a bit of a pointless discussion given the state of the public finances.

    Unions represent the views of their members. If the main issue their members are complaining about is lack of facilities - they why aren't the unions representing their views/

    They campaigned too late. More was there in 2009 to invest in proper facilities - why not campaign then. this issue did not suddenly arise over night

    I don't agree with your views on the numeracy & literacy policy. I think it improves the students vocab. Science, for example can be like a different language (using scientific terms etc to describe things)

    Why rely on their research? Why not actively research it yourself?

    I already suggested where the money could be found.

    Why do you think students mis-behave in class?


  • #131
    The Black Oil
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,940 CMod ✭✭✭✭The Black Oil


    Feeona wrote: »
    My boyfriend looks after the ICT for his school. He's just recently started an after school computer club, and will be teaching the children some basic programming. He hopes that they will be able to work on the school website eventually.

    Good on him and for the programming. In the school I'm familiar with it's not possible to do that because of the other after school activities you pointed out - homework club, art, chess, GAA, running, etc.

    Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.

    CMod: Entertainment



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  • #132
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Feeona wrote: »
    He is a great teacher, but extra curricular activities are something that a lot of teachers do whether it's GAA, running, music lessons, singing etc. Extra curricular activities are a nice way to get to know the children outside of school as there's less pressure involved and the children are keen to learn because they're really interested in the topic at hand (if they weren't, they wouldn't be there!)

    Totally agree -its a great way of getting to know the students

    But every teacher should contribute some thing to extra curricular activities, not just some.

    You kind of proove my point in your next sentence
    Interested children = engaged children =keen to learn


  • #133
    seavill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,620 ✭✭✭seavill


    micropig wrote: »
    Not critising your teaching -Just this issue re a student not able to engage in the work

    If you only found out at the last minute, why did the other teaching not email you the lesson plans they had prepared / not saved on the school system?

    Not suggesting you didn't work hard at preparing the lessons, but am suggesting that maybe the lessons weren't differentiated enough for all students to engage with the lesson



    I think this is very motivated. I am only sorry for you that the lesson plans & IEP's where not saved by the other teacher on the school system & you didn't get a good nights sleep.


    Again my suggestion for money -Reduce the amount of money spent on teachers salaries & increase the amount spent on facilities

    I am still enraged by your attitude, how about you try this for once I AM SORRY I GOT THAT ONE WRONG.

    I am sick of repeating myself in posts as I have explained the teacher was taken into hospital at short notice I am sure their life threatening condition was more on their mind than e-mailing me their plans. They had their laptop at home obviously to do some work at home and as a result was not with me. Think of the obvious answer sometimes its the actual answer.

    Instead of slagging off my lessons, which you did not see how can you even dare tell me whether they were differentiated or not. If you listened to anything I said I was preparing the best I could in a short period of time to have a lesson that was interesting and differentiated at different times. I have given you 2 sentences on my 40 minute lesson what makes you the expert on that lesson.

    You are also slagging off my coleague and friend who was taken very ill urgently for not leaving everything on a plate for me. Just take a point that you were wrong say sorry and stop picking at thigns and diggin a bigger hole for yourself.

    I suggested your suggestion re money back on the first page of this topic.


  • #134
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    micropig wrote: »
    Why not? Surely teachers would be happier with happier students & better buildings & facilities to work with.
    Students would be happier - teachers have more/better resources to when planning their lessons - lesson can be very interesting & engaging in a proper building

    happier students=more engaged students=less behaviour issue=less stress for teacher

    Oh dear. This is going less well than I expected. :(

    But fairy nuff, if the student doesn't get it first time around, methinks a good teacher would at least have a go at approaching the topic from a different angle, in the hope of achieving the desired learning outcomes. So here we go.

    I've no idea what the total teacher pay bill is, which means I have no idea what percentage cut it would require to save €500 million a year from it. But since this is only an exercise, let's just bear with all of that for the sake of having a go at the question - like yon Mathematics, how you approach the problem is as important as the answer you work out at the end.

    So, let's say we're the guv'ment, and we cut the pay of the teachers by €500 million a year (or per annum as the Christian Brothers used to say in my day, while they were bating the ****e out of us, not that I'm bitter or anything).

    €500 million saved from the teacher pay bill. What would it be spent on?

    Now, in fairness, this is a question for micropig, so if any over-zealous student jumps in with an answer they'll be sent outside the door ---- no, wait, we're not allowed do that, *bugger*
    OK, they'll make me cross. And sad.

    Over to you, dood. If we, the guv'ment, lopped €500 million off teacher pay, what would the money be spent on?

    'snot a bad question, IMHO.


  • #135
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    @ blackoil: does every teacher in the school participate in running an after school activity?
    If so, this is fantastic, if not - shame on the ones that don't


  • #136
    savvyav
    Closed Accounts Posts: 104 ✭✭savvyav


    I'm noticing loads of stuff about how 'learning should be fun' and how all teachers should be multi-media wizards who put on fantastic sound and light shows with added special effects to engage their students' attention and I completely disagree. While it is fine to occasionally use technology as an aid in the classroom, it cannot and will not replace good old-fashioned teaching. Children are far too over-stimulated these days, they need to realise that not everything comes with flashing lights.
    I teach languages and my main problem is that most children do not have a decent vocabulary in English, which hampers them from learning foreign languages, so I would like to see more emphasis on getting kids to read books in primary school. There also needs to be more importance placed on grammer; every year I have to revise what nouns/verbs/articles/etc are. I would also like to see languages being taught from primary school onwards rather than just in secondary schools.
    I do occasionally use technology,role-plays, songs, etc in my classes, but as an occasional treat, rather than on a regular basis. The best method for getting students (secondary school anyway) to really learn something is to give lots of notes, do lots of examples together on the board (a regular whiteboard!) and give regular homework and mini-tests- and no, I don't teach in the perfect school, far from it. It sounds boring but if you have a genuine interest and passion for your subject it will come across in your teaching.
    In a perfect world I would also like to have interested parents who actually care about whether their kids go to school or not, a decent library in every school, more foreign language assistants (they are the best way to make languages more 'alive' for students) and more resources available through Irish- there is a shocking lack of them, for every subject. I also feel a lot of the curricula need to be over-hauled as they are quite outdated e.g writing a formal French letter? In my 15 years of speaking French and living in Francophone countries, I have written one formal letter...for my Leaving Cert exam.


  • #137
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    seavill wrote: »
    I am still enraged by your attitude, how about you try this for once I AM SORRY I GOT THAT ONE WRONG.

    I am sick of repeating myself in posts as I have explained the teacher was taken into hospital at short notice I am sure their life threatening condition was more on their mind than e-mailing me their plans. They had their laptop at home obviously to do some work at home and as a result was not with me. Think of the obvious answer sometimes its the actual answer.

    Instead of slagging off my lessons, which you did not see how can you even dare tell me whether they were differentiated or not. If you listened to anything I said I was preparing the best I could in a short period of time to have a lesson that was interesting and differentiated at different times. I have given you 2 sentences on my 40 minute lesson what makes you the expert on that lesson.

    You are also slagging off my coleague and friend who was taken very ill urgently for not leaving everything on a plate for me. Just take a point that you were wrong say sorry and stop picking at thigns and diggin a bigger hole for yourself.

    I suggested your suggestion re money back on the first page of this topic.

    You told me not every child in the class was able to engage. If all range of abilities could not engage-the lesson was not differentiated enough.

    I'm am not an expert on your lesson again you presented the problem of the child not able to read the questions and I am referring to this incident


  • #138
    The Black Oil
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,940 CMod ✭✭✭✭The Black Oil


    micropig wrote: »
    @ blackoil: does every teacher in the school participate in running an after school activity?
    If so, this is fantastic, if not - shame on the ones that don't

    Don't know, possibly around half. It really depends on on what the demand is and things like drama or Judo are done by people from outside the school.

    Moderator: Television, Psychology and Dublin County North.

    CMod: Entertainment



  • #139
    seavill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,620 ✭✭✭seavill


    micropig wrote: »
    You told me not every child in the class was able to engage. If all range of abilities could not engage-the lesson was not differentiated enough.

    I'm am not an expert on your lesson again you presented the problem of the child not able to read the questions and I am referring to this incident

    And I will explain for the 3rd time I was given this class and 8 others at 8pm at night and unable to get all the information in time as explained before. I prepared an exciting lesson to try to engage everyone as much I could as I did not know any of the students.
    Obviously a class you teach week in week out is a different scenario.

    Your posts are idiotic at times, how hard is it to say apologies and stop insulting people.

    I will also refer back probably 8 or 9 pages where YOU refused to answer my question about your background by responding with a question about my background which I answered fully and honestly.

    Could you now do me the same professional courtesy and respond in a proper manner to my question. Thanks


  • #140
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Oh dear. This is going less well than I expected. :(

    See.. What I'm suggesting has benefits for the teacher too!
    Deleted User wrote: »
    But fairy nuff, if the student doesn't get it first time around, methinks a good teacher would at least have a go at approaching the topic from a different angle, in the hope of achieving the desired learning outcomes. So here we go.

    A teacher should use a few different methods to teach the same topic. Children learning differently so it is important that the teacher takes a few different approaches to covering the topic
    Deleted User wrote: »
    I've no idea what the total teacher pay bill is, which means I have no idea what percentage cut it would require to save €500 million a year from it. But since this is only an exercise, let's just bear with all of that for the sake of having a go at the question - like yon Mathematics, how you approach the problem is as important as the answer you work out at the end.

    So, let's say we're the guv'ment, and we cut the pay of the teachers by €500 million a year (or per annum as the Christian Brothers used to say in my day, while they were bating the ****e out of us, not that I'm bitter or anything).

    €500 million saved from the teacher pay bill. What would it be spent on?

    Now, in fairness, this is a question for micropig, so if any over-zealous student jumps in with an answer they'll be sent outside the door ---- no, wait, we're not allowed do that, *bugger*
    OK, they'll make me cross. And sad.

    Over to you, dood. If we, the guv'ment, lopped €500 million off teacher pay, what would the money be spent on?

    'snot a bad question, IMHO.

    1st)get rid of all prefabs. Schools with a high percentage of prefabs get bulldozed first and a state of the art, suitable for purpose building replaces it. Then work on the other schools.
    2nd) Improve basic equipment in other schools to ensure all schools are of a high standard.

    Once basic facilities have been improved, start improving other facilities. Bring computers & other technology in to the classroom & get the students using them

    4th) keep improving

    basic equipment includes sna's etc


  • #141
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    savvyav wrote: »
    I'm noticing loads of stuff about how 'learning should be fun' and how all teachers should be multi-media wizards who put on fantastic sound and light shows with added special effects to engage their students' attention and I completely disagree. While it is fine to occasionally use technology as an aid in the classroom, it cannot and will not replace good old-fashioned teaching. Children are far too over-stimulated these days, they need to realise that not everything comes with flashing lights.
    I teach languages and my main problem is that most children do not have a decent vocabulary in English, which hampers them from learning foreign languages, so I would like to see more emphasis on getting kids to read books in primary school. There also needs to be more importance placed on grammer; every year I have to revise what nouns/verbs/articles/etc are. I would also like to see languages being taught from primary school onwards rather than just in secondary schools.
    I do occasionally use technology,role-plays, songs, etc in my classes, but as an occasional treat, rather than on a regular basis. The best method for getting students (secondary school anyway) to really learn something is to give lots of notes, do lots of examples together on the board (a regular whiteboard!) and give regular homework and mini-tests- and no, I don't teach in the perfect school, far from it. It sounds boring but if you have a genuine interest and passion for your subject it will come across in your teaching.
    In a perfect world I would also like to have interested parents who actually care about whether their kids go to school or not, a decent library in every school, more foreign language assistants (they are the best way to make languages more 'alive' for students) and more resources available through Irish- there is a shocking lack of them, for every subject. I also feel a lot of the curricula need to be over-hauled as they are quite outdated e.g writing a formal French letter? In my 15 years of speaking French and living in Francophone countries, I have written one formal letter...for my Leaving Cert exam.

    technology is especially useful for languages
    why are students only allowed it as a treat, go on let them enjoy learning!!

    re languages surely it is encouraged that they speak it and watch programmes on it, also lets of software to test punciation, verbs etc


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  • #142
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    micropig wrote: »

    1st)get rid of all prefabs. Schools with a high percentage of prefabs get bulldozed first and a state of the art, suitable for purpose building replaces it. Then work on the other schools.
    2nd) Improve basic equipment in other schools to ensure all schools are of a high standard.

    Once basic facilities have been improved, start improving other facilities. Bring computers & other technology in to the classroom & get the students using them

    4th) keep improving

    basic equipment includes sna's etc

    f-grade.jpg

    Sorry, mate, but that's a fail.

    I don't want to write off your performance entirely, but I'm afraid it is definitely an F.

    It's a pity. Such a potentially bright student too. :(


  • #143
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Deleted User wrote: »
    f-grade.jpg

    Sorry, mate, but that's a fail.

    I don't want to write off your performance entirely, but I'm afraid it is definitely an F.

    It's a pity. Such a potentially bright student too. :(

    Why? What seems to be the issue.
    can you give me more constructive feedback on why I fail to help me improve?


  • #144
    #15
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,784 ✭✭✭#15


    micropig wrote: »
    Unions represent the views of their members. If the main issue their members are complaining about is lack of facilities - they why aren't the unions representing their views/

    They campaigned too late. More was there in 2009 to invest in proper facilities - why not campaign then. this issue did not suddenly arise over night

    How do you know they didn't campaign?

    Have you looked on their websites and checked past campaigns?

    I haven't, and I'm not going to assume, because I don't know either way.
    I don't agree with your views on the numeracy & literacy policy. I think it improves the students vocab. Science, for example can be like a different language (using scientific terms etc to describe things)

    Fine, we'll see who is right in 15 years when the current crop of Junior Infants have passed through the system under the new plan.
    Why rely on their research? Why not actively research it yourself?

    I have actively researched it. That's exactly why I have no confidence in the policymakers in the DES.
    I already suggested where the money could be found.

    Yes, teachers' pockets.
    And you want unions to campaign for this.:confused:
    Why do you think students mis-behave in class?

    There are loads of reasons, each child is different.


  • #145
    seavill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,620 ✭✭✭seavill


    micropig wrote: »
    Why? What seems to be the issue.
    can you give me more constructive feedback on why I fail to help me improve?



    Could you please answer my post to help me improve my understanding of you.


  • #146
    savvyav
    Closed Accounts Posts: 104 ✭✭savvyav


    Technology is useful for languages? In very small doses! Put most children in front of a computer and try to get them to do any language-based activity and most of the them will immediately try to open Google Translate or Babelfish on the sly...policing that alone takes up most of the class. It's also very hard to find suitable resources for the Irish curriculum online- most are geared towards the UK.
    Anyway I managed to take up two foreign languages in college without oodles of technology and that was only 10 years ago. All we had was language lab once a week, which was listening comprehensions and we watched films as part of our cultural studies class. Seeing as I only turned 17 a month before I started college there wasn't a huge difference in age between me in 1st year of college and the average 5th or 6th year students...


  • #147
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    seavill wrote: »
    And I will explain for the 3rd time I was given this class and 8 others at 8pm at night and unable to get all the information in time as explained before. I prepared an exciting lesson to try to engage everyone as much I could as I did not know any of the students.
    Obviously a class you teach week in week out is a different scenario.

    Your posts are idiotic at times, how hard is it to say apologies and stop insulting people.

    I will also refer back probably 8 or 9 pages where YOU refused to answer my question about your background by responding with a question about my background which I answered fully and honestly.

    Could you now do me the same professional courtesy and respond in a proper manner to my question. Thanks

    OK I am sorry you did not differentiate you lesson to include all abilities of learners
    I am sorry I think the information and lesson plans should be made available to you??????????????????????????????????????


  • #148
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    micropig wrote: »
    Why? What seems to be the issue.
    can you give me more constructive feedback on why I fail to help me improve?

    I sure can, based on the sound advice given to me in my youth (a long time ago, alas) by some excellent teachers.

    You didn't address the question asked. You addressed a different question, but not the one that was asked of you. This means that although you probably scored some marks for setting out some argument and opinion, you were starting from a terribly low base because you weren't actually addressing your answer to the problem contained in the question.

    Or, to summarise:

    To answer the question well, you must first read the question well.

    Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime. A popular saying in my school days (ahhh, Jaysus be with the youth of us). I could take a shortcut and simply tell you what the correct answer is - but that would not represent an optimum learning outcome. I'm going for the optimum, and so should you.


  • #149
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    savvyav wrote: »
    Technology is useful for languages? In very small doses! Put most children in front of a computer and try to get them to do any language-based activity and most of the them will immediately try to open Google Translate or Babelfish on the sly...policing that alone takes up most of the class. It's also very hard to find suitable resources for the Irish curriculum online- most are geared towards the UK.
    Anyway I managed to take up two foreign languages in college without oodles of technology and that was only 10 years ago. All we had was language lab once a week, which was listening comprehensions and we watched films as part of our cultural studies class. Seeing as I only turned 17 a month before I started college there wasn't a huge difference in age between me in 1st year of college and the average 5th or 6th year students...

    Not just sitting in front of a computer. games on the IBW, videoing themselves etc.


  • #150
    micropig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭micropig


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I sure can, based on the sound advice given to me in my youth (a long time ago, alas) by some excellent teachers.

    You didn't address the question asked. You addressed a different question, but not the one that was asked of you. This means that although you probably scored some marks for setting out some argument and opinion, you were starting from a terribly low base because you weren't actually addressing your answer to the problem contained in the question.

    Or, to summarise:

    To answer the question well, you must first read the question well.

    Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime. A popular saying in my school days (ahhh, Jaysus be with the youth of us). I could take a shortcut and simply tell you what the correct answer is - but that would not represent an optimum learning outcome. I'm going for the optimum, and so should you.

    my point earlier in the thread - teach the children to be independent researchers, train then where to find & validate relevant information is better than just giving them the information


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  • #151
    seavill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,620 ✭✭✭seavill


    micropig wrote: »
    OK I am sorry you did not differentiate you lesson to include all abilities of learners
    I am sorry I think the information and lesson plans should be made available to you??????????????????????????????????????

    Ok we will try it a different way as you suggest to take into account you are obviously not the type of learner I am currently aiming my questions at.

    Knowing what you know now about the situation, how the information was not available to me for 9am in the morning as would have been ideal, however did not work in practice, and putting yourself in my shoes at that time how would you have done it differently.

    And could you respond instead of ignoring my questions in relation to background and I would ask you not to repost the same answer that has been put out numerous times before "would my background make my points any less valid" or something along this line.


This discussion has been closed.
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