Comments on: My response to “Digital Literacy is a vital preparation for life” http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/ Education | Technology | Creativity | Leadership | Languages Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:07:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Geraldine Hutchinson http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Geraldine Hutchinson Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:18 +0000 http://mrslwalker.com/?p=79620810#comment-414 Great Blog Laura and topics being aired here really hit the mark. What we do need more than anything is informed debate and not a one-size fits all, whether that is for pupils, teachers' CPD or in terms of assessment in our schools. That was why Fast Track has made the great impact it has on the 2000 plus teachers who have been on the programme sinec 2001- FT professional training and support has taken a personalised approach and allowed FTTS to find their own path, to decide on their leadership approach and style and to bespoke their training to suit their needs. Fast Track remains unique in comparison to some of the professional training that is on offer in the 'leadership development' field. Leaders of the future in education will need to be ever more resourceful and informed, with the confidence to take brave decisions that will turn round the lives of young people in their communities. Great Blog Laura and topics being aired here really hit the mark. What we do need more than anything is informed debate and not a one-size fits all, whether that is for pupils, teachers’ CPD or in terms of assessment in our schools. That was why Fast Track has made the great impact it has on the 2000 plus teachers who have been on the programme sinec 2001- FT professional training and support has taken a personalised approach and allowed FTTS to find their own path, to decide on their leadership approach and style and to bespoke their training to suit their needs. Fast Track remains unique in comparison to some of the professional training that is on offer in the ‘leadership development’ field. Leaders of the future in education will need to be ever more resourceful and informed, with the confidence to take brave decisions that will turn round the lives of young people in their communities.

]]> By: Fast Track and Twitter: A Powerful Combination | Laura Walker http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Fast Track and Twitter: A Powerful Combination | Laura Walker Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:30:47 +0000 http://mrslwalker.com/?p=79620810#comment-157 [...] Blogging and using Twitter have flattened hierarchies for me in a fantastic way: I network every day with senior leaders, politicians, journalists and international educationalists. As an example, in the past couple of weeks, I have also been discussing digital literacy with the Principal at Berkhamsted School, after reading a really interesting post on his blog. To read the exchange, click here. [...] [...] Blogging and using Twitter have flattened hierarchies for me in a fantastic way: I network every day with senior leaders, politicians, journalists and international educationalists. As an example, in the past couple of weeks, I have also been discussing digital literacy with the Principal at Berkhamsted School, after reading a really interesting post on his blog. To read the exchange, click here. [...]

]]> By: John Cotterell http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/comment-page-1/#comment-12 John Cotterell Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:22:24 +0000 http://mrslwalker.com/?p=79620810#comment-12 For multiple choice questions that require a user to tick a box, then ICT exams are the way forward, both in terms of the suitability of the examination environment, and the sheer amount of marking work that can be automated. I took the "written" driving test examination 9 years ago, and they were already using a shockwave-based interactive exam back then, but this only worked because the questions suited the method of delivery. It's not always going to be suitable or advantageous though. I wouldn't expect the results of a maths exam to be dependent on a student's ability to render their working out using latex or mathml. The pen is still the weapon of choice when it comes to calculus. There's also power-cuts, system crashes and security to consider. In a room with 50 terminals, who gets the one with the flickering screen or the dodgy keyboard? What if RM do their usual thing and bribe the LEA into giving them the contract? That's instant failure, right there! Lastly. Exams and ICT already have some dodgy history. In 2000, when midland examining group became OCR, some 'clever' person decided to use search and replace on all the exam papers; turning every instance of "MEG" to "OCR". This left a lot of physics students in turmoil trying to figure out what an Ocrawatt or an Ocrajoule was. The above may not sound too relevant, but it illustrates my point - Mixing exams with technology is a potentially great idea, but it would need to be thought through carefully before being put into practice, and those implementing said solutions need to undertand the contextual requirements of the subject being delivered. For multiple choice questions that require a user to tick a box, then ICT exams are the way forward, both in terms of the suitability of the examination environment, and the sheer amount of marking work that can be automated. I took the “written” driving test examination 9 years ago, and they were already using a shockwave-based interactive exam back then, but this only worked because the questions suited the method of delivery.

It’s not always going to be suitable or advantageous though. I wouldn’t expect the results of a maths exam to be dependent on a student’s ability to render their working out using latex or mathml. The pen is still the weapon of choice when it comes to calculus.

There’s also power-cuts, system crashes and security to consider. In a room with 50 terminals, who gets the one with the flickering screen or the dodgy keyboard? What if RM do their usual thing and bribe the LEA into giving them the contract? That’s instant failure, right there!

Lastly. Exams and ICT already have some dodgy history. In 2000, when midland examining group became OCR, some ‘clever’ person decided to use search and replace on all the exam papers; turning every instance of “MEG” to “OCR”. This left a lot of physics students in turmoil trying to figure out what an Ocrawatt or an Ocrajoule was.

The above may not sound too relevant, but it illustrates my point - Mixing exams with technology is a potentially great idea, but it would need to be thought through carefully before being put into practice, and those implementing said solutions need to undertand the contextual requirements of the subject being delivered.

]]> By: Tony Searl http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Tony Searl Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:02:48 +0000 http://mrslwalker.com/?p=79620810#comment-11 Laura Similiar high stakes HSC exams here in NSW Australia. Summative assessment is outdated. Formative trusting assessment of skills we need for life are now needed. Unfortunately the "high stakes testing industry" is so entrenched in societies mindset, it will not cede territory won over the last two centuries easily. Parents/media/tertiary expect it, governments demand it, teachers are slaves to it and students are victims of it. Its what we know, what we've always had and can relate to, but it does not make it right."It" is so broken, that's really what needs fixing, urgently http://tsearl.edublogs.org/2009/01/31/you-do-it-right-but-is-it-the-right-thing/ Laura
Similiar high stakes HSC exams here in NSW Australia.

Summative assessment is outdated. Formative trusting assessment of skills we need for life are now needed.

Unfortunately the “high stakes testing industry” is so entrenched in societies mindset, it will not cede territory won over the last two centuries easily.

Parents/media/tertiary expect it, governments demand it, teachers are slaves to it and students are victims of it.

Its what we know, what we’ve always had and can relate to, but it does not make it right.”It” is so broken, that’s really what needs fixing, urgently

http://tsearl.edublogs.org/2009/01/31/you-do-it-right-but-is-it-the-right-thing/

]]> By: admin http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/comment-page-1/#comment-10 admin Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:38:12 +0000 http://mrslwalker.com/?p=79620810#comment-10 I totally agree. The weight that the examinations system has in any discussion about progress, school improvement or national standards absolutely crushes the importance of a good preparation for life, work and success. Whose door do we need to knock on about this? I totally agree. The weight that the examinations system has in any discussion about progress, school improvement or national standards absolutely crushes the importance of a good preparation for life, work and success. Whose door do we need to knock on about this?

]]> By: Mark S Steed http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/14/my-response-to-digital-literacy-is-a-vital-preparation-for-life/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Mark S Steed Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:17:30 +0000 http://mrslwalker.com/?p=79620810#comment-9 The form of British examination system is the elephant in the room here. When does a young person, anyone for that matter, sit in silence without the aid of any digital support? It is not how we study at university and it not how we work. It is out of date. I cannot believe that we are still employing a C19 exam system in C21. There is clearly a need for an effective system of assessment for school leavers at both 16 and 18 and for undergraduates, but at the moment this is the tail wagging the dog. It is no longer fit for purpose. If things stay the way they are, I can foresee a time when highly qualified graduates will not be employable because they do not have the skill set that many of their peers have. The form of British examination system is the elephant in the room here. When does a young person, anyone for that matter, sit in silence without the aid of any digital support? It is not how we study at university and it not how we work. It is out of date. I cannot believe that we are still employing a C19 exam system in C21.

There is clearly a need for an effective system of assessment for school leavers at both 16 and 18 and for undergraduates, but at the moment this is the tail wagging the dog. It is no longer fit for purpose. If things stay the way they are, I can foresee a time when highly qualified graduates will not be employable because they do not have the skill set that many of their peers have.

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