Edcamp HK - a time for learning

What an interesting day!


I honestly did not know what to expect from the first edcamp in Hong Kong but it was a good experience and I'm very glad that I participated in it and helped to make it happen.


I'd like to say a big thanks to Jen who, having had experience of edcamp inToronto, really facilitated the day and kept it moving.


I'd also like to say a massive thank you to all of those who came! There were about twenty people - and interestingly they were a complete cross-section - not only those 'in' education.


We began the day with a coffee, or a green tea, and then shared where our heart was in education.  I talked to Will who runs learning centres for under-privileged children in Hong Kong.  We had a wonderful discussion.


We then introduced ourselves - and I FINALLY got to meet Di from DC college - we've only met on twitter!


We then moved into smaller groups and talked around three questions - Where are we now?- What do we need to do? (I think) and Where are we going on the future.  


My first conversation I found quite frightening - talking about using face recognition technology to immediately add to data or inform parents of things happening with their children - it all sounded very 'big-brother' to me...  Thanks Merrin for moving it along!


The conversation then turned to cultural differences and then finally to the future.  It was also great to meet (again) Ruth.


Lunch was a salad club.


The afternoon was open for everyone to throw out a question - Mine was...Homework, Yes or No?


Again it really bought to light that there are such vast cultural differences in our amazing world, and who's to say who's right or wrong.


I enjoyed the day and would have even more I think if many more of my colleagues from the profession had been there as well.  It's an interesting format but one that is not for all I think.  


It was a great day and I'd be really interesting in holding another...shall we?

The Art of Possibility

A while ago I finished reading 'The Art of Possibility' by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander.  It is a stunning book which is very worth reading.  Today - which is exactly the middle of my Easter holiday I woke at 5.00 am...and started going through my kindle highlights from this book.  The quote above really sums up the thoughts which are expressed through the book - and also the book I am currently reading 'Making ideas Happen' by Scott Belsky - also fantastic!

As educators we work with learners of all ages - young and old.  We strive to see the 'possibility' in all people, but sometimes we forget to see the possibility in ourselves.  I think that I have done that a little recently and, having had the time to reflect over the first week of the holiday, it's time to make sure that I'm not doing that.

How about you?  What's possible for you?

Pride

Pride

We have had an internal ESF school review this week.  Mina, our new principal, joined us after Christmas.  To help her, and us as the school leadership team in setting the direction we have had a review with principals form other schools and members of the ESF leadership joining us for a few days.


I have found it a slightly strange process as for the the first time in a review / inspection situation I am not teaching...as such.  I did run the Lower School assembly on Monday morning and was absolutely manic in a Year One classroom for a couple of hours on Tuesday morning (which I loved!!).


What I have experienced is an overwhelming sense of pride in both the people and the community I work and learn with.


There has been some outstanding feedback given to many of my colleagues, and then about them to us as a leadership team.  It is this fact, amongst others, that has made me beam even more when being around our school.


One of the main points that has arisen is that as a school community we are completely focused on the well being and learning of the children with whom we spend our day.  We knew this...but to have someone else notice it gives us added validation.


We obviously have things to work on - we all do - but we have talked about these, and have been talking about these before the review even began.  I am even excited about these as I want to, and am, be part of something special!


I am really looking forward to the next few years here...Get ready!!

#21clhk reflections

We go to a conference, learn, meet those we only knew virtually and are inspired by the keynote speakers...but then what?

On the bus with others after the conference I thought of how important it is to reflect on what you have learned and also to design how that learning will have an impact on the community of learners that you work with.

Here are some of my reflections...and my memories

• Face-to-face meetings with those only known "virtually' - it was wonderful to meet with Jabiz, Dana, Serena, Ben and others and develop my and our learning community.
• I really enjoyed Punya Mishra and Robyn Trevaud during their keynotes.  I enjoyed the humour of Punya and the connections he made between teachnology, pedagogy and knowledge which equals education.  it really struck a chord with me the points he made about educators 'repurposing' technology for learning.  I also really understood Robyn explaining that it is not just abut 'digital citizenship'...it's citizenship...just that.
• There are some amazing educators around the world who are completely committed to doing the very best they can for those that they learn and work with.  Ben (@b_sheridan ) and Jennie did an amazing job sharing the the ece strand and the enthusiasm of Zoe (@pagezoe ) was truly infectious.
• Conference are good...I wonder if unconferences are better?  It was wonderful to attend the unconference on games based learning and the conversations that we had in the ece sharing sessions were powerful.
• Twitter is the becoming, if not already is, the tool for PD for educators.  If you are not on it...and are not connecting, creating and sharing I really do believe that you are missing out on the most powerful PD that has developed for many years.
• Asia is an exciting place to be for an educator at the moment - it possibly always has been. There is a vibrancy and a willingness to learn and take risks that is very exciting to be a part of.
• Sugatra Mitra is a great speaker.  He is provoking much head scratching from educators.  I enjoyed his keynote but still firmly believe that the intricate connections defined and created through human relationships is vital to learning.  Schools replace family.  Should they then be more like fanily than they are?  I think so.
• There are many technology development companies who are doing their best to develop tools for the classroom and they do not have background in education.  his is not vital but unles there is some understanding there the 'tool' may not be of much use...until it is 'repurposed' by a clever educator.
• There was way to much plastic being used at both the lunch sessions.  I do not think it is too difficult to focus on the sustainable as well as the technological. 

So - what are my actions when I walk into my amazing school tomorrow?

• Promote, celebrate and inspire my colleagues to develop their learning and connections through twitter.
• Investigate and design authentic learning engagements and provocations through games.
• Invite colleagues to investigate class blogs / twitter to further enhance learning through authentic connections with others
• Develop many more opportunities for 'space and time' to learn in our school.  PD is vital.
• Promote more connections with other schools in Hong Kong and share and learn from them.
• Really keep the focus on the learning and not the tool - because that is the reason we do what we do.
• Keep learning.

I'm excited about learning ( and school )

I am really enjoying learning from others in my school.

This week we have begun to have some deep, thoughtful and passionate discussions about the learning and teaching of phonics in Years 1-3 ( and then up to Year 6 ).

This came out of a meeting we held with the Lower School Year leaders.  I asked them what were their dreams / visions were for the year.

One of the aspects of learning in Years 1-3 that we all agreed could be improved - it was a dream for all of us - was the learning and teaching of phonics.  We have amazing readers in our classes but we are educators...and we ALWAYS want to improve.

This has led to conversations in planning meetings with the Language leader, discussions concerning synthetic phonics V real books, planned walkthroughs by myself and then all of my amazing colleagues in the 1's to 3's and a real focus on something which David Hargreaves calls 'low leverage' improvements.  Those improvements which do not take a lot of effort but make a huge difference.

I have had passing conversations in hallways and corridors about 'how excited' colleagues are about this which has really come, not from the school development plan, but from a passionate need and a recognition that we want to do the best we possibly can for the children that we are lucky enough to work and learn with.

I am excited about it.  I'm more excited about putting into place one of my dreams which is to have our educators having the time to walk around the school learning from each other, spending time having conversations and implementing change which has originated from them.

Its about time...

So, eight months of being a vice-principal (and doing a masters) and what has life taught me?

Many, many things!

• make sure you build relationships that have foundations of honesty, trust, fun and professional respect. I worked extremely hard getting to know the amazing people that I work learn with, its so very important.

• mistakes are good, once... I definitely am a risk taker, I do make mistakes and I expect those around me to as well. They are going to happen. What is vital is that we learn from them, and make sure that it doesnt happen the next time!

• it's so very important to read. I love twitter and google read. Both of these have changed my professional life, no exaggeration! I spent time every day sharing with educators all over the world, learning and connecting. I read the thoughts of others and discuss what I think and know as well. Ten years ago I could do this in the staffroom or on the bus to work which I still do, but now I can learn and share with others from all over our planet! How amazing is that? If you are not doing it, why not?

• be flexible... Which I am going to be now!

I think that this post will have many more parts... And as I am writing on my iPhone in a very hot skatepark in Hong Kong I will carry on later!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

To have pyp or not to have pyp and do you know everybodys names?

Two areas for this post...

Firstly, we are interviewing for a leadership position at my wonderful school today.  One of the thoughts raised by my colleagues and myself was a question...

" As a IB/ PYP school do we specifically look for teachers/learners who have been trained and know how to use the PYP as a framework and have knowledge of a concept driven inquiry curriculum...and does this matter more if they are going into leadership positionss?"

I have been pondering this all day and I don't really have an answer.  One could say " An amazing teacher is an amazing teacher" - which I agree with wholeheartedly but as a leader should you have a grasp on how the curriculum is run so you are more able to support your teams and the school community. 

We have learned so much over the three years that we (even though I have been at my school 7 weeks my previous school was in exactly the same position and part of the same foundation).  We are so much more knowledgeable about inquiry, constructivism and the concept driven curriculum than we were.  Is it now to prospective colleagues detriment that they don't have that knowledge?

When I first came to Hong Kong 12 years ago there was very little in the way of curriculum.  We then went down the National Curriculum route following QCA documents etc...(ugh).  It seems to matter more now if prospective colleagues do not have this knowledge or understanding now - but I am not sure why...

I think that if teachers/learners show a deep willingness to learn and a passion for their work then it possibly shouldn't matter.  I don't know if the same is for someone going into a leadership position...but maybe it is?

Secondly, it is to my great fortune that at 8 o'clock every week day morning I get to spend 15 minutes talking, listening to and playing with the Year Ones, Twos, and Threes in our school. 

Today a year one girl said to me,"Mr. Ringrose, you're a leader, you should know all the kids names. Do you?"

Wow!!!!

I said that I didn't, I am honest.  As an early years teacher I prided myself on learning 30 children's names the very first hour they were in school.  I am struggling to learn 360 children's names!!  I know that it is something I have to work at.

If anyone has any suggestions or strategies  please let me know!

Keep smiling!