Well, going away from home for a four day three night trip with students doesn't sound like something everyone would wish to do...many are called but few are chosen...or something like that.
Whilst away 'roughing it in a Hotel' I had time and opportunity to reflect on what was happening and how effective it was could be. This lead to further thoughts about what is and always should be the Teacher Creed-'we can always improve'
Steve Jobs often thought-'why can't we'? How about we? when we reflect we should be thinking what are our main objectives-survival, sleep, not getting food poisoning from the local restaurant, coping with tired and stressed and grumpy teenagers has a way of putting everything in perspective. If three nights away is too long-how can we improve this? If three days away from school causes them to miss out on too much school time-how could this be shortened?
When tired it is easy to make mistakes, easy to miss a step when judgement is needed-'Sleep is vital' Before trips this should be explained to students-what is our purpose?-what are we doing here?-what happens if we stay up all night?
Like the Basketball coach or Piano Tutor would say-Practice makes perfect-there are many ways to do things for the first time-perhaps learning how at a slow pace in a friendly environment makes most sense. Learn from your mistakes in a place where it won't be too costly then take on the 'big/wide' world. When the wind is blowing in your hair and the rain is coming down and this is your one an only opportunity to gather the last remaining essential pieces of data (for the record it was sunny the whole time we were away it was only wet and windy as we were leaving) having to then learn how to use the equipment needed to gather the data will be too difficult and possibly costly if you cant figure it out....practice first...then real.
Whilst away 'roughing it in a Hotel' I had time and opportunity to reflect on what was happening and how effective it was could be. This lead to further thoughts about what is and always should be the Teacher Creed-'we can always improve'
Steve Jobs often thought-'why can't we'? How about we? when we reflect we should be thinking what are our main objectives-survival, sleep, not getting food poisoning from the local restaurant, coping with tired and stressed and grumpy teenagers has a way of putting everything in perspective. If three nights away is too long-how can we improve this? If three days away from school causes them to miss out on too much school time-how could this be shortened?
When tired it is easy to make mistakes, easy to miss a step when judgement is needed-'Sleep is vital' Before trips this should be explained to students-what is our purpose?-what are we doing here?-what happens if we stay up all night?
Like the Basketball coach or Piano Tutor would say-Practice makes perfect-there are many ways to do things for the first time-perhaps learning how at a slow pace in a friendly environment makes most sense. Learn from your mistakes in a place where it won't be too costly then take on the 'big/wide' world. When the wind is blowing in your hair and the rain is coming down and this is your one an only opportunity to gather the last remaining essential pieces of data (for the record it was sunny the whole time we were away it was only wet and windy as we were leaving) having to then learn how to use the equipment needed to gather the data will be too difficult and possibly costly if you cant figure it out....practice first...then real.