Friday, 9 May 2008

Friday 9th May


After the Focus Group meeting, Jerry O'Neill directed me to "Google Groups" which is basically a wiki space, but this is exetremely easy to use and, unlike Wikispaces, it tends not to crash everytime you upload materials. It's now my new favourite! Here's a link to a very slap-dash start to a wiki, but you wait, I'll get it looking beautiful soon.

http://groups.google.com/group/claires-english-class
I wrote up the minutes and will post these as soon as they have been agreed.
Contacted Marie Morrison and SQA to find out if a Core Skills representative would attend the next meeting. I'll let you know as soon as I do!
Thanks, Claire

Friday 2nd May: English Communications and Media Focus Group

Had a fantastic first meeting for the English Communication and Media Focus Group. We discussed literacy strategies, changes to the HN units, Core Skills and the inclusion of Citizenship within the teaching of English and Communications and Media.

David Neilson suggested a more accurate way in which to record students' grasp of punctuation and grammar in addition to their SQA certificates.

There were also suggested changes to the HN units to take out the reading assessment. It was suggested that this assessment is already embedded within the research necessary for the written assessments and so is already covered.

Denise suggested that the teaching of texts and discussion topics in English Media and Communication ideas such as respect, community values and responsibility for others are often covered. This leads neatly into the teaching of Citizenship and Denise suggested it is something which English Media and Communications could naturally develop.

Finally, the topic of Core Skills was considered. We were all keen to hear of new developments and of accessing interesting teaching materials, particularly for the less advanced levels such as Access 3 and Intermediate 1.

I will post the minutes as soon as possible on both Practioners Plus and the blog.



I was also interviewed for the Herald regarding the subject mentor post! It should appear either on Tuesday or Friday, so watch out for my mugshot appearing!

Over and out...Claire

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Friday 25th April

Easter break was lovely!

Spent today arranging agenda and contacting everyone for the first Advisory Group meeting. I am very much looking forward to it and have included a list of those attending and the agenda items in the link below.

https://claireswiki.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/Agenda+first+meeting.doc

I also asked the wonderful Murray to upload more Film and TV materials.

Friday, 4 April 2008

Friday 4th April

Today I have been gathering and developing matierals for Complex Communication for Vocational Purposes and Core Skills.

Friday, 28 March 2008

Friday 28th March

Confirmed members of Advisory Group:

Mary McCall, Motherwell College
Wendy Gormley, Coatbridge College
David Neilson, Cardonald College
Janis Bradburn, North Glasgow College
Denise Fyfe, Angus College
Jennie MacDonald, Clydebank College
Jerry O'Neill, Stevenson College
Liz Glancy, Anniesland College
Moira Reid, Telford College
Rob McDermott, Forth Valley College
Elaine Mullin, Glasgow Metropolitan College
Carol Thomson, Senior Verifier for Core Skill and HN Communication

So far Mary, David, Janis, Denise, Jennie, Wendy, Rob and Carol have all confirmed they will attend the first meeting, but hopefully the others will be able to make it too. I have contacted Langside to try to get a representaive to attend the meetings.

The first meeting is set to take place on Friday 2nd May from 9.30 - 1pm. Topics to be considered are literacy and the role of the group.

Sent materials to PP about teaching Richard III and poem Limbo.

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Monday 17th March

Finished article for Broadcast, although needs a bit of tweaking!

Gathered contacts from previous steering group and e-mailed to gauge interest in Advisory Group.

E-mailed Colin with some positive feedback for meeting with funding committee.

Tried to access Second Life and while I got in I couldn't see anyone - I think I was lost!

E-mailed some materials on Seamus Heaney for PP.

Friday, 7 March 2008

Friday 7th March

Responded to email from Jane Henderson from James Watt College who may be inerested in a visit and called Karen Eunson from Shetland College further to last week's email.

Spoke to Annmarie about "Second Life" and agreed to be involved in what sounds like an exciting project!

Suggested a Steering Group for English, Communications and Media after interest had been noted.

Worked on article for Broadcast.

Uploaded more materials for Media on to PP