[senit] ICT Qualifications

I'd guess neither institution is perfect, but I'd suspect that both

On 16 Feb 2008, at 16:24, Stephen Smith wrote:

> I'd guess neither institution is perfect, but I'd suspect that both  
> work very hard to improve the education we offer to pupils.
>
> According to OFSTED in 2006, this school's levels of attendance are  
> inadequate - hardly the best indicator of buoyancy and self esteem  
> in pupils; not that I'm knocking them - I don't know the school but  
> I'm sure they do a great job.
>
> I just don't really see how inspirational practice in a particular  
> school somehow means we have boring targets and failure in an  
> educational government agency - I'd have thought it suggested the  
> opposite if anything.
>
> Though I've never really seen BECTA as pushing back the frontiers  
> of education, they have undoubtedly done some very good work (they  
> host this list for a start) - the publication a few weeks back  
> regarding Office 2007 and Windows Vista - was a very brave and  
> highly influential piece of work, of direct relevance to most if  
> not all UK schools.
>
> It seems odd to suggest that either one or the other is education -  
> I'm not sure what you're getting at.

I'm referring to the BBC program and it's main character in contrast  
to Dave Hassell who I've met, and the way he seeks to give guidance  
to the direction of ICT in this country.

And I'm contrasting being inspired to learn and being driven to train  
in order to securing qualifications.

The examples you quote are not about people but about establishing  
systems. Of the two I will always plumb of people - there is a  
mistaken belief the if you set up a good system then the results will  
follow.

Dave Hassell seeks to manage us but does he inspire us or encourage  
those who inspire us? In my experience he and a lot of Becta are a  
dull boring lot and far from being grateful we should be questioning  
and promoting alternatives.

Hence - Try Flash with your students as I have with special needs  
children at Ethel Davies and Little Heath, Redbridge, and forget the  
curriculum and qualifications!

http://www.myulverston.co.uk/flash/talks.html
where I enthuses on video, with many illustrations, about Flash, the  
exciting multimedia software that can be used in so many different  
projects with children from 4 to 15.

Or have I mentioned this before?

Geoff

>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Geoff Dellow" <gd at tygh.co.uk>
> To: <senit at lists.becta.org.uk>
> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 5:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [senit] ICT Qualifications
>
>
>> Which is education?
>>
>>
>> http://www.lancaster.leicester.sch.uk/
>>
>> The Choir: Boys Don't Sing - BBC 2 Friday 21:00
>>
>> Inspirational, challenging target, feeling buoyant and ready to  
>> take  on anything, increase in self-esteem.
>>
>>
>> http://www.becta.org.uk/
>>
>> Training, qualifications, boring targets, failure - ready to give  
>> up, decrease in self-esteem.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>