Sussex Downs College

by Tony Davis · September 5th, 2016 · · Comments are off for this post

Activating Independent Learning

• Thoroughly enjoyable – I have some additional tools to use now in my work.
• Reinventing the wheel.
• Aeroplane journey.
• Thought provoking.
• Changing a burnt-out light bulb with a new one.
• Much, much, much more work (needed) on induction and thought about what we want to achieve.

21st Century Pedagogy

• Having clear outcomes drives ideas.
• Bubbling like Prosecco!
• Avoid trap of equating ‘doing stuff’ to actually ‘learning’.
• A rollercoaster!
• I’ll think more about engaging curiosity.
• Much more insight into writing learning outcomes.
• (I will) improve my students’ learning by using better constructed learning outcomes.
• (I need a) change of lesson planning strategy – trying to think about LOs and adding in independent learning traits to develop in students.
• It’s so easy to overlook teaching skills due to the sheer amount of knowledge students need to know, however, this (session) has made me re-realise that you can use skills-based objectives alongside knowledge objectives.
• WBL (I will) write plans more creatively so the learner is not just meeting ‘an outcome’ but can see the point/relevance of the intended learning.
• One of the best most thought provoking professional development sessions I have been to in a very long time. Thank you!
• A fine tune and general MOT.
• Great delivery and journey.
• An exercise in critical thinking.
• Rethink how I write learning outcomes.
• Engaging lecturer, relevant subject, now need to employ the technologies.
• I will definitely be using this to check my (learning) outcomes.
• I really like the idea of curiosity and will try to implement these ideas.
• Land of opportunities.
• Not just going in a straight line, but going round corners and trying different routes.
• Really trying to have high expectations for all.
• No more grabbing the mouse!
• Refreshed like a G&T.
• Thought provoking.
• (This was) also useful with identifying how to be independent as a teacher.
• Eye-opening.
• (I need to) rethink wording/use of ‘daily menu’ at beginning of a lesson.

Implementing Live Self Assessment

• Low aspirations can act like a lead balloon, weighing down achievements. For both staff and students to flourish, aspirational conditions need to be set in place to do so.
• Time to break the mould!
• I think it is the right way to go forward. It makes much more sense to design our own quality standards which are useful to everyone.
• A much easier road to take.
• It has made me relax a little about SARs – not so daunting a process – much more a reflexion of our dept.
• As illuminating as the sun.
• Planting the seed and getting ready for growth and flourishment.
• Exciting new way to do SAR.
• In the changing room before the pool.

Independent Learning

• I feel like I’ve been given a parking permit after 3 years of parking on yellow lines!
• Unwrapping a chocolate bar.
• Best session I have attended. A lot of things to think about.
• Explore ‘reverse engineering’ approach to lesson planning.
• Provocative and emotional to hear some of these things said – in contrast to our other inputs.
• Like a completely wilted flower this morning – now one petal has opened.
• I feel inspired and lifted… like a hot air balloon (with a wonderful view and an exciting journey..!)
• Provided much needed food for thought in a famine.
• Walking in a foggy woods, heading to light and hope.
• I particularly appreciated the ‘silent minutes’ and will try to use these in my lessons.
• A glimpse of the sun.
• Need to really aim for curiosity in lessons as the starting point.
• I thought it was inspiring.
• It has made me realise that I do encourage some independent learning, but could do more – need to encourage more curiosity.
• Loved the session – inspiring, but still feel constrained by management expectations.
• Green shoots!
• Inspirational.
• The cage of learning objectives set at the start of class has been opened.
• Best development session had for years.
• Lots of effort is not the same as expected results.
• Inspiring, liberating.
• Confirmed my view that a change of mindset is required.
• The first glass of champagne after weeks of dry January.
• Invigorating and refreshing.
• Do not be lazy about choreographing the social environment.
• The other side of the carpet.
• A slightly crumpled hot-air balloon being re-inflated!
• Much appreciated – engaging!
• Looking forward to change and experimenting.
• A wilting plant that’s been watered and fed.
• Most interesting.
• Really useful session – the ‘tangents’ were as valuable to illustrate so keep them in!
• The work on fostering curiosity was quite inspiring.
• Back 6 steps, take 7 steps forward.

Quality Standard development – phase 2 (academic staff)

• Wrestling a tiger – hugging the tiger – shampooing and blow-drying the tiger.
• Stimulating, creative, sincere, pedantic, challenging, CREATIVE (pragmatic), open.
• Opening doors. I feel optimistic.
• I would love to involve learners in the process.
• Creating a new culture and investing in the future.
• Exciting to work with other colleagues who I don’t get to work with. Great to shape the future.
• Thank you. Was dreading the day, but enjoyed, it.
• A well-oiled rollercoaster.
• Process was good, enlightening, creative.
• A snake shedding its skin.
• A demanding day. Demanding because it challenged me to stop thinking about implication and action and only think about the golden future we are dreaming of.
• Intensive. Interesting.
• A bumpy ride, like a roller coaster, exciting.
• A great journey, lots of thought provoking and sharing.
• I feel I am beginning to understand the rhythm of the process and making progress.
• Very enjoyable/challenging.
• Very good and focussed – enabling me to plan for an excellent induction.
• Really enjoyed working with different colleagues and starting to comment/fine tune each other’s work. It is great to get some ideas on paper, as it makes the process come to life.
• Like easing the cork.
• Aware of what we have done is good, really good!
• Infinity and beyond.
• We have the ingredients, have started on the recipe and look forward to the resulting meal!

Quality Standard development – phase 2 (support staff)

• Positive but apprehensive.
• I feel as though the chain is back on the bike!
• Excited by the changes that we can make. Apprehensive about the journey of getting there, however, this does not diminish my enthusiasm!
• I feel excited about re-evaluating inherited processes that we in our department always challenge. We are looking forward to the whole college being set in the mindset of change, and change for the better! And making it happen!
• Thank you for inspiring change!
• Very committed to the process and what the end product will be.
• Exciting concepts and good level of support.
• Climbing to the summit of the mountain to gain fantastic view of the surrounding landscape which provides a whole new aspect.

Quality Standard development – phase 3 (academic staff)

• Blue sky opening up after a dark, wet morning!!
• It feels like we are getting there!
• A dream of shimmering visions and opaque water with limbs strong, but the land not yet in view. Excited about the work, but anxious about the task of introducing it to the team whilst giving them ownership.
• Dawn emerging!
• Excellent stimulus material and a fantastic working environment. Challenging and enjoyable.
• Great teamwork. Looking forward to implementing the Gold Standards.
• Exhausted, but exhilarated.

Quality Standard development – phase 3 (support staff)

• Opening a door to ‘let in’, rather than closing a door to ‘shut out’.
• Enlightened! Really proud of the work we have started so far.
• Steep hill, but it was worth it!
• Vroom! We are off!

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Like discovering a chocolate cake in a box labelled ‘chore’.
• Like drinking champagne. It was: bubbly, enjoyable, beautifully sophisticated and dazzling.
• Cracked open the egg and it was a lovely yellow yolk – not a curate’s egg or a rotten one!
• Surprisingly enjoyable and thirst quenching!
• Coming out of my filing cabinet.
• Inspiring.
• Love the ‘Adverbage’ game!
• As inspiring and exciting as going to a Christian Zimmerman piano concert! Full of technical ideas and aesthetic appreciation.
• A logical and structural approach to learning.
• Very practical and inspirational techniques that could be adapted for adult learners.
• Thought provoking.
• Fresh air.
• Motivational.
• A kayak down a river.
• It gave me a clear way of introducing sentence structure to students.
• The session, and Tony’s insights and views, has opened doors to develop my course further.
• Was actually expecting this not to be as useful and relevant to my lower-level learners, but it was very adaptable and useful. Thank you.
• Much clearer idea of how I can help them (learners) understand how to evaluate.
• Innovative.
• Rollercoaster of emotions. So excited to put into practice what you have brought to our training days.
• Brilliant session that provokes thought and enthuses.
• A new path through a familiar landscape.
• A far more informative and engaging workshop than I have experienced before. Thank you.

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