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West Thames College

by Tony Davis · December 5th, 2014 · · Comments are off for this post

English Skills: an easier life for teachers

  • Always look towards outcomes, then build strategies towards that end.
  • A journey of new understanding.
  • I found it useful to see the assessment objectives for GCSE English and have the time to think about how drama can serve these objectives, and embed them in every class.
  • Shamazing!!
  • Changed my own mindset.
  • I enjoyed the session – very motivated.
  • It was delivered very professionally.
  • Enlightening.
  • Light at the end of the tunnel.
  • I thought we’d be talking about [GCSE English] exams. We actually talked about how to develop learners’ skills. I found this much more useful and inspiring – building skills for the future – skills students can use. It needs to be longer.
  • It was like being cocooned in a warm, pleasant sweatshirt.
  • Moved perspective.
  • Enjoyed the delivery style – matched my own.
  • Very useful in generating ideas of how to embed.
  • It was a great session.
  • Really interesting session – active and thought provoking.

Independent learning

  • It was an amazing, unforgettable experience and inspiring.
  • It was like an out of body experience. I was able to look back at my teaching in a different way.
  • I loved this session.
  • As enlightened as Gandhi.
  • A light bulb has gone on… and it’s shining brightly on independent learning skills.
  • A wealth of knowledge and tips.
  • Eye-opener. Mind jogger.
  • Amritsari fish.
  • A bountiful, strong, focused talk!
  • The session helped me rethink the way I teach.
  • Old dog being taught new tricks! Great.
  • Breath of fresh air!
  • A voyage of discovery. A smooth pathway to success.
  • By adapting this approach to learning at a college level, a lot of the bureaucracy could be eliminated.

Support staff:

  • This session has made me look at independent learning in a different light.
  • Brilliant session!
  • A tree growing very fast to bear its fruits.
  • Keep up the good work, and keep up being a FREE THINKER.
  • Made me reflect on how I’m modelling independent learning.
  • Enlightening!
  • Surprised at how engaging and enjoyable I found the session.
  • Learned so much about what learners need to succeed.
  • Make it longer!
  • Reflective, eye opening.
  • I particularly found the topic of stimulating learners’ curiosity interesting, and will definitely use this technique in my classes.
  • Inspirational.

Initial Assessment & Differentiation Controversy

  • The penny has dropped.
  • The imagery of the scaffold was clear and I had never thought about support in this way.
  • Rather than reinventing the wheel, I have tools to make my practice more aerodynamic.
  • Label, verb, outcome – very useful.
  • Astounding.
  • [I need to] Create lesson plans differently!
  • Colour coding of learning outcomes. I will use this approach to write my LOs in future.
  • Use of materials to develop a lesson plan. Fantastic resources.
  • Like the refresh on differentiation and how we were made to think of something we don’t already do.
  • Change is required.
  • The visualisation you gave about the walking across the carpet made me think about my learners walking out of the studio – how I would like them to walk out.
  • Supporting students and reducing support as the course and students’ progress.
  • LOs = not an activity list!
  • Regenerative.
  • Like a warm, comforting blanket – wool and cashmere mix.
  • A bud opening to a flower.
  • Reassessing how to differentiate.
  • Lots of ideas and completely new perspective on support in class.
  • Has made me stand back and take a look at how I am assessing.
  • ‘Walking the carpet.’
  • [I need to] Use correct verbs and outcomes to create lesson objectives which are specific and meaningful.
  • Lesson plan sandbox – will reword lesson plans to include brain, body and mind.
  • Redefining differentiation and what it means.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

  • It made me think outside the box.
  • Tony was very knowledgeable and it was extremely enlightening to revisit differentiation and stretch & challenge. I now feel more equipped to ask higher-order questions.
  • I thoroughly enjoyed all the input and the professional approach.

Tricked out tutorials

  • Target setting on its head.
  • Engaging and motivating and creative.
  • I love the way Tony always turns things upside down and inside out and makes me think outside the box.
  • Innovation. Aspirational.
  • Thought provoking, motivating.

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