Wednesday 30 July 2008

real life learning

i am writing up a research report about the importance of engagement with real life experiences outside of the formal classroom context - trying to shake some sense into educators that think they can continue to control children's learning with an island mentality through a transmission of information model that operates in isolation from the rest of the world - somehow we have to influence formal educators towards a pedagogy that embraces life as meaning making activity :
‘Learning power depends on developing certain dispositions, qualities and capabilities; but, as with all other knowledge and know-how, these are embedded within a shifting intuitive sense
of when, where and for what purposes they are best employed ……Knowledge and know-how that are learnt intellectually have to be re-embedded through reflective practice in the functional networks of the brainscape before they can turn into fluent expertise.’ (Guy Claxton 1999;338-9)
we only really know something when we use that knowledge in real life - so the process of learning should be less about accumulating and rehearsing knowledge and much much more about developing our understanding in response to the problems and challenges of real life - the phrase 'use it or lose it' comes to mind !

Monday 7 July 2008

guests

great to be guests in london for the weekend - uncle russ was happy to be at the wireless festival in hyde park - bit of a busy time - we stayed at the grosvenor house on park lane - nice to have a bit of 5 star luxury alongside some pretty five star guests (does not occur that often in the wilson household) - on saturday we were guests at aelta for the ladies final - quite a wee battle between the sisters going on there - saw some great doubles too

nice to see the robinsons is still popular ! - after brunch on sunday we walked through the parks to westminster (no traffic as there had been a big charity road race early on) - finished with a classic anna's afternoon tea - gosh i love champagne !! had a great time and came home exhausted - being guests is very hard work you know, even just for a weekend !