Thursday, 31 January 2013

 Guardian Education Blog - Mortar Board

I found this interesting article on the Guardian education blog - Mortar board.  It raises some serious thought about the diversity of thinking within education.  If I relate this article to my own learning I know that a few years ago I attended a short Introduction to Welsh course.  The tutor was a Yorkshire lady who was also a primary school teacher and she inisted on rote learning.  I did find that I enjoyed this style of teaching and retained a lot more information than I have on other Welsh language courses.  It is food for thought!

 

Why China learns its lessons off by heart

Children at a Chinese primary school recite rules for being a good student. Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images
It's 7.30am and the walk to class takes me past scores of Chinese students reciting English in preparation for a constant stream of tests and exams.
I only recently arrived to study in China, but it doesn't take long to observe that here memorisation is paramount. Remembering rather than understanding appears to be the principal goal of the education system – and that seems archaic to the Western eye. However, the Chinese believe memorising provides a route to understanding.
Professor An Ran, dean of international education at South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, explains: "Whereas Westerners see memorisation and understanding as mutually exclusive, Chinese tend to see them as related phenomena."
International studies show that China is among the most successful education systems in the world, which would seem to validate this approach.
Given that functional literacy in China requires a knowledge of 3,000-4,000 characters, it is easy to see why repeating and remembering is so important.
At UK universities, the ability to apply understanding is the primary goal. Dr Amanda Sives, politics lecturer at the University of Liverpool, says: "University is not about memorising dates, remembering quotes, or learning narratives. It involves understanding ideas and concepts and being able to use them to develop relevant, evidence-based arguments."
In China, the focus on memory begins early – and the three years spent in high school are almost solely dedicated to preparation for the gaokao, or university entrance exam.
A former student at my university, Xiao Yu, tells me that for these three years he studied eight hours a day, Monday to Friday, and then a further six hours on a Saturday. This only increased when he went on to university, studying biotechnology, almost entirely in English.
So important is the gaokao, that students have reportedly resorted to using intravenous drips to extend the time they are able to spend studying.
Of course, both education systems have strengths and weaknesses; I am not here to pass judgment on a system I have barely two months knowledge of. What is interesting though, is how education in China prepares its young people for the future.
Xiao says teaching methods heavily influence the subjects students go on to select. Years of rote learning create an inherent preference for science, maths and business subjects, while the arts are largely ignored.
This is not a coincidence, as China looks towards becoming the major world power in the 21st century. It is already creating a generation of scientists, engineers and business leaders, with the skills vitally needed in a rapidly developing nation.
Studying for the joy of learning and the expansion of our knowledge is one of the great freedoms we enjoy in the UK. At the same time though, my experience so far has allowed me to appreciate how well memorisation as a learning method is working for the Chinese

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Inserting images

Just wanted to see if I could add a picture to my blog - found this one on Google images and thought it was very appropriate.

Logging on solo

I was able to log on solo today without getting lost in the system which I am pleased about.  I have been using some of the exercises we had on Monday with my iPad, in paricular, using the notebook which I am finding very useful.  I need to move away from writing everything in my diary to putting information into the notebook.  It will be far more convenient for me and will hopefully enable me to become much more organised. 

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Managing without my file

I wanted to log on today as I had set myself the task of making three new posts this week.  Our files had to be handed in last night so I just made a note of my details so that I could ensure that I completed the actions set yesterday.  I know from past learning that I need to practise on a regular basis otherwise I begin to lose interest and do not engage as fully as I should.  I can see how it happens with my own learners so I am keen that I should not go down the same route.  My goal at the end of the course will be to create my own blog and the course with Joy is giving me an excellent opportunity to gain the skills I will need to be able to do this.

Monday, 28 January 2013

Another week on

We covered such a lot this evening.  One thing I have really learnt is that I must, must practise each week. Last week was so busy and I did not find the time to look over my file and practise working on my blog and iPad.  I must find time to do this on a regular basis.  We all uploaded our photographs for our blog and then printed a copy of the blog. We also practised changing settings which was useful.  Exercise 6 consisted of using the QRCode App and I was able to view information on Hilton Hotels.  This is such a useful thing to do and one I will practise next week.  We then carried on to use work on the notes app and created two different notes.  It really brought home to me how useful this will be when planning my work.  Exercise five consisted of using the virtual keyboard and notes app.  It was much easier to use in landscape rather than portrait.  Everything is saved automatically and deleting notes was fun, watching them disappear into the little bin at the bottom of the page.  We located the three virtual keyboards and split these. However splitting the keyboards really made them a little too small to manage effectively so we took the keyboards back to their original size. 
It was a challenging evening but enjoyable as always as Joy maintains a really good pace to the lesson.  My challenge to myself for this week is to practise using my blog and using my iPad at home to create a notebook.  I intend to write three posts this coming week and practise using the QRCode App at home.
Joy thank you for a really super lesson once again, you are inspiring.  I am hopeful that I will have my own blog in the not too distant future thanks to your course.

Monday, 21 January 2013

The Second Lesson

Time really flew tonight as we all got acquainted with the iPad.  Joy taught us some really useful tips to help us really understand how to make the best use of our iPad.  I particularly liked the five finger grasp which took the screen back to the original one.  I was able to label the different components on the iPad and then we went onto the BBC website to review a blog.  I chose the Panorama blog which was very interesting with lots of current topics to read.  We then went into the App Mousefish and created some weird and wonderful creatures and saved these into our Photo App.  We then set up slide shows using the different transitions which were all very interesting.  We then deleted the photographs and then started to delete some of the Apps on the App Tray.  It was wonderful to see them 'jiggle' when we held one down.  A minus sign appeared on the jiggling Apps so they could be easily deleted.
We covered a lot of information this evening so I need to go and really practise everything I have learnt this evening, otherwise I will have forgotten it by next week.  Practise, practise, practise is the key to me learning how to use the iPad effectively and efficiently. 
A really enjoyable session tonight Joy, thanks so much, you are a 'joy' to work with.

Trying to fly solo!

I left my file at college on Friday so wasn't able to access my notes.  Tried to get on to my blog on Friday at home and again at the weekend.  However I wasn't successful and when I looked at my notes this morning I realised where I had been going wrong.  I had put my name into Google thinking it would just bring up my blog.  We are putting in a photograph in class later on today but I am not sure that I have one which is suitable - will have a look before class.

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Logging on without notes!

I thought I would try to test out my memory and log on without using the notes I had made in class on Monday.  I had a few problems and couldn't find my blog anywhere so had to revert to my notes to check I was putting in the correct information.  I was doing this correctly but couldn't understand why I couldn't find my blog.  I eventually found it but still am at a loss as to what I was doing wrong - I went through Google as I did yesterday but my address was not recognised for some reason.  I will check this out with Joy on Monday.  However, I have eventually found it and am glad to be checking in again today with a post.

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Blogs in Education

Back again!  When I was logging on a little while ago I noticed a facility for adding blogs to my reading list and thought it might be useful to have a go at this.  I had a look at Google and found a website called Blogs in Education which looked interesting and gave me some insight into how blogs might be useful for students and lecturers.  I haven't had time to read much of this information as yet but will have a look at it later when I have more time. 

Logging in for the first time

Well I decided to be brave and log in today whilst I had a few spare moments.  I was really glad that I had taken notes and had Joy's handouts to guide me through this process.  It only took a few minutes and I was pleased that I was able to find the appropriate place to write a new post today.  I am going to try and log in on a regular basis so that I can really start to feel confident in finding my way around Blogland.  Well, going to sign off now until tomorrow.

Monday, 14 January 2013

My First Blog

Really excited about starting the course tonight.  Joy made it all very easy and already feeling much better about what we are going to do.  A really lovely group which makes such a difference to the experience.  I have already learnt how to create a Gmail address and password.  Set up my blog and am writing my first post already!  In order to increase my confidence I need to practise on a daily basis which will hopefully enable me to pass the course and maybe even progress on to the next level.  The time has passed extremely quickly and I am looking forward to next week. 
One of my New Year's resolutions was to learn how to blog successfully so I am pleased that I have made a start on this so early on in the year.  It will be interesting to see how far I have travelled on my learning journey by the end of the programme.
Enjoyed the tea and biscuits - thanks to Joy and Lynne.