Just what I was thinking..

THE MOG BLOG continues...
This is from http://www.breakfastsociety.com/2008/09/are-you-a-teacher-of-knowledge-or-a-facilitator-of-learning/; a great blog relating to all this youth workery and technologery (!!!!!)


Are you a Teacher of Knowledge or a Facilitator of Learning?
September 11th, 2008 by mas | Filed under Education & Skills, Innovation & Technology.

Maybe “both” is your answer! But are you really?

I was reading this discussion about ‘Using Technology in Education‘ that includes a list of gut reaction responses by educators as to what their fears are about using technology. Some of the things I picked out from that list include:

* I feel like a dinosaur in a world of eagles.
* Not knowing the next step without assistance.
* The kids will know WAY more than I do.
* Not being able to troubleshoot when the kids run into glitches.
* Can’t figure how to do things.
* Biggest fear when things don’t work especially when the kids are flying along, it is so deflating.
* Not knowing how to do a task.
* Looking stupid
* My ineptitude will be revealed to the kids

So can you teach something without being an expert in it first?

That reminds me of conversations we had in the early days of supporting young people to deliver our training. By far the biggest concern young Trainers had with us was that they wouldn’t/weren’t taken seriously - particularly by adult youth workers. This was for a mixture of reasons - the obvious factor of age (very young people being asked to ‘instruct’ much older and sometimes elderly people), being inexperienced, and also because very often young Trainers would end up running a session that wasn’t within their normal expertise.

(Its probably also worth making a point that another factor was the attitudes from some Youth Workers who would make it very well known how ‘qualified’ and ‘experienced’ they were - an attitude I found bewildering given the purpose of their employment!)

How we supported young people to overcome this was to explain they should never assume they are more knowledgeable than the people in their sessions (young or old), and that actually this was not important. What was important was that they were experts in how we did things - they understood the course programme, the structure of the sessions, and our approach to delivering training. Their role was not to ‘educate’, but to facilitate a process through which participants would share knowledge and ideas (and therefore learn).

Everyone who’s ever done any teaching/training/coaching will be very aware that the teacher learns a considerable amount themselves through putting together and delivering teaching.

So I wonder how many of you that are involved with educating feel that in order to educate young people you have to first be an ‘expert’ yourself? Do you need to understand all aspects? or do you instead need to be willing to give things a go, experiment, explore and go on a learning journey with young people? Afterall if you’re not prepared to give something a go because you don’t understand it what sort of example is that?!

Villains from '80s Cartoons...

This is great...

Widgeting...

THE MOG BLOG continues...
I've been writing the code for that widget on the right there for the majority of this morning...Wait it seems to suddenly be afternoon...Whatever.

Anyway i am now contented with it and i reckon it's pretty cool in managing to link all the services i'm using together in one place. Also you can copy and paste the code into your website/blog/SNS etc adn follow me. Not that i can particuarly think of any reason for that, it's more me testing out ideas.

I have refrained from watching kung fu films in my pants so far today but am unwilling to accept the inevitable consequence of finishing this and then having a bath. You know what it's like..."Can't be bothered to get dressed now...I reckon I'll sit in me pants for a bit..." and before you know where you are you're on a chop socky watching crap crisp munching extravaganza that will only end in massive embarrasssment when the neighbours catch you trying to get the washing in...not that i've done any washing but you know what i mean. Maybe rescuing the tent from the vile clutches of the spiders in that strange enclosure under the shed.

Pants wearing chop socky are in my head for a reason today as Lynne has gone to Spain and is not back 'til next Saturday, which leaves the brilliantly incompetent me to perfect my soft furnishing impressions when the door goes. Maybe i should just have a beer....

Hello Lynne, Pen and Kel and Carol.

Oooo one more thing (jusht like Columbo) the mighty van Wyk phoned me yesterday to tell me how much i would've enjoyed being where he was, if i'd been there, which i wasn't.

Cool website tho... CHECK IT OUT

I wanna make a film now. In my pants. Maybe i should watch one instead......

Arrrggghhhhh No Kung Fu Hustle....!!!!!!

AKIRA it is then....

Mog out

NEW MOG SITE...!!!!! (Subscribed yet????)

My new website is at MY NEW DOMAIN
Yes you can now see my antics via themog-page.co.uk.....
COME SHAVE MY YETI...
Have you subscribed to this FEED yet???? Do it now at the top of the page.
There is a screencast coming at the weekend I feel. Muchos excitos yet again as i discover new ways to aggravate the contributory glands in all of ya.
Meantime check out this great story on the fantastic storybox.co.uk. This is yet another fantastic tool for digital storytelling...Tell the world....Watch the skies....

Mog out.

Digital Story Workshops ONLINE???

I'm posting this up for those who i've sent links to regarding my unavailability to come and run workshops at the present time. I know i keep babbling on about using these online tools to capture stories but there is an issue of access especially for those working within LAs.

I think it's about time i put up a vodcast running through the whole concept as it's beginning to take shape in my mind. I shall do that on the weekend. Meantime Please check out the Flickr thing HERE.

I think this may be the way forward as i can't be everywhere at all times...like that time i cloned myself and went to live on the moon...but i was so annoying i soon had to resort to hiding on Earth.

Anyway, I digress. You need to keep nagging me in order for this whole thing to take some shape. You need to get on and have a go. Don't be scared of it...it's very user friendly, honest. After all if we're in the job of helping people overcome barriers in their life, then surely we should lead by example...

Mog Out...

Back from the Isle of Wight

Yeah we had a great time. So i thought it'd be better to make this film and post it up here. Lynne puts it better than me...Check out her review on QYPE.com

Check out the QIK vids from the fest HERE

ENJOY all the lovely people from the festival......

LIVE at the Isle of Wight Festival, June 2008

We're off to the Isle of Wight festival, Fri 13ht June. And mog armed with his mobile phone will be broadcasting LIVE......Check out the vids from HERE....Follow me to the festival...!