I am currently working on the defence assignment. I have completed the impact assignment and found some very useful diagrams to illustrate the impact of my research.

The diagrams I used are called "A typical "V" diagram" and it is generally used in engineering and it really put my research into perspective. Basically it starts off with the concept (the requirements, an idea), goes on to testing and development (trialling the idea - putting it into practice and presenting findings) and then Delivery to customer (putting into practice throughout workplace).

The defence assignment is not flowing at the moment - and although the deadline for this module has been extended from the 5th to the 12th of January I am being careful not to relax too much as there is still pressure to  complete on time. Mind you the breathing space is good.

Well back to it!

Well the pressure is really on now - not just for this module but until January when the degree finishes.

For our final assignment of the Implement Action Inquiry and Exhibition Module we've been asked to double check that we have covered all the assessment criteria and suggested that we might like to include where we have covered the criteria in the writing. This is optional which is a good thing because I can't see how I'm going to work this in.

On the other hand it could be that if it is not been made abundantly clear we could lose marks - but then what if we draw attention to something and then get it wrong! Oh too many questions and not enough time to think about them let alone work out the answers.

I realise that we are meant to be working more independently at this level but most of us are here for the very first time and it's all new. KM a fellow researcher said

Well now the exhibition is over it's just a case of writing everything up Ha Ha!!

Suddenly I'm running out of time AGAIN! so much for all my good intentions at the beginning of term - I had intended to stay ahead and not have this panic. Famous last words - the exhibition just seemed to take over and everything got pushed to the back of the queue. Still never mind just a few more hurdles to jump over and it will soon be January.

Normally I don't work on a Friday but the ast couple of weeks I have been going in to the school to try to catch up on jobs that need doing - there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! This week, however, i am determined not to go in and stay home and get some more work done to my assignments.

That's all for tonight

Well I did it and the staff were great - It's amazing how once the adrenalin starts to flow it can all fall into place. Obviously it wasn't perfect but I was happy with it and so were the staff.
I don't think they realised just how much work had gone into this. Many of them had not realised the potential of this software and felt that ICT was for the ICT staff to worry about.
As a school it should be the concern of us all just as all subjects should be.

It was interesting to see how much more interested they were in the reporting facility which includes a text report and a spidograph. I assumed (wrongly) that they wouldn't be as interested in these as we already have a report facility in school that we use.
I did point out that the text report would give guidance on the children's progress and the spidograph to get teh whole picture of children's attainment to identify any issues that should be addressed.

I'm now having a race against time with LA3 and 4 not meing that clear to me. I have made a start on LA3 but don't feel that it is anywhere near level 3 standard. I may well send what I've done directly to my LF as I think I need some guidance here.

it probably doesn't help with the Validation and Defence module starting on the 30th October. There is only so much information that I can process at any one time and I think I have to concentrate on this module first and get it out of the way and then concentrate on the last module - there's a lovely thought - the LAST module!!!!

I set up my static display today in preparation for my exhibition presentation on Monday.

A few people have shown an interest in the display already which is a positive sign. I'm still not looking forward to doing the presentation in front of the staff but hey - what's the worst thing that's going to happen to me? LOL

I thought I had completed the first 2 assignments of this module but now I have had some more advice and am not sure where to go with it so I will probably print them out again and have a look a bit later. I think for now I'm going to make a start on LA3.

I noticed that the next module - Validation and Defense - started on the 30th October. It is always a worry with modules overlapping - espeicially when you're nowhere near finishing the first.

Oh well onwards and upwards!

My exhibition is booked for the 6th November in a staff meeting after school.

I have had a couple of run through's of my presentation with the colleague that has been very supportive. This has been a great confidence boost for me. It has put things into perspective for me and I feel a little better about the presentation itself.
I still have my doubts as to how well it will be received - I just have to go with it and see.

Something happened today that put everything into perspective - my parents were in a car accident, thankfully no-one was hurt , but you know all the worrying I have done over this presentation - it makes you realise that there are much more important things to worry about, to spend our energy on. I am not saying for one minute that my research, studies and presentations are not important but it's all about balance and I feel that recently I have lost sight of that balance.

The learning set is still very quiet - seems that its mainly the girls that do all the talking the guys are really quiet - I do hope that everything is OK.

Well thats all for now.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the support I have received from some members of staff where I work. People are often quick to say that they are prepared to help out but when it comes to it, although they don't mean to, they are not able to help.

One of the teachers at work has said on a number of occassions that she would be prepared to help out in any way. Last week I decided to ask for her support after feeling weighed down with the pressure of assignments and exhibition preparations. She has been absolutely brilliant offering some very useful advice and constructive criticism helping me to structure my assignments in a more reader friendly way.
This particular teacher has always taken an interest in my study's and even with work has always been a support when I have had any concerns whilst teaching.
She has also offered to let me have a practice run through with my presentation aswell as another member of staff - I thought I would ask both of them together to see if I can get two perspectives. It depends on time available for both members of staff.

Anyway, with half term looming I am busy trying to adjust assignments and gather exhibition data.
My exhibition is on the 6th of November straight after school and the static exhibition will be on display for the week. I am still having trouble with my feedback questionnaire. Not sure about the phrasing of the questions. Perhaps I can finalise them when I have finished my presentation. Even after i have had a practice run in front of the two members of staff.

That's all for today!

Well we are already well in to the final semester of my studies and already I am playing catchup!

I am manageing to gather artefact for my exhibition and for the presentation - I have to say that I am not convinced that Flippi is the best assessment tool for our school - mainly because I don't feel that there will be the cooperation from other members of staff.
I feel that I was at a disadvantage to start with the staff being quite negative towards the software - they say because of the extra work - but all the same I don't feel that they will give the software a fair go. Someone else implied that they were not happy about this with a comment that went something like "Well you know what these boots are made for!"

Also, I was asked if I was going over to the infants after the amalgamation of the 2 schools (in September) to sort out ICT. I am not convinced that this was a request for help or whether someone was feeling threatened. Either way it is not an easy situation and one that should be dealt with sensitively.

After speaking to someone who was known to be a Flippi enthusiast today I was surprised to hear that he is no longer using Flippi and his school have designed their own method of monitoring assessments.

This in itself is a bit of a worry but to be fair I feel that we should give the software a fair chance and trial it for at least a year. This is going to be difficult trying to keep the momentum going but I feel to be fair to the software we shoud gve it the appropriate amount of time. If it is decided that the software does not meet our requirements I feel that it would only be appropriate to speak to the Flippi helpline and express our concerns and what we reqire from the software.

Because of the amalgamation everyone is so busy no-one really has time to sit and discuss my research with me which can be quite difficult. So there are days when the whole world seems to be rushing past me oblivious of my inner turmoil at how I am going to pull all this together, how seriously I am going to be taken.
Someone did ask me yesterday whether the headteacher was going to be at my presentation to make sure that members of staff were kept in check. This just about says it all really.

We will see - I'm sure that most of my colleagues will be very supportive. I think I'll sign off for tonight and get some sleep! LOL!

Well I did it! Uploaded UNH1995 module. The only problem is that i didn't read that the deadline time was 4pm and not 12 midnight as it usually is.
Alas it now shows that I was late uploading an assignment - it just gets better and better doesn't it?!?!

I decided that I would try to keep on top of things and enter som data for my main exhibition - No chance - last two weeks of term and things are crazier than ever - and I have been inputting data for teacher assessment and uploading reports. Now we have the QCA test results to input - and SATs analysis data is to be input.
On top of all of this I am meant to plan for next year as well. I also have to clear out the Server room so that I can make room for the new one to come in with a floor to ceiling rack to make room for the expansion of the network.

Well onwards and upwards!!

When I was at school I used to love the summer term - long sunny days, lots of fun activities at school, generally a good time all round. Since working in a school I have realised how much work is involved in these "fun" activities.
On top of everything else we have the builders on site at school building the corridor that will join the two schools - just to add to the chaos.
I found out today that the corridor may not even have a roof on by the time we go back to school in September throwing my plans into turmoil. This was a result of a conversation with the foreman of the builders where we had alot of sucking through the teeth and shaking of the head - Do they teach them to do that at Builder's school?
This does concern me slightly because this means that my teaching is going to be all over the place for the first half of the term and somehow I still have to plan and prepare my main exhibition. Just hope that all this extra pressure doesn't adversely affect my studies.

The E-portfolio is coming on nicely and I'm identifying evidence - not sure I have the baance quite right yet.

Have spoken to another researcher with regards to helping out with some confusion over the issue of evidence. I have had confirmation from an LF that the advice I was giving was on the right track. That was comforting for a change.