stevejp

Possibly a case of not knowing what they don’t know? Generally users know what they need to do the ‘day job’. It’s only when something goes wrong that they realise they don’t know how to fix it.

You may (or, more probably, may not!) be surprised to learn that it’s often a similar situation for teaching staff as well. “Yes, we know you’ve been writing reports perfectly well on ‘Word’ for many years now, but look; here’s shiny new Google Classroom! And the person pushing it (promotion in the offing?) has very kindly set up a complicated template on ‘Google Sheets’ (subtle spelling variations on the second word are available…)! Spell check and auto capitalisation? Well, no, they’re not quite as good as Word, but look how easy it is! What’s that? Not as easy as Word? It can’t possibly take form tutors three times as long to proof read, you must be exaggerating! After all, we’ve given you three whole days to check them, in between your teaching commitment…”

In many ways I completely understand and agree - and it is an appalling situation that training for IT support is minimal, if it exists at all. However, in my mind it goes back to a basic skill set. I would expect a trained primary school teacher to be able to teach most subjects (apart perhaps from MFL) to a certain basic level after a certain amount of research. But ICT knowledge is not necessarily part of that skill set. In the same way, surely a qualified and experienced IT technician would have the skill set to be able to guide and advise on new tech - again, up to a certain level - but that skill set doesn’t include the skills needed to stand in front of a class and teach English, or history. Perhaps a better comparison would be music? I am/ was a brass player, brought up in the world of brass bands, with hardly any knowledge of orchestral instruments until I started work. However, as a music teacher in a primary school I was tuning violins and cellos, conducting choirs and orchestras, teaching baby woodwind players etc. Later on, I used my musical knowledge on a personal level to ‘transfer’ to orchestral percussion, with some success at an amateur level. I’m not showing off or claiming to be a brilliant musician - but I had basic talent and aptitude together with relevant transferable skills which enabled me to work up to a certain level. IT technicians have that same talent, aptitude and transferable skills in their chosen field. It shouldn’t have to be this way - but that’s an argument way beyond my pay-grade! (Edited to add) and just to be clear, I have absolutely no time for the ‘stamping feet’ brigade!

I can’t argue with the above. However, the teaching profession (like any other) consists of people of different ages and at different stages of their career.I think I’ve probably said this before somewhere on here, but it probably bears repeating. When I was doing my B.Ed, laptops didn’t exist. The only computers in the entire place were in a locked room in the maths department, and only maths students were allowed anywhere near them. The nearest thing to technology that I came across was a few minutes playing with a new-fangled gadget called a video camera, and a synthesiser in the music department. When I began teaching, as the only teacher under the age of 40, I was told that the only computer in the place was to go in my classroom. It was a BBC B, with one word-processing program on a cassette tape drive and a logo chip. I progressed from chalkboard to whiteboard in 2003, had the first projector in the school in (I think) 2005, and first encountered an IWB circa 2009. The point I’m trying to make is that in all that time, the training that I had in these technologies was minimal, if there was any at all. I could, and did (up to a point) teach myself, but we had no technician in school, so no one with any technical knowledge to guide or ask for help. Yes, I know that is the same for many industries/ professions. But for teachers, there is no opportunity or expectation to be anything other than an instant expert. That class of kids needs teaching NOW, regardless of the competence or understanding in technologies of the person standing in front of them - and when you come in after half-term to find out that your ‘ordinary’ whiteboard has gone, and the only thing you have to work with is this new-fangled IWB (yes, that is exactly what happened), is there any wonder that some staff panic and ‘shut down’? There is very little time or opportunity to get to know how things work, or the ins and outs and tricks. I’ve just back what I’ve written, and it sounds as though I’m making excuses, or pleading a special case. I’m not, but I just wanted to articulate the ‘other’ point of view.

In this case … absolutely!

Must… resist… the… urge… to… comment…

I don’t suppose there’s another picture of them actually operating the lifty thing (technical term) with the guy still at the top of the ladder…?

So, just to clarify; if your name isn’t Joy you can go straight on?

Happy New Year to one and all.

When I’m feeling low, I can always rely on being cheered up by Edugeek!

Don’t be silly - with that kind of money it would be a new ebike and a new shed to keep it in!

We can always reply upon @6Foot2 to provide a suitable picture for every occasion…

No! Don’t touch it! It’s a trap I tell you - all part of a vicious plot to brainwash the population! Even the cat’s in on it…

What - you mean that wouldn’t work? Oh, well - bang goes that idea, then.

My apologies for steering this thread inexorably (back) towards the gutter. On reflection, I have no doubt that @6Foot2’s post was referring in all innocence to the eponymous car suggested by @MrEprise…

That seems to take ‘5 star all inclusive’ to a whole new level…

Can’t speak generally - but 4 windows in my classroom, each of which have window locks so that they can only open about 4 inches ( I ‘May’ have access to the bar which opens the locks, but to take them off is a disciplinary offence - we’re on the second floor). Two doors, one of which opens onto another classroom, so can’t be propped open to give a bit more airflow. No artificial ventilation - someone keeps nicking my desk fan…

Just think how different the last two thousand years would have been if it hadn’t been for Mary’s positive test a few months before?

Thank you - and the same to everyone from me!

This is all getting a bit rich - tea time, I believe, once I’ve fed the (kit) kat…

Looks like we Jammie Dodgered a bullet, there - better tread gingerly from now on…

Perhaps the work experience kid who came up with this one might like to spend some reflecting on (and maybe even doing something about) the reasons why so many of them left in the first place?

The whole situation is absolutely crackers. In fact, it’s bourbonkers. (extra points if anyone can get custard creams in before the mods get here…)

Dose 1 (AZ): thought I’d got away with it, then very tired and achey for about 24 hours, 24 hours after jab. Dose 2 (AZ): nothing at all - zilch Booster (Moderna, yesterday evening): so far just a sore arm.

There’s got to be a joke in there somewhere, but I haven’t got time to be a frog just before Christmas…