Academies - am I right to be worried?

I'll be honest and admit that I'm not sure about academies. I have a few worries.

One is about how it is being rushed through. I suspect the media are playing a but of a political game with this, but there is no doubt that this is being rushed for September. I'm slightly curious as to what the big rush is.

I'm also concerned for my local area (where I live, more than where I teach). We have 3 schools in town. 2 are officially outstanding, and well established. The third is offically satisfactory, with good featrues, and improving, as well as relatively new. It was also inspected quite early under the new framework, when they were being tougher.

It's the third school I'm worried for. It's the one my daughters ought to go to, asI'd like them to go to the most local school. If the other 2 become academies, and they do not, it is not going to do their reputation any good, and so they will continue to be the third choice for many in town.

With both these point in mind I sent a tweet to my local MP - I also RT'ed it under ukedchat, you may have seen it. I actually got a reply, which I'm impressed by, but am not sure where to go from here.

UKEdchat - trying to bring more into the fold.

Below is the text of an email I've sent to my team and SLT. It's an attempt to get more people from school involved.

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Dear all,

No Monday Notes proper this week – as I said last week, that was the last of the year. There are however, a couple of things I want to mention going forward into the holiday.

There was an online debate last Thursday night called UKEdchat. It’s every Thursday night (this was the 3rd). This week was about creativity, and what it means, and how we can encourage it. It threw up a few interesting ideas.

Firstly, there was some discussion about exercise books. Why do we use them? What’s the point, and whose benefit is it for? Now I’m not about the suggest that we don’t use books (although we seem to get through an awful lot), but maybe we need to look at how we use them. Most students (in my opinion) don’t ever look back at their stuff, and that’s something to look at. This is leading to this link… http://kn.open.ac.uk/public/document.cfm?docid=12916 which is a research document about Learning Journals. I’d like to consider next year how we could use something like this.

Also looking at creativity, the same person who wrote the above research paper blogged “creativity in the maths classroom”. It’s at http://mainlyschool.blogspot.com/2010/07/creative-maths-classrooms.html and makes for quite an interesting read, and there are things I want to try (but probably not this week).

People’s summaries after the event can be found at http://ukedchat.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/participants-reflections-from-15072010/ .

Each week a different person shortlists 5 question’s and it polled. The poll is at http://twtpoll.com/pv56x8 . This Thursday’s promises to be interesting. Leading the vote (as I write this) is How do we make IWB’s truly interactive. As you can imagine I’ve got a few ideas to contribute, and look forward to learning more. Second place (currently) is “How do we encourage student ownership of their learning”, also something I’d like to discuss, so it looks to be a good evening either way. I’m certainly planning to take part fully.

If you want to know how to either lurk, or to take part fully, give me a shout. It’s well worth it!


Chris

Google Update

An email I got from our County ICT people on the blocking of Google....

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Dear All,

I am pleased to inform you all that the testing of SWGfL SafetyNet with the changes that Google made over the weekend have been successfully completed.

From Wednesday morning:

· https://encrypted.google.com will be blocked and therefore access to Search over SSL will be prevented for all users in the SWGfL. School have the option to unblock https://encrypted.google.com , but there should be no reason for taking this option.

· https://www.google.com will be unblocked. This will enable the use Gmail and other Google application which require a Log on to be used. Please note that if you visit the site https://www/google/com the page will be displayed as if you are about to make a search, but when you attempt to make a search the https://encrypted.google.com filter will block the site.

· If users attempt to use http://encrypted.google.com there will not be any SWGfL SafetyNet filtering page, but a browser message stating that the browser cannot display the web page. This is because the block is on a https:// page.

· The SWGfL Support desk is ready to provide assistance should schools have any queries.

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Hopefully it will all work now!!

Why Google has been blocked

Copy of FAQ of Why Google has been blocked.

Having found out by chance that Google was to be blocked at school this morning, and only finding out by chance from a friend, I started emailing around school & County. This is a copy of the FAQ I got back. What I'm just as concerned by is that when I contacted school, it seemed that I was the first to know about this. I'll let you know how I get on in my campaign to get Google re-instated in school (for Staff & Students).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why has Google “search over SSL” been blocked.?

The Google’s Search over SLL” effectively by passes any filtering controls that schools / local authorities/ SWGfL has for the use of Google search engine. Typically the normal settings which schools would use are:

· Search term filtering - the ability to prevent certain words from being used when performing a search.

· Content filtering – the ability of SWGfL SafetyNet to dynamically read the results from a search and if inappropriate content is found in the results block the display of that page.

· Control the access to Goolge’s safe searching features so that individuals cannot select the “do not filter my search results”, options

Without these controls anyone using Google’s “search over SSL” has uncontrolled access to the search engine.

The beta version of Google’s “search over SLL” current searches, web pages, Videos, Books, News, Blogs, Updates and discussions. Please note that the video search also return thumbnail images which are not filtered.

You need to be aware that blocking https://www.google.com also prevents access to Google applications where you need to login to the service, for example Gmail.

Does this affect Google’s normal search?

No. All other Google search engines will work. e.g. http://www.google.com, http://www.google.co.uk etc

When was Google’s “search over SSL” Blocked ?

The decision to block Google’s “Search over SSL” was taken by Local Authorities and the SWGfL after consultation with experts in the field, Lawyers and Local Authority Staff. Emails were sent to Headteachers at schools in each Local Authority on the 8^th 9^th June 2010 explaining the decision. The Block came into effect on over the weekend 12^th 13^th June 2010

Are there any other implications of Blocking https://www.google.com ?

A side effect of the blocking is that it also blocks the ability to log in to Google applications such as Gmail. The SWGfL is investigation potential solutions and is in dialog with Google to try and find an alternative.

Can schools unblock Google’s “search over SSL”?

The short answer is “Yes”, however schools need to be fully aware of the implications in that unblocking https://www.google.com , basically gives any user in the school uncontrolled access to the search engine.

Schools can request to have https://www.google.com unblocked by

a.) Visiting the web page at .... completing the form
or if having difficulties by:

b.) Calling the SWGfL help desk

c.) Or your Local Authority support

SWGfL SafetyNet will be updates to enable schools to make these changes, planned for the week beginning 14^th June, but only for those schools using the latest version SWGfL SafetyNet . An update for the older version is planned for later in June.

What happens when a user tries to access https://www.google.com when it is blocked ?

For most users there will not be a filtering messages, users will see a browser message explaining that the pages was not available.

Some Scenarios with advice following the blocking of Google’s “search over SSL”

1. School requires access to Google search engines

Impact: Low.
Schools will be protected using SWGfL SafetyNet as before. The search engine http://www.google.com, and http://www.google.co.uk are still operational

2. Some members of staff need to continue to use Gmail and/or other Google applications requiring you to log in.

Impact: Medium.
The blocking of https://www.google.com will prevent staff from logging into Gmail and other Google applications. Schools are asked to consider the use these services and if required then schools are able to make use of the staff proxy functionality. This feature of SWGfL SafetyNet enables members of staff to have a username and password that allows unfiltered access to the Internet from certain dedicated computers in the school and consequently access to https://www.google.com whilst other users remain blocked.

3. Staff and pupils require access to Gmail and other Google applications requiring you to log in to access the service

Impact: High.
The blocking of https://www.google.com will prevent access to the Google applications. Schools will need to consider the implications for unblocking https://www.google.com for the whole school and the processes they will put in place to monitor pupils access of the Googles search over SLL” . It is recommended that any school considering this option contacts their Local Authority for advice.

The SWGfL have made available a web page to request that Google’s “search over SSL” is made available to the school, and consequently access to Gmail and other Google applications .

Web Page .....

Real Functional Maths

I like maths. I like maths because it's useful, but sometimes in class that is not always obvious. Imagine my delight when I got this email from my little brother (OK, he's 26, but compared to me..).

So we're having a little trouble working out a backup plan should the ash cloud ground our flights next month... we plan on booking a backup coach/train combo to get to barcelona in case Vatnajokull kicks off again.

The plane fare is refundable if the ash kicks off - its price is £75.

For the coach/train, we have two options. One is half refundable - total price £100, but £40 of that is refundable. The other is fully refundable - total price £159.50, all of that refundable.

We're putting the odds of Iceland ruining things at 50/50, so which one train fare is best - half or full - to get based on the prices involved?

This got me thinking. Partly thinking about how to solve the problem, and partly "ooh - that's a good lesson idea".

Anyhow, here is the spreadsheet I wrote ...

The full link is here...

Now all I need to do is turn it into a lesson. Modelling, excel skills, researching prices, ...

I feel a bit let down by the technology.

I always feel a high tech solution should be better (more efficient, slicker, make me look better) than a low tech one. With that in mind when planning to collect heights of Y9 to do some serious stats with, I decided to set up a motion sensor in the top of the doorway, and measure the distance to the floor.

Then as students arrive, they stand in the doorway (no heels please), and the sensor measures the distance to the top of their heads. They type that in to a Google Form (along with Age, gender, and some other bits), and then the spreadsheet subtracts one from the other to give their height.

This should have been fool proof. Yeah, right.

Sensor in doorway. Check.

It measures 2.04 m to the ground. Check with tape measure. Check.

I stand underneath, subtract reading from 2.04m to get my height. It tells me I'm 186 cm - 6'1" (according to Wolfram|Alpha).

The problem? I'm 6'3". Double check against my known kids heights. It puts them down 2 inches (and Pippa was measured by school nurse recently). Check with the missus - it puts her short too, by an inch and a half (and she checked at the gym recently).

I can't work out how it could possibly be wrong, but it is.

So my lesson plan goes back to having a metre ruler on the wall, which upsets me more than is reasonable! At least I'm still using GoogleForms to collect the data. That's progress at least.

Using Google in school

I'm probably behind the times. In terms of using google in school, I know that probably anyone reading this is streets ahead of me, but in terms of the "pencil" analogy,I like to think I'm a sharp, so am happy to steal ideas from you Leaders out there.

So, here is how I've found Google useful to me in teaching in 2010, and bear in mind that in 2009 all google was to me was a search engine (and maps and google earth, but that's all!).

1. Google Docs for coursework. I read the idea in #movemeon and ran with it. About half my Y10 GCSE Statistics class created a google account, and used that to write their stats coursework. As they worked they shared it with me, so I could go in, correct / annotate it as they went along. On first glance, those that used google docs have got better coursework than those that just worked on it on their own. Obviously I kept to exam board rules and guidelines, but I was able to have the sorts of conversations I'd have had in class, at any time.
I've shown it to other departments now and have discovered they are using it to good effect. I've also uploaded our department handbook to GoogleDocs, so that anyone in the team can edit it if they need to.

2. Google Docs for Parents Evening. We have a system whereby students collect subject consultation evening appointments on little scraps of paper stuck in their planner. This system works, after a fashion, but there was a flaw this year as one of my form was off sick, and parents still wanted appointments (reasonably enough).
So, I set up a spreadsheet, emailed teachers the link, and told them to make appointments for this family. This meant there were no clashes, as the teachers still set the times, and I could leave a copy of the times at the front desk for them.
I'm not sure this would work large scale yet, but for this particular case it was brilliant.

3. Google Forms for reply slips. As inspired by Tom Barretts (as always) excellent blog on how he used google forms to collect data. I'd never even realised google forms existed until then! We've run a Y10 maths information evening, and have sent out invitations to ALL year 10 parents. To get an idea of numbers there is a reply slip at the bottom, but I decided that I also wanted to get parents to be able to reply online (the weak link in the slip system is that it's students that have to return the slips!).
Setting up the form took about half an hour (and would be quicker next time), and then I created a cutomized bit.ly address to make it more attractive.
I actually put the address as a www (www.bit.ly/jbsmathsevening) as I thought parents would be more comfortable with a web address starting www. I'm indebted to 2 members of my twitter PLN who 'roadtested' the form for me, and gave layout advice, @tomhenzley and @jobadge. We had about 30 parents come, with almost half of the replies being electronically. For a first effort, I was very pleased.

Next steps - make SLT aware of how we can use these resources, and get other departments to use them. Not quite sure how yet!