Care workers 'exhausted' by staff shortage

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42139628

The link above, from a Northern Ireland investigation, will no doubt resonate with many of you, as care workers.

Some of the findings are jaw-dropping, and in no way positive.

It’s a fairly lengthy read for a weblink, but merits some feedback.

I look forward to your comments.

Mark

Graduate (from 17 years ago) with 2:1 sues Oxford for £1m

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-42070712


Wow, this is a quite incredible story, it really is and I don't actually know where to start with it. So I shall leave it to you to make some comment.


What I will say is this. As somebody who has been around a bit, academically speaking of course, it is complete nonsense (in my opinion) to suggest that anything other than getting a First hampers employment choices. That simply isn't true, as a rule. A First can open doors, but that isn't quite the point here and is impossible to measure.


There are a very small percentage of graduands who achieve a First, often the criteria is getting 70% in all assessments in years three and four. That is tough. But achievable.


But it does raise the issue of what is a good degree and what is a bad one? Well for me, there is no such thing as a bad degree, or an HND, HNC and so on.


Any student will try and obtain the best possible award they can get. And sometimes a 2:2 is the best they will ever achieve. Is that a poor level of study? Of course it isn't. It is an Honours degree which demonstrates the learner can evaluate, analyse, write academically, work autonomously, reference, summarise, perform under pressure in exams, manage time effectively, apply theory to practice and many other skills besides.


But this article suggests a lot of interesting twists and turns - "Mr Siddiqui also alleges medical information about him was not submitted to examiners by a tutor". This is vital for any examination board and I have mentioned this to you before in classes. I have had occasion, quite a few times as it goes, to 'talk up' a student’s performance based on extenuating circumstances, which can be plentiful.


I look forward to your thoughts on this article, and I suspect he won't win his case, although we only have limited information at this point.


Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.


Mark

How virtual reality is taking dementia patients back to the future

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/20/virtual-reality-taking-dementia-patients-back-to-future-wayback-vr-film


I thought this was an interesting health related article / video worth posting.


The notion that people living with dementia become more feeling beings than thinking beings is quite an interesting one I think.


I am glad to see that this innovative idea is bringing happiness to dementia sufferers, a trick of the mind if you like. It is clear that the users are uplifted, which is a clear positive.


The aim of The Wayback is to help spark memories and start conversations that grow harder to come by as the disease takes hold. The film struck a chord with the staff and the residents, both those living with dementia and those without, bringing back long lost memories for all.


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUAjbO6X7F21JZ5tNTV49g - the WayBack reaction!


I hope this has raised a smile and made you reflect.


Mark

Girl, 12, draws pictures of her life with heart condition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-41977599/girl-12-draws-pictures-of-her-life-with-heart-condition


We always strive to articulate our feelings as clearly as we can, whether it be in words, pictures, song, non-verbally etc., but this link is worth a look I would say. Emily is an inspirational little girl, make no mistake.


Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.

How Iceland persuaded teens to give up drink and drugs

Iceland used to have a big teenage smoking, drinking and drug problem. Now it doesn't.


This is how it made the change. Let me know your thoughts.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-41973296/how-one-country-persuaded-teens-to-give-up-drink-and-drugs

Continuing the language theme...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41944136


So what do you make of this? Harry McPotter?

Language is both wonderful and strange you know!

If you are a poor speller this might not help matters but it did make me laugh!


Don't forget, the caffeine inside is beige.


If you are ever struggling though, that's why a spellchecker should be your new best friend this term.


Anyway, have a look at this mug...

We all need a wee bit of luck sometimes!

Hello loyal blog readers!


This morning I achieved something that most amateur golfers never manage to do in a lifetime, a hole in one at golf.


I hear it is a one in 12,500 chance. So given the boffins have worked that out, I feel very lucky indeed!


So, it was Scotch all round at the 19th hole, (not the £7,000 a nip type you understand), and high fives aplenty.


For one shot today then, I can consider myself a decent player. The rest of the holes weren't so good of course, ha ha.


Have a great weekend,


Mark (aka Bertie Bassett as one patron called me today!)

Frequently asked questions - reading assessment

Hello all,


I was impressed with your input over the last few weeks, verbally and in your written analysis, so well done to all of you in attendance over those preparatory sessions. If you have any further questions, please ask them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.


So, some FAQ...


Q. Can I use all of the materials we have used over the last three weeks?

A. Yes


Q. Even the sample answers you gave out and all the amazing helpnotes you lovingly prepared?

A. Yes!


Q. How does the assessment work?

A. I have set aside three weeks for each reading assessment (there are two to do before the holidays). This is so nobody feels rushed and has ample time to give their best work in. The sessions will be done in silence with me in attendance and I will mark what you have done after each class. This feedback will be made available to you the following week on a one to one basis.


Q. What happens if I don't get through the two assessments by the time we break for the Christmas vacation?


A. There will be time in the catch up week (in January) for you to complete any work not already passed for me.


Q. Am I right in saying that question 1 is where I provide a summary of the main points in my own words (remembering to think about somebody who has never read the article before), with some supporting quotes, stats etc., questions 2, 3 and 4 are on purpose, reader and writer's stance followed by question 5 which is on evaluation?

A. Absolutely correct. There will be no trick questions, just the same format as the ones we did in class. My PP helpnotes are there to do just that, help you.


Q. Am I being assessed on my writing skills? I know I am a poor speller.


A. No, this assessment assesses your analytical and evaluative skills, and there will be no penalty for bad spelling. Spelling becomes important when you put PP slides together, write an essay etc.


Q. Any final advice?


A. Don't stress out, do your best, bring a highlighter pen and don't feel you have to complete the assessment in one sitting. There is plenty of time set aside for you.

A world where fish are no longer forced to climb trees...

This is a fantastic video which questions how we can learn, how we can be taught and raises many different questions about our own psyche perhaps.


Collaborative learning works well, sharing ideas and thinking differently works. I too believe in students and their capacity to learn, be creative, be evaluative and have an equal voice. That to me is important in my style of teaching. Reflection and being a reflective practitioner comes naturally to me. Yet we know there are many ways to teach, learn and assess.


The Finnish education system works. And addressing different ways to approach an assessment, well that works too.

On another note, it actually reminded me of my dad who was a well respected Music teacher for many years and how he viewed the curriculum. I'll leave that to one of his star pupils, arguably one of Scotland's finest female writers, to describe that. There's a wee link to an article from Janice Galloway at the bottom of this post. 

If you have any comments on the video or the newspaper article, please note them below as I'd like to hear your thoughts. 

Have a lovely weekend, 

Mark

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jul/13/janice-galloway-my-hero-kenneth-hetherington

World's most expensive dram of Scotch was a fake

https://stv.tv/news/east-central/1401340-world-s-most-expensive-dram-of-whisky-exposed-as-fake/


Further to the subject we have been looking at lately, check the story above! And look at the costs of the whisky, had it been legitimate...

Word / Phrase of the year

So what is the phrase that made the top of the list as most used in everyday conversation, Twitter feeds etc.? Fidget spinner? Insta? No, it is fake news which will now appear in dictionaries across the land next year.


Former 'winners' noted below!


2016 - Brexit: Noun meaning "the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union".


2015 - Binge-watch: Verb meaning "to watch a large number of television programmes (especially all the shows from one series) in succession".


2014 - Photobomb: Verb meaning "spoiling a photograph by stepping in front of them as the photograph is taken, often doing something silly such as making a funny face".


2013 - Geek: Countable noun meaning "someone who is skilled with computers, and who seems more interested in them than in people".