Tag Archives: CPD

I have just finished reading Mindset by Carol Dweck. The book focuses on the fixed and growth mindsets and how each type of mindset means different reactions to different situations. A fixed mindset person would make excuses for their failings where as a growth mindset person will see each failing as a chance to learn and improve. Some of the examples used were John McEnroe who had a fixed mindset,hence his behaviour on court, and Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the best basketball player ever, who has a growth mindset.

I found myself to have a fixed mindset in certain situations and a growth mindset in others. Over the next few weeks and months. I am going to try and look at each situation, criticism or failing as a chance to grow and develop myself as a learner and person.

This will be difficult as criticism or failing can sometimes be seen as personal or seen as an attack on your abilities.

I plan to introduce a more growth mindset approach into my classroom by modelling a growth mindset approach to problems and difficulties that may arise and also by the feedback I provide. To promote a growth mindset, it is crucial that you feedback honestly to students, so that they can be coached into realising how they can improve. A growth mindset can also be promoted through praise. Instead of praising a students ability “well done you finished that quickly you must be smart” which promotes the thought process ‘if I cant do it quickly then I’m dumb’, the alternative is to praise the effort and process leading to the outcome, “that’s really good, you must have worked hard”, this allows the thought process to relate working hard with good work.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book as it made me think about my own mindset and challenged me to change myself and my teaching practice. I would recommend the book to anyone who loves to learn.

Joe McNee

Bulletin

CPD Bulletin 11th March

May 11, 2015 Mr Murphy Leave a comment

In this bulletin;

Star Awards 2015 — nominations are now open
NQ verification — Round 2 outcomes
Estimates
Marker opportunities
SQA Journeys
HNC/D Creative Industries: Media and Communication
Internal assessment support materials
Upcoming NQ key dates

Continue reading CPD Bulletin 11th March →

British Council, CPD Sessions, Pedagoo, Professional Development Workshop

Professional Development Workshop

May 6, 2015 Mr Murphy Leave a comment

I was browsing on-line last night and came across this event that is happening in Grangemouth in November based around practitioner enquiry. At the moment they are just seeking people who wish to present but will open it up to anyone who wants to attend in the future once the program is finalised. Thought it might appeal to some staff across the school?

http://www.pedagoo.org/enquirymeet/

Bulletin

CPD Bulletin 4th May

May 4, 2015 Mr Murphy Leave a comment

In this Bulletin;

• SQA School Co-ordinator Conferences 2015

• Results Services: Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service

• Malpractice in internally-assessed qualifications

• NQ Verification: support for ‘Not Accepted’ decisions

• Importance of maintaining confidentiality

• HN centre/candidate surveys 2014–15

• HN Science Launch Event

• Upcoming NQ key dates

Continue reading CPD Bulletin 4th May →

Geography, Professional Learning, Self-Reflection, Teaching Pedagogy, Vision and Leadership

Reflections on ‘How to Come Up With Great Ideas (and Actually Make Them Happen)’ by Euan McIntosh

May 4, 2015 Mr Small Leave a comment

How_To_Come_Up_With_Great_Ideas_Ewan_McIntosh_grande I have recently been reading ‘How To Come Up With Great Ideas and Actually Make Them Happen’ by Euan McIntosh. The book is primarily about how we, as teachers, engage in and with innovation and change within education. Euan’s background is as a teacher of Modern Languages in East Lothian, working as a National Advisor to the Scottish Government on learning and technology and as a Digital Commissioner for Channel 4. He is now CEO of ‘No Tosh’, a consultancy firm seeking to guide educators through the process of being creative and design thinking, taking lessons from the creative industries and applying them to an educational setting.

Through my initial reading of the book there are some central themes that come across as relevant and incisive given the current climate in Scottish education of development, innovation and change

Continue reading Reflections on ‘How to Come Up With Great Ideas (and Actually Make Them Happen)’ by Euan McIntosh →

Agenda

Inset Day Agenda for 5th May

April 27, 2015 Mr Murphy Leave a comment

INSET DAY AGENDA – Tuesday 5th May 2015

0845 – 0945 – Draft SIP 2015/2016 – English Open Plan Area
0945 – 1045 – Counter Terrorism with Jeff How – English Open Plan Area
1045 – 1100 – Break
1100 – 1300 – Departments working under direction of PTCs
1300 – 1400 – Lunch
1400 – 1530 – Departments working under direction of PTCs

Bulletin