Waiting for @FOD3… (the message left in the workbook for the Head of English.)
After a morning of experimenting, I have mocked up a simple wire frame for departments to report their curriculum maps, KS2 transition, KS3, KS4 and KS5. The aim, to maximise and deepen student learning by adjusting and modifying our content and scheduling. Yet what seems to be a simple task, takes too long, and the KS2 transition rarely happens and students get to learn about internet safety in four different subjects over three years.
The reporting frame originally contained three sections: Curriculum Overview, Knowledge, Skills and Understanding and Assessment. Added to this triad is ‘Additional resources or materials’ to support learning. The difference this time is we will be using Excel Web App. If you have a Skydrive or Outlook.com account why wouldn’t you.
So, I upload the write frame or excel workbook and shared the link. Thirty minutes later I am upgrading the wire frame and contemplating why we need to wait for the INSET day to get started. That’s the beauty of the cloud. I am also relieved to think that no one-person will need to collate the evidence from half a dozen different returns, whilst chasing the non-returns. (I can fore go this imposition, if it means a handful of staff take 15 minutes for staff to stop sending one another comedy messages as they explore the benefit of instant collaboration.
In much the same way as myself and @numpty_teacher discussed how we might use collaborate documents.
@numpty_teacher – Managed to create new sheet.
@Kristianstill – cool – anything needed for KS5 or can we use the same format?
@numpty_teacher – Format looks good, but we’ve been talking about making more of independent study / reading around the subject. So maybe something like…
@Kristianstill okay – but also need to think whole school nuances
Additional resources / materials – That could work for all subjects – nice
@numpty_teacher – We were discussing it Thurs morn in our KS5 meeting (although only 4 remembered it was on!)
@Kristianstill – How do you find the web app?
@numpty_teacher – I like it. It’s close enough to the prog we all know to be useable. And it allows for instant feedback on ideas if you’re working in separate places.
@Kristianstill – Do you think staff will ‘get it? Writing and seeing what other depts are doing at the SAME time – and weave it together?
@numpty_teacher – It’s always reassuring to see other’s doing the same thing. But it will also make cross curricular a lot easier. If we could see when history are doing WW1 we could tie in war poetry, for example. Or when science are doing genes etc we could study ‘Unique’
@Kristianstill – Do you think you would be happy helping me, help depts. Just dropping in. Trouble shooting?
@numpty_teacher – No probs – I’ve always had an interest in tech & love a good gadget! 🙂
@Kristianstill – So true, so true – history WWI poetry, Science and Unique. I would like to post this chat as a blog post too.If thats okay.
@numpty_teacher – Sure.
@Kristianstill – I just wanted a very simple layout and I think we have it.
So there you have it. Our first experiment in collaborative, cloud based INSET is this Friday. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. For what it is worth there is an app for that too. Confused? Skydrive on your iOS device, very handy. 
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