Box's Ultraversity College log

Box and Guare clan inJune

Here we are with our good buddies sitting in front of Chambord in the Loire valley. We had cycled from or campsite and stopped here for a look see and picnic.

posted by abox @ 8:19 pm 0 comments

29th September

The week is developing into a bit of a humdinger. I work in the ICT department in a medium sized secondary school. I'm the primary point of interface between the pupils and staff and the technology. My day is very varied and can be rather difficult as were under resourced, like many schools. Well the first day back to school, the main server we were running decided to up and die on us. I and my team of one have been re-creating the accounts/ passwords/permissions/folder etc for about 800 users. What with; a whole new year group joining, one leaving, some returning in sixth form and of course the teacher and staff changes it's been very difficult. That doesn't even account for all the pc's in the school needing to be re-configured by my boss who is trying to cope with all this workload whilst I think he should be home as he isn't 100%. On Tuesday this week the internet started to mess around and now we've some how managed, even with virus software in place pick up a virus on our admin system. That list of technical problems doesn't even include all the day to day stuff with pupils and staff. For the first time in a long time I've had to say to people no. That might sound strange but I've always managed so far to squeeze in most requests in this job but the straw is more than breaking the back at the moment and I don't like turning people away So what did I decide to do but start a degree!

posted by abox @ 7:54 pm 0 comments

27th September

Yesterday was my first day release session. I've been give 2 mornings off school to work on my degree. When I went into school I was immeadiately pounced on to provide cover for an ICT teacher who had to dash home for one of her children. She had left minimal instructions for a years 7 and 8 lesson. Fortunately I had taught both the classes before because as it turned out they were 7 and 9. The 7s were fine but the 9s have a contingent of 5 stroppy girls. They are immature, disrutive and loud arriving late to class. I felt flustered at first as I was prepared for 8s. I found it made me angry on 2 levels that first I had to establish where they were in their studies and that I had to deal with the interuptions of these girls coming in late and talking having little regard to the rest of the pupils and myself.
I don't think I dealt with the situation very well. I did try the calm approach request they sit and are quiet through the starter in the end I shouted over them which made me feel angry with myself for losing my temper and with them for making me. I sent 2 out to to calm down and allow the rest to settle and to give the instructions. I then went outside to talk to the other 2. They continued being rude and difficult. An Asst. head was passing and watched me trying to talk to these girls. She actually took the 2 girls away and spoke to them so that I could get on with teaching the rest. The lesson continued well with the girls missing the other 3 were on task until the girls returned supposedly apologetic. I'm afraid I coped out something that makes me cross with other teachers. I had run out of computers, I sent 3 girls to work in the other ICT room. On reflection I could have attempted to reform my relationship with these girls, I decided initially not to disturb other pupils who were on task. I did go and see how the girls were geting on and speak calmly about the work with them. They were still not properly responsive but I felt I had tried to bridge and act in the mature fashion I should as teacher.

posted by abox @ 8:49 am 1 comments

The first time

I've just set up this blog as part of my Ultraversity college course. It's the second week and still have no idea what I'm doing. Here's hoping this will change.

posted by abox @ 8:55 am 0 comments