The first Atomic TeachMeet took place this week, bringing Teachmeet back to it’s roots.
When Brian Sharland and I started tweeting about this, our intention was to create a regular, social and small gathering of classroom practitioners,… Or a teach meet , if you like. No stage. No pressure. No focus on technology. Just a chance for teachers to share ideas.
We hoped to start with a small group of 5, and that it exactly what happened! It was great that we had a voices from the state and independent sectors, primary and secondary – and different subject/interests – with such a small group. But this proves the theory of Quantum CPD that we had hoped for.
Alexandra got us started and talked about Quiz and Switch, as an engaging method to make MfL matter. Brian and I were both
Quiz and switch for #mfl. ..These are higher level, clearly! Alexandra from Abingdon gets us going #atomicteachmeet pic.twitter.com/5hK6SbAxWI
— Eylan Ezekiel (@eylanezekiel) June 11, 2014
Brian Sharland talk about connections between parsing in code and in MfL / Grammar for writing. This opened up all sorts of ideas
@sharland links parsing in code to speaking in language #atomicteachmeet pic.twitter.com/w8XG4ZjDHb — Eylan Ezekiel (@eylanezekiel) June 11, 2014
I talked about my adventures in Project Based Learning, and Critique, and got some very useful feedback on how to evaluate pupil exhibitions at the end of the project.
By the time Ian Yorston (the most reasonable Unreasonable man you’ll ever meet!) arrived, Jane had broadened the conversation into varying ways to manage resources, and we discussed FireFly, and other VLE alternatives.
One of our sponsors, Charley from Educake, arrived to say hi, and we got to say thanks for the food and drink Educake had paid for!
So, what did we learn? Mainly, that the model works, and it is worth repeating!!! Everyone had a good time, and learned something, (including where to park on the Cowley Road!)
So, if you like the sound of Atomic TeachMeet, please sign up for the next one in July!
Finally, a HUGE thanks to the team at Atomic Pizza – Lucy, Debbie and Hannah, for letting us have the space, use of their WiFi, pens and for their support. You guys rock,