Teaching the value of Mental Computation when there is a calculator in their pockets.

I don't think any educator would argue that mental computation is a dying skill. Quite the opposite in fact, it is an absolutely essential skill in day-to-day life. How though, can we rationalise it for our students? They so quickly default to using calculators (and to be fair, nearly always have access to them), that the simple efficiency of being able to calculate, say, simple percentages, without one, is becoming an increasingly hard sell. Mental computation seems to be turning into a novelty skill, a bit of a party trick.

How can we help our students to truly value mental computation?

I want to believe

I want to believe in the Ultranet. I really do. It has so much potential.

But parts of it really suck, and it's very hard to stand up as the face of the Ultranet, preaching its virtues, when it continually lets me down.

If nothing else, it's an excellent lesson in resilience!

Back to School

Back To School - CC http://ngphotography.com.au

A new school year is just around the corner, filled with possibilities.

One of the new tools I'm trying this year is OneNote. I've never used it before, but the 2010 version seems to be pretty much everything I need to turn my planning and record keeping paperless . As an added bonus, the iOS apps make it easy to view my work on the go (along with basic editing).

I'm knee deep (almost literally, I have piles of resources at my feet) in planning at the moment - a brand new year level (year eight) will no doubt bring new challenges, and is refreshing. I've taught year seven for the last 5 years (plus this year as well) so it will be good to have a change.

I'm also getting organised to begin my new role as Digital Learning Coordinator - I have big plans, including the foundation of a student 'e-team', parent Ultranet roll-out across the College, and becoming an accredited e-smart school. 

It's going to be a great year!