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Diary of an NQT
ECO-SCHOOLS ECO-SCHOOLS
Treading the boards
WELL, AFTER all that consideration given to Christmas pantomime. I literally laughed at them and
making myself more sellable, I decided to go to the scuttled off to the canteen, with unhappy memories
induction session of the Postgraduate Certificate in of playing a chimney sweep in a primary school play
Professional Studies, and afterwards I was slightly suddenly thrust back into my conscience.
more eager to enrol onto the course. Later that evening, I felt slightly remorseful
The workload looks like it wouldn’t of the fact that I laughed in the pupils’ faces
Planting sustainable ideas
be impossible; in fact, it is just about who had probably (or hopefully) been
going into further reflective depth paying me a compliment when they
about the compulsory reviews and judged me to have a fitting personality
other obligations of the NQT year. for a role in their pantomime.
It will also offer me the chance to So the next day I made amends, and
Cumbrian school children started the school
concentrate on a specific pedagogical enlisted to play the part of whichever
approach, rather than dilly-dallying character was the best on offer. I
year learning about different eco-systems and
around with a few, which I would wasn’t spoilt for choice though; I was
probably have ended up doing. to be one of the ugly sisters. I thought plant life thanks to the new Mike Wilde Eco
Sixty Master’s accreditation points to myself that maybe they were trying
can’t be a bad thing for the CV, and to save themselves time in wardrobe.
Centre at Cockermouth School. Joan Ellis
the course would also bring a real sense Whatever their reasons for hooking
of achievement. The cost is covered by me in, in a way I’m looking forward
the good old Training and Development to it. First, it will provide, to some
discusses how they are benefiting from having a state of
Agency for Schools, so on reflection degree, laughter to the pupils and
it seems a win-win situation – except staff. Second, I will be able to have
the art resource to study science
for the additional time it’s going to a good laugh at myself as I embark
take up, which I am in desperate on what may be the shortest ever PENED BY schools minister Jim areas. Mr Smith said: “The landscape around the
need of in these last few weeks of thespian career. Eco Centre allows for closer examination of the
term. I’m hoping this, along other local environment and ecology. Some of our year
Alas, there is a lot on at the festivities, will lift the spirits of my 12 students have been recently involved in a really
moment, and I’m sure everyone colleagues and me in the lead up to interesting plant life study. The students investigated
else is in the same boat. However, Christmas. To be honest I doubt it can away in August 2007. the effects of humidity, temperature and light, and
I have surprised myself by taking on an be that hard considering that last Friday O
Knight in July, the Mike Wilde Eco
Centre at Cockermouth School in
Cumbria was the concept of former
headteacher Mike Wilde, who
passed
Designed as a sustainable how different plants adapted to different conditions.
unconventional extra role (for me anyway). night we were sat in the pub after work building made from a wide variety of recycled material, The equipment at the centre allows students to
While teaching, I have quickly discovered in complete silence, bar a few moans and the 550 square metre centre is a rich learning resource gather data and conduct experiments that would not
it places you in situations you couldn’t really grunts, for what must have been half an hour. for teaching science and other ecological-related be possible without the fantastic resources available
imagine before. More to the point it offers you subjects for students of Cockermouth School and at the Eco Centre.
opportunities that would never present themselves • This year, our weekly NQT diarist is Charles surrounding areas. “The hands-on practical experiments really help
in other jobs.. Aubeeluck, a qualified citizenship teacher who The Eco Centre was developed under the then engage the students and really bring science to life for
I was approached in the playground by some 6th teaches sociology and health and social care at Department for Education and Skills award scheme them,” he added.
formers a few weeks back trying to sign me up to their Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in west London. Teaching Environments for the Future, a £10 million We have recently run a project with some year 9
government initiative that aims to create dynamic students as well, investigating greenhouses. Again
teaching spaces to support new teaching and learning using the data loggers and sensors, students conducted
methods. experiments into how greenhouses worked and how
Moral support
A grant of £1.3 million was awarded to Cockermouth variables such as thickness of glass can affect the UV
School via the local authority for the development of absorption of glass.
the project, which was considered the most exciting and Students can physically see how science works
Staying safe in cyber-space
innovative project in the national scheme. which really inspires them and allows us to really make
The building was designed to be as environmentally use of the opportunities offered by the Eco Centre.
friendly as possible, both in the construction as well as The 10 pods are each insulated with different
the day-to-day running. materials to enable students to investigate the
BEING OF middle age, my friends are currently schools minister, Jim Knight. Having “over 900 Using solar and wind turbine power to generate efficiency of insulation. Using heatflow sensors,
divided on that most discordant of issues: social friends” on Facebook, the minister gave a speech energy, as well as filtered rainwater for standard toilets, which are built into the walls of the pods, students are
networking. Some are enthusiastic participants in in which he lamented the fact that some children the Eco Centre was created using reclaimed and able to investigate thermal energy transfer and how
what they view as the inexorable rise of new methods are “habitually installed in front of their computer, recycled material and is carbon neutral. different materials conduct heat. The pods enable
of communication, believing that ever-more popular downloading music, chatting via instant messages, Using data loggers and sensors, which are built into students to gather data either in real-time or remotely
websites such as Facebook and MySpace herald a and cultivating their empire of Facebook friends”. As a the structure of the building, the Eco Centre contains over time.
new age in communication. result, he was accused of hypocrisy by The Daily Mail. three climate-controlled “biomes”, which allow for the By enabling students to record temperature change
They’re proud to play a part in bringing the previously Teachers may be familiar with this dilemma. At closer examination of different environments and eco- at different times of the day and night they are able
imagined community of the global village into regular, Teacher Support Network, one of our coaches’ most systems. There are also 10 insulated “pods”. The pods to investigate far more thoroughly the issues around
neighbourly contact. Others, seemingly those important messages is that you are a human help with the study of thermal energy and are a valuable heat transfer and insulation. They are able to measure
more generally prone to cantankerousness being who happens to be a teacher. As a resource when studying physics. the heatflow across different materials and compare
and obstinacy, view these developments result, you’re more than entitled to organise Replicating three different climatic conditions and contrast the temperature inside the pods as well
as a sad reflection of our times, with your social life in whichever way you including Mediterranean, arid and local weather, the as outside.
people young and old shunning face- see fit. climate controlled biomes help students to gather The pods are all equipped with computers so can also
to-face contact for the remoteness of As technology develops, there are information and investigate environmental issues used by students when not conducting experiments.
internet correspondence and, all-too- also likely to be educational benefits thoroughly. The Eco Centre is a great resource for students of
frequently, belying the elegance that result from increased online The biomes contain plants suitable to specific all ages. We have a birdbox that is fitted with a camera
of the English language in favour interaction between children, environments, which allow for extensive study of how and sensors. Students have been able to study a family
of a graceless combination of schools and teachers. On top of this, certain plants survive in different environments. of blue tits and watch the eggs hatch.
spelling mistakes, abbreviations teachers’ desire to be understood The biomes have recently been used by year 10 Primary students have also spent time pond-dipping
and smiley faces in order to and participate in those things that students at the school, who have been looking at in the Eco Centre’s moat and studied what they
express a banal combination of their pupils relish – including the how plants cope in different climates. By being able collected, which is fantastic for children studying
poor wit, unseemly affection and way they communicate and share to conduct experiments over a longer period of time, wildlife.
general ignorance. ideas – is totally natural. students are able to gather extensive research data that We have found that the Eco Centre has enabled
For my friends to the right, the Despite all this, cyber-space is a can be analysed in depth. students of all ages to really experience scientific
passing of the carrier pigeon out of difficult place to define the boundary Working with our head of science, physicist experiments for themselves. We have a banana tree
regular service was an occasion to be between our personal and professional lives. Rik Smith, and experts from Data Harvest, the at the centre that is used by students to investigate
mourned. Even the now-ubiquitous Social networking is a potential minefield company which supplied the monitoring equipment, photosynthesis. Students are able to measure the water
mobile phone can be beyond for teachers, with “cyber-bullying” students have been involved in some really exciting the tree uses by measuring the change in the diameter
their comprehension of neces- of both pupils and themselves on a fieldwork research projects outside the centre using of the trunk, so by studying how the tree gets bigger
sity. worrying trajectory of increase over the data loggers to collect data that is then analysed in and smaller students are able to investigate
Personally, I’m in the last few years. The convenience our technologically advanced learning
two minds. Having been of sharing the photos from your
prodded by my children holiday in South Dorset with your
over the absolute necessity friends is one thing but, as the
of signing up in order to secretary of state learned recently,
avoid being labelled as a even the most innocent of snaps
Luddite, I registered some can lead to abuse when finding
time ago. To its credit, doing itself in the wrong inbox.
so has provided me with some If you visit our online InfoCentre,
excellent correspondence and a you will find advice on how to keep
handful of well-overdue reunions with yourself safe online, and how to protect
inadvertently lapsed friends. your professional interests and those of your
Conversely, it’s also enabled a few pupils. You’ll find tips on resetting your privacy
characters whom I have been desperately settings so that you can chose who sees what
attempting to escape from for years to re- is on your profile, and suggestions as to what
establish contact and insist on all manner to do if you are uncomfortable with how things are
of messaging, poking and requests for me to join progressing and suspect possible cyber-bullying.
various “groups”, the purpose of which seems to vary As a teacher, you are under no obligation to
from the obscure to the sinister – “Physics Doesn’t become involved in social networking, but nor should
Exist, It’s All Gnomes”, for example, and, rather your job prevent you taking part in the things you
frighteningly, “The Monkey’s Forehead Appreciation enjoy. After all, in the words of one of my more
Society”. erudite recent correspondents: “it’s always gd 2 chilax
Most troublingly of all, my new-found cyber- or hook up wid ur mates on fb, innit?”
presence has resulted in repeated feeling of vague
social inadequacy, having being reminded regularly • Patrick Nash is chief executive of the Teacher
by my über-popular daughters that having less than Support Network. Visit www.teachersupport.info or
100 friends is “totally rubbish”. call 08000 562 261 (England), 08000 855088 (Wales).
I therefore had some sympathy recently for the Moral Support returns next term.
8 SecEd • December 11 2008
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