Google docs and ILT for teaching and learning

Inspired by my colleagues in #ukfechat, I've been investigating and playing with some more ILT apps for Teaching and Learning.

Here are a few easy to use examples to get started with.



Socrative: fun and super easy to use http://www.socrative.com/


Screencast: Captures screen and Webcam video and saves it or posts it online on YouTube or the program's Web site. With a well-designed interface and simple operation, it's a fun and useful way to develop lesson content    http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/


Reviews of similar software are here, so you can find the one that suits you best ... or try them all http://www.emergingedtech.com/2010/01/comparing-12-free-screencasting-tools/

Drop Box: really useful for accessing your documents and files anywhere you are and no need to carry data sticks and discs around. https://www.dropbox.com/ you can also download through iTunes for iPhone and iPad

Prezi: cloud based presentation software to make exciting presentations http://prezi.com/

Maths: http://www.mathseverywhere.org.uk/ brilliant collection of maths ideas

Show Me: easily produce and share lessons on iPad.  There are all minds of resources and games on the website. The UK site is currently undergoing construction but the worldwide has lots of useful stuff http://www.showme.com/ also available on iTunes

AudioBoo: Podcasting and audio software https://audioboo.fm/

Google Docs: Stunningly clear and useful site covering everything you need to know about 'using the Cloud' all Google docs knowledge is here http://www.gcflearnfree.org/usingthecloud

Pinterest: can be used to collect images relating to a topic. Great for visuals and starters such as .

"what's the connection between" https://uk.pinterest.com/

Edmodo: like a 'safe Facebook', great for creating on line closed classrooms https://www.edmodo.com/

Alice: creates a 3D animated environment for telling stories https://schoolforge.net/education-software-download/alice

 Flipped Classrooms and Learning: http://flippedlearning.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

Using Mobile Phones for Learning:  http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/guide/mobile-learning-for-education and    http://www.teachhub.com/how-use-cell-phones-learning-tools

I find mobiles are brilliant in areas of a college with no computers and/or WiFi. Learners can photograph each others work if they're stuck and use those images for revision

You can also send them the relevant bits of their assignment brief as a quick text, so if they're out in a field or a building site, they can quickly check the criteria they're working to. Very useful for differentiating the required outcomes when there is no easy access to paper assignments or computer whiteboards.

See QR codes use below

Using video: I use video in a range of lessons; for recording discussions, for presentations (especially Functional English and A level Project equals, for recording role play, experiments, etc as evidence for Exam boards and for evaluative feedback on a learners performance.

Also useful for discretely filming your own teaching and class behaviour. Watch it back and it's so clear how many issues are easily missed in the heat of a lesson. Share it with your teaching mentor too or a colleague in Peer Triangle to identify areas which you can develop.

Put the video on YouTube, so learners can use them for revision. Even better, make a 90 second 'key aspects' video using Screencast and upload it to YouTube, then tag it to a QR code so they can scan it with their phone and revise .... fast!

There is no right or wrong way of using ILT, just pick a medium and try it.  if it doesn't work first time, try with a different group. It will work, you just need the right group and right idea to come together and once it does ... there will be no stopping you.

These are people who really know their stuff and are incredibly collaborative; follow them.

@robsolway

 @gillersn

@chas_countryboy

@bcotmedia

@jo_bale

@EdTech_Stories

@bobharrisonset

@MoodleMcKean

@A_Clowe

And of course @FurtherEdagogy and his fabulous http://eteachingutensils.blogspot.co.uk/

There are many, many more and the best way to find them is to type #ukfechat into the box, type a question and answers will appear. Someone will always have a fab idea.

 

End of an era; The Mouzer Years

Children need education, that is a truism so true as to be self-evident. What constitutes education though is another question.

Much of my childrens education came from their pets and today, the last of the original 'magificent three' passed away. I'm not counting the fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and assorted bugs in temporary capture nor the worms in a wormery or the seemingly endless 'things we grew in water', brine shrips, scary things and a host of others including tadoples for frogs and toads, nor the newts that have taken up residence in the pond.

No, the 'magnificent three' consisted of a loopy labrador and two cats, rescued from the Cat Protection League when my daughter was three and my son, 5. Living on a farm, cats were a necessity if we weren't to have more mice than an IT classroom.

Their favourite book was 'The Mousehole Cat' and the brother and sister kittens were named Mouzer as she was the very spit of the cat on the front cover, and Old Tom - cue odd looks from the vet when presented with a 10 week old kitten named so, but my children were using their imagination.

Old Tom passed on some time ago aged 15 after he fought, killed and dragged home one ferret too many. He never really adapted to 'indoor' life except in the winter, when the lure of the Rayburn became too much and he curled up, resting his bones and restoring his muscles in his quest to be the Ultimate, the most dominant life form in Hampshire. He loved Christmas Day too, when the Turkey roasted and he had a series of large and juicy slices of his own. Smudge, the loopy labrador went last year achieving a fantastic 15 years on the farm, proud to have chased Rabbits and Hot Air Balloons with equal passion. Mouzer just went on and on and on.

Over the years, the animals fell to one injury or another, nursed by the children. The earlier days of indignity, when wrapped in blankets and transported with a resigned tolerance we would all do well to learn, in a Ladybird dolls pram by my daughter, were forgotten. Flinty paws were bathed, Ferret bites were cleaned and the entire contents of a cows backside, which had fallen onto a dozing Mouzer and set like concrete in the heat of a summers day in the buttercupped meadow were scraped off and the remaining dross bathed away with love and care.

Mouzer went everywhere my daughter did; sleeping on her bed, following her to the bathroom, kitchen, down the garden and back in the most devoted way imaginable. Mouzer was her cat and no others. Once she disappeared and we plastered the area in posters and our local postman kindly stuffed flyers though everyones letter box for us. She turned up in our neighbours house, fast asleep in the airing cupboard, sadly on top of the clean white sheets, but the look on my daughters face when reuinted with her beloved pet was beyond priceless. She had learned to love, unconditionally and to understand that sometimes, things are not permanent.

As cats they had a poor start in life; abandoned in a sack, contracted Cat Pox and were isolated until they were 10 weeks old. When we finally got them home, they raced around the house as if their tails were on fire, then slept behind the fridge for a week until they felt more confident. My daughter, aged 3 sat by the fridge all day, trying to tempt them out. As soon as Mouzer appeared, she climbed on to my three year olds shoulder and rode, like a parrot around her new domain. It was wonderful to see such a bond form.

As she grew, Mouzer continued to devote herself to the girl. When she came home from school, Mouzer would be waiting, she joined in the birthday parties, wandering from tent to tent and stealing bits of sausage as we held mini-festivals in the back garden, charming all who met her and guarding my daughter as she slept. She was a one girl cat and it was mutual.

She's grown now, and moved out, to live her own life and it was the hardest thing I've had to do, to tell her that Mouzer had finally gone in her sleep and the last of the triumviate was no more.

We buried her in her favourite spot, under the Buddlia bush in the sunshine with a cushion of springy Hampshire moss and sweet Clover for her cover and gave thanks for her life. She was a cat who taught my daughter so many things and gave me the deepest pleasure in watching her learn them.

RIP Mouzer (21 years of age).

Problem Solving: CPD, staff Progression and Ofsted

There are, I firmly believe three main issues in FE and by that, I mean let's look beyond the obvious constraints and torments of Funding (always with a capital 'F') for a moment.

F.E. and schools for that matter have issues around Ofsted, no matter how many concessions around Lesson Observations are granted.

Staff development or CPD is another. There are still colleges that only deliver a decent CPD programme when they think Ofsted is due. There are those that develop, encourage and train their staff with the dedication of a mother to a child and those in between.

However well trained you are, there is a diminishing return in the number of Senior Post available in any college, even fewer now there is so little cash swilling around in the coffers ... oops F word again.

So, how do you improve your staff, develop into a grade one organisation and still, as a sector provide sufficient opportunities for ambitious and talented staff, whilst improving your delivery to the learners in your local area?

In the current climate, you don't.

But and I admit my mind wanders in M25 traffic jams, I know there is a way.

Much as NIACE recently called for the complete overhaul of long term skills needs, to rebalance the forensic focus on the under 24, I am calling for a complete overhaul of the way FE is inspected, the way FE develops its staff and to develop more opportunities for more staff to experience management opportunities. It would also develop a central role for agencies such as Education and Training Foundation who list their aims as:

• To raise the quality and professionalism of teachers and trainers across the FE and training sector.
• To deliver consistently excellent outcomes for learners and employers
• To support Colleges and training providers of all types in achieving their own improvement objectives

 I believe we should take control of our own quality and determine our own fate.

To do this we should:

• Use the ETF to train all FE managers to be skilled in Quality of Learning and Teaching and what it is that makes a college 'Outstanding' - nasty term, should be 'Effective' I think.
• Stop using Ofstd to inspect colleges  - just stop. Sack them. Self regulate.
• Every manager in FE should spend a half term in another college, in another geographical area, or area of expertise, to monitor, judge and most importantly, learn from.
• To write a report on that colleges effectiveness
• To take back ideas and knowledge to improve their own college
• Share good practice
• Develop own skills and knowledge
• Mentor and develop the staff beneath them who will replace them whilst they are off and eventually replace them when they move on.
• ETF to monitor and moderate judgements and train the staff 
• FE staff would be experienced, valuable and the number of staff involved would help develop those below, as they would be required to step up and take over whilst Line Manger was absent.
• Great CV experience and a real contribution to their own college.

Ok, it might be a little complicated to administer, but the ETF could do it. Colleges could work together collaboratively and we would self regulate, self judge but in an honest, supportive and properly focussed way. The EFT could train them to do so.

Ofsted would be able to focus on Schools and the myriad number of new types of schools.

It would, if carefully developed be so effective for training staff, giving them that valuable opportunity to experience management and other roles. It would enable staff to experience, really experience another environment and see it for how it really is, not just the "let's put on a show for a week" that still exists in some colleges.

There are a number of colleges that still do nothing for their learners and staff between the Ofsted years and only begin to change things in the year before Ofsted is due.

This is wrong; deceitful and shoddy practice.

This idea would defeat them. One half term in another college, would give a truer picture of the provider. The EFT would moderate the reports.

Those who object, I wonder why ... they wouldn't lose out on staffing, they would gain better trained staff and a mile of experience and ideas, so why would they object? Something to hide?

We need to take back our own Quality management and judgements on how and why we do things.
We need to take back and develop our own staff training.
We need to take back and develop our own opportunities, not be limited by judgements.

What say you?

Teachers or lecturers

Teachers and lecturers are united by their devotion to learning, and the world of FE is diverse enough to encompass all labels

Given the changes in the educational landscape, should there still be a difference between how professionals teach in schools and in further education colleges? Should there be a distinction between the labels “teacher” and “lecturer”? Are the skills and delivery now the same? And is the difference only one of terminology?

It is fascinating to me that there is such a desire to ensure that we in FE are homogenised into one easily definable category. With so much emphasis rightly placed on celebrating the diversity of our learners, why should all staff in all institutions be semi-skimmed? Can we not celebrate the skimmed nature of some and the rich, full-fat nature of others?

Within any institution there are a variety of labels: instructor, facilitator, coach, tutor, teacher, lecturer. The list is almost endless. The focus of all, though, is the same: to help students to learn and progress. Education evolves, and whether you believe in cognitivism, constructivism or humanism, Maslow, Kolb or Bloom, what ultimately matters is learners learning.

We all teach. We use different and age-appropriate methods with due regard to health, safety, equality, diversity and the backgrounds of our students. We use our skills to pass on subject knowledge, whether that is acquired from our vocation or from academic study – one has no more value than the other and both are essential to learning.

If we continue to worry about labels, then will we diminish the value of the role? If we persist in building a hierarchy of sharply defined titles that enclose our actions and abilities, then are we limiting our own development and, ultimately, impinging on learning? Staff who come to FE as teachers want to be teachers, lecturers want to be lecturers; we are different but we share the same values, professionalism and methods.

Collaboration between schools and FE, and between universities and FE, is well established; we accept without question that school educators are teachers and that higher education has lecturers, so why do these labels seem to matter so much to FE? Why not simply have both?
My feeling is that this has something to do with the much discussed Cinderella complex that we have tried so hard to bury. Do we still feel like the new kid on the block, trying to prove our worth in the education playground and figure out what or who we are? Does an insecurity lurk behind our technological facade, driving us to want to choose a side and apply a label to our staff before we can move on?

Possibly. But consider this: FE is more than an educational institution; it is a bridge between schools and universities, the most individual and collaborative sector there is. Attempts to label what we do, to shoehorn us into one product, are anathema to most FE staff. Our roles are multiple, our talents undoubted and our skills and professionalism are evident to all.

Teachers and lecturers are not the same and nor should they be. Rather than resort to boxing, labelling and confining, we should celebrate the diversity of staff within FE and be glad that it contains doctors, lecturers and HE staff, that it attracts outstanding teachers who move to the sector from schools.

Strength in diversity

We are lucky to attract the widest possible range of students, and to offer them the widest range of courses and opportunities in the widest range of geographical locations. And we are similarly fortunate to attract the widest possible range of staff.

Our diversity is our greatest strength; let’s not weaken ourselves by retreating into conformity. That has never been the point of FE. We broke from local authority funding to go our own way because it was the right thing to do for learners, employers and the economy. So why force a choice? Individually, staff will select what suits them, just as learners do.

Traditionally, teachers taught in primary and secondary schools and lecturers were in tertiary – that is, further and higher – education. FE staff joined the lecturers’ union alongside HE staff. Sixth-form and school staff joined teaching unions. But as FE now delivers to 14-plus students, do we teach them or lecture to them? In schools the answer would be “teach”, and given that we in FE deliver the same qualifications using the same professional skills and delivery methods, are we not teachers, too?
As I have recently completed validation for a number of degrees in partnership with a large university, the question becomes even more difficult to answer. Our HE student handbook states: “Teaching methods may include: lectures, practicals, group and independent research, case studies, problem-solving sessions, personal and group tutorials, web-based interactive tutorials.” That sounds less like a professor talking at learners and more like teaching.

However, the two types of institution are not the same. No matter how strong the teaching focus of their employer, lecturers are lecturers, not teachers. It is a different status, a historical hangover from the separate levels of education: primary, secondary and tertiary. Only now our levels are blurred, merged and far more inclusive than ever before.

Lecturers in HE do teach, but they also have research to conduct and publications to write. Teachers have a wide range of roles, too, including administration and management but not traditionally research. FE is not noted for giving staff time to devote to research, so they have taken to using their limited spare time, as have teachers. Given the rising number of blogs on learning research from FE lecturers and schoolteachers, the division may no longer be as clear as it once was. So, are teachers becoming lecturers and lecturers teachers?

Perhaps a better measure would be outcomes. Lecturers and teachers want to see learning and progression in their students – these are the things that matter. Both require a large measure of enthusiasm for your subject and motivation for hard work. So maybe, after all, we should embrace the idea of labels and then swap them around.

Leaving F.E.

Redundancy. It's an awful word isn't it. Re - DUN - dant. You are DUN, done and finished.

The causes of redundancy are multiple, but in F.E. it's practically become a condition of employment; contracts should say "we guarantee to employ you until such time as Funding Cuts blow a black hole in the space/time continuum of our Curriculum Plans and our nervousness about the future prevent it", that would be more honest.

Colleges employ people based on Curriculum Planning, months ahead of the actual need. So when plans change, and you are still in your first year, with no legal rights to employment, compensation or even it seems time off to look for new employment, what do you do?

Let's be clear on this; colleges can take you on based on retrospective analysis of their local market, employ you, make you redundant, fail to compensate you, refuse to give you time off to search for another job and expect you to turn up every day of your remaining employment, fresh faced, perky and happy to help in the search for someone to take on the lower paid, lower status and frankly insulting role you turned down when they offered it as a sop to salve their conscience when penny pinching.

Of course, you may think that being offered such a role, any role, is better than being tossed out without a role, and for those to whom that is happening, it may well be true. But is a job, any job, a better option than being downgraded?

No.

People are employed on the basis of their knowledge, reputation and experience. They are employed on the basis of sound market requirements, demand and, one would hope, forensic, strategic analysis of the future based on accurate data.

If they are truly doing this properly; planning, marketing and strategically working with the local community, then why are so many now shedding staff with less than one years service quicker than a dog sheds its summer coat?

The AoC reports that the Department for Education could face a black hole of some £600 million in its 2015 budget, rising to £4.6 billion by 2018-19, according to a report by the Association of Colleges.  

Michael Gove had raided £400m from a fund that guarantees school places for pupils in order to plug a massive financial "black hole" in his free schools programme according to a report in the Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/10/gove-lunatic-raid-free-schools?CMP=twt_gu

 An alternative is to put people on Zero Hours contracts, employ them when needed, drop them when not. Again though, is this a fair alternative?

No.

F.E. has for too long been at the mercy of funding cuts, changes to allowed curriculum, threats from external providers etc, as well as the traditional Sixth Forms and Apprenticeships. F.E. has sung, danced, spun plates, walked the HighWire, pulled rabbits from hats and sausages from its nose; to no avail.

F.E. has invested abroad, taken on 14 year olds, adults, broken into H.E., employer links, fought back in every way possible and we're still having to blow that horn and sound the retreat back to the trenches, dragging our wounded behind us.

Is this really the way to run a multi-million pound business; one that develops skilled workers for the future prosperity of our country, gets NEETS back into education, retrains adults and employs thousands of people?

No.

Maybe, just maybe, the time has come to invest in what matters; staff and students. Stop tryying to spread the butter so thin it is a tasteless experience. Stop trying to be all things to all men. Stop trying to plan in markets you don't quite understand. Stop throwing away skilled staff and opportunities for great learning for our students.

Maybe, it's time for the Govenment, those who hold the purse strings to stop putting conditions on every single movement, and allow us the luxury of a little 'grown up' thinking. Maybe it's time for F.E. to stop thinking about World Domination and start thinking about its Core Market again.

Learn to plan effectively, stop making knee jerk reactions to every headline, spend parsimoniously, value what you have and think about what is truly good in your establishment.

Value that; learn that and F.E. will be a better place for us all. The danger is that without those actions, the current and predicted Funding Cuts, may make F.E. redundant in its entirety; not just its staff.

Maths and Feltag

FELTAG made many sensible recommendations in its recent report. Some are longer term goals but Regulation 1, 2 and 4, are fundamental to improving math learning and employability. Adopting these FELTAG recommendations is an opportunity for the Government to truly improve standards of maths education. The sector must keep abreast of change.

Students need to use technology in maths the way they use technology in real life; in sticking to the old GCSE mantra and introducing weaker qualifications alongside to try & boost L2 achievement, everyone is cheated.

Our students are a generation who have never been ‘offline’, have always been ‘connected’ and use technology the way we breathe. Maths should be taught in a way that reflects this; to engage, stimulate and entice the learner yes; more importantly, to reflect the way maths is used in the world. Business, research, employers expect digital literacy as well as mathematical fluency. So why not combine them?

Every day they use Google; do they understand the algebra behind a search engine? Appreciate the value of calculating the discount on items they buy, of comparing energy prices in their first flat, how to apply ratios of sand & gravel, bulbs for planting, chemicals for making plastic and drug ratios for patients’ weight? Often, no; but they do have a Grade C GCSE.

Students should be encouraged to visualise their calculations, learn how to apply that calculation to other problems, not just to get the right answers. Technology can do this.

There are so many ways to teach maths with technology; Avatars, Robotics, Video problems, Skype, VOOCs, Google hangouts, chatrooms, collaborative places, Apps, IWB’s, MOOCs, Socrative, Simulations, Mobiles, iPads, Tablets; programmes, which allow a student to manipulate curves & equations to demonstrate the relationship, so they could design a new car or new road surface. Solving real problems in a visual, interactive, collaborative way; replicating issues that will be faced in employment.

Dry, sequential, rote learning without context combined with ‘teaching to the test’ can only produce exam passes; we need to produce students who can apply their learning.

Let’s ensure that any curriculum review does not hinder the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment of regulated qualifications; let’s work with awarding bodies & review the maths curriculum, build technology into it, develop a qualification that will allow our students to be employable, mathematically literate, digital experts.

The Government owes our students; the right to mathematical literacy, to be employable, to be taught this fundamental subject in a way that reflects the world we live in, not one that has suede patches on its elbows and chalk in its back pocket.

Maths education is too important to be stuck in the 1960’s; how can we continue to allow them to walk out of a lesson, log onto their Smart Phone and yet still not have the basic maths needed to decide which contract to take out?

#FE Twitterati Who To Really Follow for FE goodness

There have been a number of posts lately rating people and suggesting who to follow on Twitter. Most of lists focus on Schools or general education theories, only one or two contained one or two people in FE; even the NCFE download from@FEWeek only mentioned the most high profile #FE flyers.

These posts are a bit like a Hunt Ball; if you're not up there in the 'social set' you don't get a look in. So this post is about and for those who really work in FE. The lecturers, teachers, Support Staff, MIS magicians, Curriculum and Middle Managers and yes, some of the great and the good too. Those at the front line of #FE.

All these people are worth a follow, their tweets and blogs contain wisdom, wit and searing honesty; they are FE to the core. And they are the views I look for and listen too.

To find more amazing FE people follow #UKFECHAT on Thursday at 9pm or go to www.ukfechat.com for past chats.

They’re not in any particular order and not categorised. As a true FE person, I don’t believe in labelling anyone.

Analogue ‏ @analoguefilm

Genre Anthology from the insane minds behind @scrawlmovie. FE Lecturer making full length movies with his Level 3 BTEC students. On IMDB and just genius at creative ideas.

Lady Paragons ‏ @LadyParagons

Promoting Women who excel in science, technology, engineering and math. Tweets by @sarahworsham (engineer) & @rieweb20 (scientist)

Jim Crawley ‏ @teachology

Teacher educator in UK, with interest in community development. Liking but not really trusting learning technology.

 Leanne Buckley ‏ @leanne_buckley

FE Teacher interested in collaborative learning. I tweet about education, share resources and question everything.

Julie O'Regan ‏ @JulieORegan Learning Technology Manager in FE college

Dave Burgess ‏ @burgessdave Teacher/speaker who teaches how to live and teach with passion, enthusiasm, and increased creativity. Author of Teach Like a PIRATE

Education Matters ‏ @DurhamEdMatters Providing Durham Students with a forum to debate Educational issues. Want to attend a meeting (in person/via Skype)? Email edmatters.society@durham.ac.uk 

@shanermann 

Director of Operations @feweek & Lsect. A big fan of all things FE and politics. Member of Labour Party UK.

Tom Cunningham ‏ @teaching_tom Trainee Teacher at Bridgwater College, Somerset. Specialise in Horticulture & Countryside Management. Views my own.

Jisc RSC YH ‏ @JISC_RSC_YH Jisc RSCs work with more than 2,000 UK learning providers to improve performance and efficiency through the use of technology. Tweets mainly by Christine.

Ian Hirst ‏ @ianhirst101 Curriculum leader Oldham College

Lauren McCann ‏ @lauren1054

Earthling currently residing in Hants. Former teacher, currently IT Trainer/Learning Technologist. Newshound, interested in most stuff - wannabe Uncaged Monkey! 

Gill Bramley ‏ @gillbramley

Further and Higher Education marketing communications manager, over-eater and amateur idler.

Ian Paul Sharp ‏ @its_iansharp

#FE lecturer. Now Assessor/Trainer & Lecturer in Leadership & Business @mkcollege. PGCEA (Surrey), MA in Ed (Open), plus .... Life.

Anna ‏ @cloud_burst I teach computing in an FE College. I also mentor new members of staff. Always looking for new ways to improve learning

Pedagoguespet ‏ @digitalpedpet

Advanced Practitioner for Outstanding FE provider. e-learning, digital media & blogging are common activities.

Katie Prescott ‏ @passion_science

Student, blogs on http://passionateaboutscience.co.uk  about upcoming STEM opportunities for students

Alison Iredale ‏ @alisoniredale

Director of Learning (HE in FE). I tweet to participate. Follow me to make a difference in adult and vocational education, teacher development and research.

Ann Walker ‏ @AnnWalkerWEA

Adult education enthusiast and campaigner. Director for Education with WEA - @WEAadulted. Personal tweets but mostly work-related. Blog: http://bit.ly/L6c4Xu 

OnlyFE ‏ @_OnlyFE

onlyFE is an independent #digital #recruitment #mediabuyer specialising in recruitment for the #FurtherEducation sector. Follow us for FE jobs, news and more.

Manny Latina ‏ @MannyLatina

Sound Designer, Digital Music Producer, Music Technology Lecturer, love bikes and like to lift heavy things now and then. Dalla Sicilia con furore!

KarenM ‏ @kazzarana

Mother, friend, veg' plot owner, camper, dancer and cook. Work in FE College - AD in FS area.

Guardian Further Ed ‏ @GuardianFE

News, comment and jobs for the FE community, including advice and debate on our FE leadership and management hub.

Em ‏ @El_Timbre

Member of the infamous #geekclub. Mum. Wife. 16-19 Maths tutor. A little obsessed with a certain Doctor. All opinions, ramblings, thoughts are my own.

informationauthority ‏ @theia

We set and regulate data standards for further education providers in England. Main tweeter Greta Smalley, on behalf of @theia

Sarah Ledger ‏ @sezl Cagoule owner.

 Paul Eeles ‏ @PaulEeles

Chief Executive of the EMFEC Group Incorporating ABC Awards & Leader & Trustee @SCVchurch. Tweeting in a personal capacity.

Mahmoona Shah ‏ @MahmoonaShah Protected account

I teach in further education and do some other stuff

 

Joe Vinson ‏ @JoeVinson

Vice President (Further Education) of @nusuk, representing 7 million students.

 Gavin Boyd ‏ @gavinboyd2012

I am a college lecturer interested in economic justice. Jungians visit my website for shadow animations. 

Harry Webb ‏ @websofsubstance

Blogging about education and education research.

AOSEC ‏ @AOSEC

Regional organisation representing and serving FE Colleges in South East England

Jamie Benning ‏ @jamieswb

Creator of Filmumentaries (TM) - Star Wars Begins, Building Empire, Returning to Jedi, Raiding the Lost Ark and Inside Jaws. EVS and FCP editor. Work in F1. 

Thomas Starkey ‏ @tstarkey1212

Close approximation of an FE English teacher. Writes for Teach Secondary Magazine. Read my blog.

Lorna Freakley ‏ @LornaFreakley

Supporting all learning and skills providers to improve.

Macleod Associates ‏ @macleodassoc

Technology for further education & training providers. The complete online learner management platform; Improving delivery, reporting and compliance.

David Moir ‏ @DavidMoir5

Love further education, BCoT, music, family, football and films - in the rare event that I express an opinion, it is my own.

Mark Hammond ‏ @mhammond62

Delivering outstanding Apprenticeships for 20+ years. Expertise in Quality Assurance & development of organisational cultures. All views are my own.

Annie Le Gresley ‏ @AnnieLeGresley

Give me a camera and I get shutter happy. If you ever need a Production Assistant, i'm your gal. Half Day Wednesday. 

ETFoundation ‏ @E_T_Foundation

The Education and Training Foundation

Lindsay McCurdy ‏ @App4England

CEO Apprenticeships 4 England, Ambassador at European Alliance for Apprenticeships Largest App Group LinkedIn 16k Members http://www.apprenticeships4england.info 

 

Liam Stokes ‏ @LNJStokes

Wildlife management lecturer, writer and college shoot manager. 2013 Nuffield Scholar studying landbased education around the world. #Nuffield13

Chris Hooper ‏ @hooperchris

Head of Department at Kirklees College. Interests inc. education, UK FE, life long learning, West Yorks. Views my own, not org. RT doesn't always mean agree

David Patterson ‏ @DP40days

Deputy Principal at @TheMcrCollege. *Manchester has everything except a beach.* Now we have everything.

Nik ‏ @nik_d_maths

Maths Teacher, Re-enactor, Gamer.

  

Paul Tanner ‏ @paultanner71

Husband, father, terrier owner, U2 fan of 25yrs, cycling/hiking enthusiast and course leader for an outstanding computing course in a UK FE college.

  

Stephen Batchelor ‏ @sjbatch

Director of Higher Education at MidKent College, writer and history nut - but mostly tweets about Dr Who, football and comedy.

Paul Gawdan ‏ @paulgawdan

Assistant Principal at Glasshouse College Stourbridge. Committed SEN educator. Views are my own.

David Whittle ‏ @13SciDave

Working in science education – want more people to feel the excitement of doing some science, and enjoy the puzzle of messy evidence.

Oui Chef ‏ @IanPitt

Course co-ordinator @bcot Genius chef and teacher

Matthew Pearson ‏ @mattpearson

Education, technology; stuff like that. Never going to be a social media guru. But will tweet with interesting people. For expanded opinions, check out blog .

Dan Williams ‏ @danwilliams1984

FE Advanced Practitioner & EdD student. Interested in: e-learning, personalised learning, creativity & collaboration. All views my own

Clive Nutton ‏ @BrightAire

Teacher/instructor - ICT, environmental & outdoor education. Helping kids to be big & clever since 1994. Likes playing & working outdoors.

Adrian Hutchinson ‏ @adyhutchinson

Head of English, maths, ESOL, LDD and ALS in a Yorkshire FE college.All tweets are personal and do not represent the views of the organisation I work for.

Mike Gaston ‏ @michaeljgaston

Fine Art, Education, Leadership and Creativity. Principal of Totton College. Leading Learning; Sharing Success.

Karen DW ‏ @KDWScience

Teacher of Science at Dawlish Community College, Ipad user! attempting to bring new ideas into my room and then school! Tweets are all my own.

jo gemmell ‏ @jo_gem96

Marketing coordinator. desire to be successful and see places. love: Italy, Disney, family, Wales, travel, gelato, sweets, Views are my own.

Ross Anderson ‏ @rossthetechie

Tech-Educator seeking e-learning Utopia.

Matt O'Leary ‏ @drmattoleary

Teacher/researcher/writer in CRADLE @wlv_uni. Tweets are personal views about #teacherdevelopment, #teaching, #CPD & interface between policy-practice-pedagogy

John Germain ‏ @feteacher2011

A grassroots FE teacher who believes in adult education but despairs at what has become of it.

 Liz Wyman ‏ @LizinFE

FE Manager 

Allee McIntyre ‏ @a11ee

FE tutor and assessor in a college. LOVE WINE!

Caroline Pharo ‏ @caroline_pharo

Lady C ‏ @lady_ladyc

FE Head of English in East Midlands college

BCoT IT ‏ @BCoT_IT

Account run by Lauren McCann - ILT Trainer at BCoT. Posts are ILT & technology-related & aimed at sharing ideas & promoting technology use at BCoT & beyond.

Simon Sharpe-Foster ‏ @BrumPolitics

Politics lecturer. Author of 19 books on Politics for HarperCollins. Former Councillor&Political Consultant. Opinions are my own. Retweets may not be.

Charlotte ‏ @CharHarAgain

Researching and writing about Digital Literacies and Language. 90% watching YouTube. 10% Writing. FE Teacher. Host of #YthEmpChat

Delani ‏ @DelaniLeeann

SpEd/SEN educator & I get to run a college department that supports social/emotional & academic needs. I love what I do & am always learning!

 Sue Hall ‏ @Suejanehall1

Economics and Business Teacher Barton Peveril College, Southampton. Mother to wonderful girls and stepmother to wonderful boy! juggler of time!

Jo Bale ‏ @jo_bale

A northern lass living in Surrey. Teaching Science & Forensics at FE college in Hampshire. These are my opinions, go get your own.

Runway Training ‏ @runwaytraining

Welcome to Runway Training, a company dedicated to providing specialist maths and English support for adult learners #functionalskills #Entrepreneur

Nikki Gilbey ‏ @NikkiGilbey

Outside loving, jam making, doglet owning, gundog training, climbing, ADHD, FEteaching #futureprincipal http://feteachingthoughts.wordpress.com 

Steve Waters ‏ @stevewaters17

English and Literacy Consultant: Innovate English; Digital Coach - Digital Youth Academy & Frontier Coaching; Director: Proof Personal - online proofreading.

Jonathan Ledger ‏ @JonathanLedger

Head of National Skills Academy Materials, Production & Supply @NSA_MPS @ProskillsUK. Authoritative skills & training provision guru. UK based / global market.

Toni Pearce ‏ @toni_pearce

@nusuk National President. Tweeting in personal capacity about Labour, education, feminism, politics, football, cricket and boys. 

Half Day Wednesday ‏ @halfdayweds

Producers behind quality horrors Scrawl and Motto and more...

Learner Voices ‏ @Learner_Voices

Listening to learners is central to solving many challenges currently facing the education community. INFORM - CONSULT - INVOLVE - COLLABORATE - EMPOWER

JemRycraft ‏ @jemrycraft Brilliant tutor and Performing Arts lecturer

Apprenticeships Life ‏ @apprentice_life

A network full of Jobs, apprenticeships, experts, org's, charities, businesses & more. Add your opportunity by Emailing us today apprenticeshipslife@gmail.com .

Anthony bravo ‏ @Anthonybravo

Loud Londoner living in countryside, working in Further Education :) My views, not those of the College :)

Tina Turner ‏ @Tinalexis Protected account

Head of Performance and Quality Standards Coventry College

visioncreateTV ‏ @visioncreatetv

visioncreate.tv is an online media portal showing the best in student film, television and radio. Populated exclusively by students of Vision West Notts.

Graham Gibson ‏ @FungineeringLec

Engineer, accepting of the fact that men cannot multi-task. Dragging students kicking and screaming to the fountain of knowledge since 2003.

Catherine Langstreth ‏ @CatherineLangs1

Lecturer and Advanced Practitioner at an FE college in the UK.

Alastair Brooks ‏ @alastairbrooks

Director of Commercial Engagement at The Manchester College & Director @BPSHull: Family - Innovation - Education - Skills - Business - Enterprise: My opinion

Jeannie Holstein ‏ @theinsightedge

ESRC Doctoral Researcher at University of Nottingham. All about finishing the PhD in 2013. And the part time MOOC development. All own views. 

Carolyn O'Connor ‏ @clyn40

FE lecturer interested in all aspects of education. Mum of two. Real ale fan. Love cheese!

CACHE Warren ‏ @WarrenCres

FE Funding Manager for CACHE. Views are my own. Craft beer, THFC, food, sport, rock. Hertfordshire.

Tech Stories ‏ @EdTech_Stories

Work in Further Education. Tweeting about Technology, Tech Startups & #EdTech issues. Regular at #ukfechat & #EdTechChat

Graham Newell ‏ @Graham_IRISC

Teacher, manager, administrator, trainer-enthused by enthusiasm. Excited by being Director of Iris Connect. Empowering teachers to improve schools.

Women's Eng. Society ‏ @WES1919

Inspiring women to achieve their potential as engineers, scientists and leaders and assisting educators, managers and employers in making this happen.

Steven Keevil ‏ @drkeevil

Teacher Learner. Interests; Cultural Literacy, Future Proofing, Hierarchy of Subjects. Teaches people who say that they can’t, that they can. Is not a real Dr

nik clarke ‏ @Nik_C1arke Protected account

Mostly I am reading. Sometimes I post stuff...

Louise Doyle ‏ @MesmaUK

Co-founder Mesma edu leadership software. FE adviser. Chair School Gov. Chats about education & enterprise.

Debbie Greene ‏ @Greenie01

Wearer of several hats. If you're going to follow me be sure to stop by for a chinwag every now and again. 

Tom Moran ‏ @MoranTJ Protected account

Tweeting from a personal capacity and non work related. Working in Futher Education for a large provider

Scott Isaacs ‏ @monkey596

FE professional, passionate educator, sports mad cycling fan, football coach and manager

Clare Fenwick ‏ @csf0961

New to Team Primary Dig Lit/Computer Sci PGCE/BEd at Plymouth Uni Those who can do, those who can’t teach, those who can’t teach .. err ... teach teachers

Scott BCoTMedia ‏ @bcotmedia

Scott Hayden - Lecturer/Tutor of Creative Media Production @ Basingstoke College of Technology and Absolute Genius!

Empra Lauren ‏ @EmpraLauren

Marketing & PR Executive specialising in Marketing & PR for Schools, Academies and FE Colleges

Shane Chowen ‏ @shanechowen

Further education policy wonk. Drummer. Trainee adult ed teacher. Huge @ChiliPeppers fan. Tweeting in personal capacity.

Charlotte Forshaw ‏ @MsForshaw

Driven, pragmatic and compassionate FE Sociology & English tutor/relatively awesome gal. I bake, write (profusely), sing (badly) and daydream. #ukfechat

Peter Cobrin ‏ @petertheteacher

Opening new employment pathways for young people with talent, passion and energy. Forget the money-grabbers and egomaniacs, follow those who care, and do stuff!

Teacher Talk ‏ @BMETTeacherTalk

Teaching & Learning - New & Next Practices - Technology Enabled Learning - Social Media for Education. Run by Karen Manuel, my opinions are my own.

Paul McKean ‏ @MoodleMcKean

Manager of Jisc regional support centre north west England. Interests: technologies & pedagogies which can improve teaching & learning. Views are my own.

Creative Learning ‏ @clpartners21

Using technology to deliver high-quality nationwide Functional Skills and #Apprenticeships. We change lives through learning

Can Do Courses ‏ @HilaryNunns

Behaviour Expert Academy. Teacher in FE. Founder of Can Do Courses. CPD and Accredited ADHD training for educators. #ukfechat

William Jenkins ‏ @Tech_Stories

Co-Author of Tech Story, Twitter in FE, Bus Dev Ideas for FE & Culture in FE. Passionate about Education, #EdTech & #Startups. Check out @EdTech_Stories too.

The I & A Foundation ‏ @iandafoundation

The Inspire & Achieve Foundation aims to create brighter futures for disadvantaged young people through outreach activities & bespoke programmes of provision.

Nick Chater ‏ @nick_chater

Digital Learner and Teacher. Interested in Web 2.0, Games based immersive learning, OpenSim, Sailing and Enville Ginger.

Nick Howes ‏ @NickAstronomer

Astronomy Consultant, Freelance Sci Writer/Comms. FRAS, Pro-Am Prog Manager, FAS speaker, STEM Ambassador,Research Associate #LARI

Frank Fearn ‏ @FrankFearn STEM Advisor, South London (STEMNET London)

Steve Hewitt ‏ @SteveHewittMIS

MIS Professional, a range of opinions on all FE funding and data issues, all of which are my own and not necessarily those of my employer (or anyone else).

Education4Me.org ‏ @Education4Me

Ed4Me’s latest Education project is creating new awards in Etiquette and Manners alongside awards in Confidence and Behaviours

Sarah Simons ‏ @MrsSarahSimons

Works in FE, writes for @tes @fefocus & @ifl_members magazine. Trekking the Sahara for @iandafoundation Please sponsor me.... Every quid makes a difference. Funny, Smart & Lovely.

Mariane Cavalli ‏ @Mariane_Cavalli

Principal & CEO of @warwickshirecol, a @gazellefe Founder Principal, committed to creating entrepreneurial colleges.

 

FE Guild ‏ @team_FEGuild

Set up to progress detailed consultation, investigation and resolution before the new organisation could be formed, we have now handed over to @E_T_Foundation

Lantra Skill Council ‏ @LantraSSC

Raising skills. Backing business. At Lantra we’re committed to helping land-based businesses access the training, skills and knowledge they need. 

Dr Mark Evans ‏ @teachitso

Edu effectiveness: evidence-based classrooms, teacher expertise, science of learning. Exploring STEM pedagogy at isaacnewtonsixthform .co.uk

Graham Razey ‏ @GrahamRazey

Principal of East Kent College, 5,000 students. Mission: Committed to developing the prosperity and well-being of the communities we serve. Cricket fan

Junction49 ‏ @junction49

Inspiring+supporting young people aged 13-25 to set up and deliver their own social action projects about the issues that matter to them. Powered by @vinspired

Ian Pryce ‏ @ipryce

Principal & Chief Executive Bedford College;Co-founder of the 157 Group; Adviser to the Skills Funding Agency;Guitarist with This Way Up and Atticus Finch

Bhanu Dhir ‏ @bhanudhir

Peter Hearn ‏ @kickedbyamule

Writer/Director of horror 'Scrawl'. Sometime Editor/Producer. Purveyor of quality sarcasm. Lecturer of things mentioned above. Contributes to @HorrorCultFilms

Melanie AK ‏ @Melanie_AK_BSDC

Assistant Principal Curriculum at Burton and South Derbyshire College. Views expressed are my own. 

Shane Mann ‏ @shanermann

Director of Operations @feweek & Lsect. A big fan of all things FE and politics. Member of Labour Party UK.

Dr Ellen Spencer ‏ @DrEllenSpencer

I'm senior researcher at the Centre for Real-World Learning (with Guy Claxton and Bill Lucas), follow me for latest research in learning and education

FE Week ‏ @FEWeek

Follow and read @FEweek newspaper for hot news, analysis and jobs from across the Further Education sector

Emma Bennett ‏ @e4mmj

A Director with specialist knowledge of work based learning, Assessment Strategies and Quality Assurance.

Adult College ‏ @Adult_college

Adult College, providing a wide range of daytime, evening and weekend courses to the residents of Havering and beyond! 

Dave McMillan ‏ @dmcmillanbsdc

Vice Principal @bsdcofficial Tweeting in a personal capacity and sharing info on education, learning, quality and elearning. Views not that of employer

Malcolm Ferguson ‏ @Maccas55 Expert in FE, talker of Common Sense

IfL ‏ @IFL_Members

The Institute for Learning (IfL) is the professional body for teachers and trainers in further education (FE) and skills

Steve ‏ @2learn2

Passionate about everything and anything to do with teaching and learning. I only follow back teachers and educators.

Jaine Bolton ‏ @JaineBolton

Director, National Apprenticeship Service, Central Division, and the UK's Official Delegate - WorldSkills UK

Joe Wilson ‏ @joecar

Head of New Ventures National Qualifications Body, Consultant, Lecturer, Teacher, Manager , Community Education, Colleges, Vocational Learning, Own Opinions

Roger Francis ‏ @RogerFrancis1

Director with a passion for life-long learning, Apprenticeships, SoMe, vocational training, rugby and the power of technology and collaboration to change lives.

David Hughes ‏ @davidhNIACE

CEO at NIACE, working for a society where more people can participate in and benefit from learning throughout their lives 

FE News & Views ‏ @FENewsandViews

Russell J Surrey ‏ @Ru33ell555

FE Manager and Consultant for Engineering and Construction Trades, specialising in improving failing areas. Chess enthusiast. Views expressed here are my own.

Sue Allison ‏ @Suzi_A

Education PR when not being marvellous elsewhere

Stephen Exley ‏ @stephenexley

Reporter at the Times Educational Supplement, CIPR FE Journalist of the Year 2012. Tweets at @tes. Blogs at @FEFocus. All views mine. stephen.exley@tes.co.uk

EMPRA ‏ @EMPRA

: Education Marketing PR Associates specialising in Marketing & PR for Schools, Academies and FE Colleges. We work all over the UK. Tweets by Ruth Sparkes.

Teaching STEM ‏ @TeachingSTEM

Teaching #STEM is a networking and information service for #Science, #Technology, #Engineering and #Mathematics teachers and educators in schools and colleges.

Nick Reinis ‏ @nickreinis

Lecturer of Journalism in FE/HE. Writer for @fcbusiness @twentyfour7 and InTuition. Tweets on media, music, sport, QPR and photography. Views my own.

Usman Ali ‏ @UsmanAli1984

Former Vice-President of Higher Education @nusuk - Campaigning for 7 million students. Currently, I am the Events & Fundraising Manager for Syria Relief.

Lynne Sedgmore ‏ @157lynne

CEO of 157 Group,representing 30 UK large urban colleges- worked in FE for 32years - still loving every minute, besotted granny. Leadership geek.

Lynsay Shepherd ‏ @Lynsay

PhD student researching Usable Security at UAD. Lab tutor, computing geek, rubbish guitarist, amateur photographer and music lover. Views are my own.

FE Funding Guru ‏ @FEFundingGuru

Advisor on Further Education funding policy. Working with Training Providers, Employers, Government bodies & Awarding Organisations.

Find Apprenticeships ‏ @FindApprentices

The UK's first dedicated website to help young apprentices locate 1,000's of available #apprenticeships across the UK. Are you the next #apprentice.

Phil Bird ‏ @pysproblem81

ESOL Lecturer, Translator (ES/CA-EN), Currently wondering more why I'm not in Argentina. All views solely my own(!).

FE On Tap ‏ @FEontap

Tweets and information relating to the further education sector in the UK

Nick Linford ‏ @NickLinford

Managing director of Lsect, editor of the newspaper FE Week, author of http://fundingguide.co.uk  & dad to Daniel & Thomas. #loveFE

So there you go; people who work in or support FE. Follow them, and why not recommend some to me too.

Thanks.