17 June 2010 The end is near

 I spent all day yesterday and today in the workshop working on the final bits for the table prototypes, touching up all the practical components and resources to teach the table project. The prototypes are ready to paint and varnish. All jigs have finally been completed.

I didn't realise the amount of time needed to sand the table down to get it ready for staining and varnishing.With this in mind, I spoke to PE and BC about cutting the amount of projects from 3 down to 2? The reasoning being that the in the past, students have not had the time to really sit down and put the finishing touches into the projects they made. With cutting the number of projects from 3 to 2, the students will be able to take away quality projects rather than quantity.They agreed that having 2 quality projects will be more beneficial to the students.

Took more pictures and video footage, starting to get a good collection of visual resources together for the table project.

Table project things to do

• Flow chart (bubbl us)
• Stain and varnish
• Assessment to get approved
• Final workbook to edit and print

Finally the development side of the table project is near the end YAY....next developing the letter box project.....no comment. However the end is near!!!!!

16 June 2010 Experiential learning

16 June 2010

I printed off my 2nd revised edition of the work book this morning.I took it to PE and BC for feed back they added some valued ideas to maybe incorporate into the work book.

• Flow chart for students to follow and refer back to if they lose track of procedures.
• A list of the machines the students are going to use to serve as a reference

Bearing in mind the workbook is not a portfolio, it is workbook where the students are responsible for taking the learning into their own hands. They are required to draw on their own experience of constructing the table, using that experience to note down processes and practices in the workbook. The workbook will serve as a main reference when it is time for their theory assessment event which is going to be based around the table making process. They will not be marked on the workbook but on the assessment event.

In essence I  hope to create experiential learning environment for the students. This means less time in the theory room, and more time on the shop floor where students are

• Watching  As I demonstrate settings, application, and examples on machines and practical instruction.
• Thinking   Going through processes, working out cutting lists, preempting the next step in logical order
• Feeling     Engaging the students through feedback, group discussion, one to one discussion, selling      the concept to the students so they buy into it
• Doing       Students physically applying themselves to the project, writing down thinking components 

I would love to get feedback from the students on how they found this experience they will be given a big opportunity to feedback and critique the whole process.

15 June 2010 The Mess

WARNING IMAGES MAY OFFEND!

So yesterday after I blogged, I took my revised workbook to the copy shop to get a couple of copies bounded together. I had a quick flick through to see what it looked like and spotted about 20 things to be changed HA! I went home and worked on a 2nd revised workbook I also worked on it tonight and am feeling quite happy with how it looks now. Will print a couple of copies off and pass it around to some colleagues for feedback. Yesterday I also had quick chats with KP and CC about using moodle argggghhhhhhhh technology is a necessary evil...........I have decided that i will gather and create my teaching resources before I concentrate on using these online education systems. Doing this will enable me to give my undivided attention to moodle when the time arises.

LETTER BOX

I met with BC this morning to work on the letterbox project. I am hoping to implement this new project into the course. We had a really good session coming up with some concept drawings, discussing different methods of assembling the letter box. We are going to get the technician to whip up a few a pattern jigs on the C&C machine. This will allow the students to have accuracy when they mark out the front of their letterboxes. PE has used auto cad to draw up a rough working drawing for the letter box. Tomorrow I will meet again with BC to work on the application of the letter box and hopefully start building prototype letter boxes.

TABLE

After i finished with BC I went back to my workshop and continued on finishing the table prototypes had a good session taking some neat photos and video footage. JF came in and showed me some neat little tricks with the router and copy router bit.

These pictures are of the workshop that the students use, I have been doing all my practical development work in here and have not been tidying up afterwards HA!

14 June 2010 CATCH UP

I had some really good days developing last week and in the weekend.

11 June 2010

Today I worked with F&J on the final bits that needed to be done to finish up table prototypes. I worked on the 2 protottypes that are going to be used for class room purposes got a fair bit glued up ready to work on this week.

13 June 2010

Spent today reworking the draft theory assessement event. I feel the event will compliment the the practical application and the workbook. The whole package should hopefully loverlap each other to create a nice learning experience for the students.

14 June 2010

I need to collect all resources (photos, video tutorials) and put them online. After talking to a few collegaues KP and CT. They have been using moodle but also out source online mediums (youtube, vox) to help with the layout of their resources.
Last week i opened up a you tube account to dump my video tutorials, I feel this is amedium in where students are already familiar with, so I am hoping this will make it easier for the students to access.

I am finding that it is all well and proper to have the concept of how i would like this to run.......However putting all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together is quite daunting. Oh well we persevere

Start the letter box development with BC tomorrow looking forward to it.