[Secondary] Re: [Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A serious rant
Crispin Weston
crispin.weston@alphalearning.co.uk
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:38:13 -0000
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Sorry Ray - I was being a bit slow on the uptake. I agree with you.
Crispin.
_____
From: secondary-admin@talk.naace.org [mailto:secondary-admin@talk.naace.org]
On Behalf Of Ray Tolley
Sent: 10 January 2010 15:28
To: advisory@talk.naace.org; secondary@talk.naace.org
Subject: RE: [Secondary] Re: [Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A
serious rant
I am not an ardent monarchist and the repeated warfare between small states
is a sad reflection of our society both then and now. But no, in context,
the quotation is about the frailty of man leading to anarchy and the
breakdown of society.
What I was hinting at was that without a clear lead (from such as Becta?)
we have no standards by which to decide on courses of action. - Again, I'm
thinking of areas such as the Technical Specifications of 2006, directions
concerning e-Portfolios or even on-line reporting.
Ray Tolley FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, MBILD
ICT Education Consultant
Maximise ICT Ltd
P: <http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/>
http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/
B: <http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/>
http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/
W: <http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm>
http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm
Winner of the IMS 'Leadership Regional Award 2009'
From: Crispin Weston [mailto:crispin.weston@alphalearning.co.uk]
Sent: 10 January 2010 15:12
To: 'Ray Tolley'; advisory@talk.naace.org; secondary@talk.naace.org
Subject: RE: [Secondary] Re: [Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A
serious rant
I would agree with you, Ray, that in one sense, the best that any of us can
do is "what is right in our own eyes".
But that is not to say that what is right in our own eyes *is* in fact
right-we all get some things wrong. Nor I am not sure that the writer in
Judges actually approves of our sense of post-Reformation individualism-my
reading of your passage is that he would prefer to have a king back, end the
anarchy and tell everyone what they should be doing.
I am not a fan neither of arbitrary authority (most of the Old Testament
kings, I seem to remember, were a pretty unpleasant lot), nor of a
relativistic view that no-one's opinion is any better than anyone else's. I
think that reason is the best sovereign and that the closest we are likely
to come to reason is by a process of open debate.
Passionate advocacy is part of that debate - but so is the retention of some
degree of self-doubt, the constant re-examination of what each of us
considers right and, to that end, the welcoming of criticism.
Crispin.
_____
From: advisory-admin@talk.naace.org [mailto:advisory-admin@talk.naace.org]
On Behalf Of Ray Tolley
Sent: 10 January 2010 11:24
To: advisory@talk.naace.org; secondary@talk.naace.org
Subject: RE: [Secondary] Re: [Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A
serious rant
Crispin, I can only reply with:
Judges 17:6 "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did
that which was right in his own eyes."
Ray Tolley FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, MBILD
ICT Education Consultant
Maximise ICT Ltd
P: <http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/>
http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/
B: <http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/>
http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/
W: <http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm>
http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm
Winner of the IMS 'Leadership Regional Award 2009'
From: Crispin Weston [mailto:crispin.weston@alphalearning.co.uk]
Sent: 10 January 2010 11:11
To: 'Neil Adam'; 'Ray Tolley'
Cc: 'advisory'; 'secondary'
Subject: RE: [Secondary] Re: [Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A
serious rant
Catching up with this thread, I am reminded of this exchange in
Shakespeare's Tempest:
MIRANDA. O the heavens!
What foul play had we, that we came from thence? [deposed from Milan and
exiled on an island]
Or blessed was't we did?
PROSPERO. Both, both, my girl.
Are schools about people or systems? Are good diagnostics supported by
insightful teacher comments or objective quantitative data (or indeed
student self assessments)?
"Both, both my girl" seems to be a pretty good answer to all of these
questions (depending, I suppose, on whom you are addressing).
The converse kind of argument (which seems to have received a bit of an
airing on the list) is based on the construction of false dichotomies. It
says that *because* schools are about people, *therefore* they do not
require good management systems, or *because* we like insightful teacher
comments, *therefore* quantitative data is of no use. It is a kind of
argument which is as commonly heard as it is logically flawed. It is often
the synergies - between people and efficient management systems and between
quantitative and qualitative data, that really deliver the results.
I agree with Neil when he says that "It worries me that the level of detail
you [Ray] imply will take "forever" for people to put into systems". Ray
says "let's start actually collaborating about the positive potential rather
than the negative clouds of gloom and doubt". But this is another argument
that I hear often but leaves me a little cold - be constructive, don't
criticise, get on board the train now leaving platform 6. Good intentions
are dangerous things (even though Ray will be the first to point out that I
have a few myself). We have to make sure that the policies being advocated
are realistic, well thought out and are likely to work. I take "don't
criticise" as a cast iron guarantee that what is being advocated doesn't
work.
Mike Briscoe says that "it is DIALOGUE that the online reporting activity is
focused upon". I don't think that anyone would argue with the value of
dialogue or of parental engagement any more than with motherhood and apple
pie. But dialogue (perhaps over wine and nibbles) is not the same as
reporting. The *quality* of any dialogue will depend very largely on the
value of the information which underpins it. It will also depend on the
amount of effort put into maintaining the dialogue-and the amount of effort
required from teachers to marshal the relevant data and write the emails and
follow them up and deal with the complaints and possible confrontations is
all very considerable. Which is why many teachers find other ways of
spending their evenings-and why I am advocating that we should look to
support the dialogue with better data systems. If you put the burden on
teachers to keep the dialogue going, nothing will happen 90% of the time. If
you create automatic reporting systems, you will allow parents to initiate
any dialogue that the data seems to require.
The Becta video clip that Mike links to says that "Schools are using
websites, electronic newsletters and email to keep parents informed about a
wide variety of topics" - all of these boil down, I suspect, to informal,
teacher-driven forms of communication which are not only time consuming but
which are likely to have little or no solid data underpinning. It sounds to
me like there's a lot of back-pedalling going on. "Reporting" is being
morphed into "dialogue" and hard data into newsletters.
So, just to reiterate my position (in case people take it from the above
that I am being too negative), I support dialogue, I support real time
reporting and I support what most people have said about the need for rich
and varied data. But you can't put the burden of delivering these things on
the poor bloody infantry all the time. You have to provide teachers with the
right tools. In this case, that means good data systems with automatic data
capture. Data capture is critical. That is what Bill Gates meant when he
said "content is king": you can build the fanciest systems you like but
without any data they are a waste of space. And that is why the historic
failure to address data interoperability in schools has such serious
consequences for the real-time reporting agenda (amongst others).
Crispin.
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sorry Ray – I was being a bit =
slow
on the uptake. I agree with you. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Crispin.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div style=3D'border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm =
0cm 4.0pt'>
<div>
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size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span lang=3DEN-US style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter tabindex=3D-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</spa=
n></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
secondary-admin@talk.naace.org [mailto:secondary-admin@talk.naace.org] =
<b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Ray Tolley<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 10 January 2010 =
15:28<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
advisory@talk.naace.org;
secondary@talk.naace.org<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [Secondary] =
Re:
[Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A serious =
rant</span></font><span
lang=3DEN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>I am not an =
ardent
monarchist and the repeated warfare between small states is a sad
reflection of our society both then and now. But no, in context, =
the
quotation is about the frailty of man leading to anarchy and the =
breakdown of
society. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> <=
/o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>What I was =
hinting
at was that without a clear lead (from such as Becta?) we have no
standards by which to decide on courses of action. – Again, =
I’m
thinking of areas such as the Technical Specifications of 2006, =
directions
concerning e-Portfolios or even on-line =
reporting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> <=
/o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1F497D'>Ray =
Tolley </span></font><font
size=3D1 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'>FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, =
MBILD</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><br>
ICT Education Consultant<br>
Maximise ICT Ltd<br>
P: </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a
href=3D"http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/"><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://raytolley.v2efoliowor=
ld.mnscu.edu/</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1F497D'>B: =
</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a =
href=3D"http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/"><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://www.efoliointheuk.blo=
gspot.com/</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><br>
W: </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a
href=3D"http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm"><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://www.maximise-ict.co.u=
k/eFolio-01.htm</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#c00000" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#C00000'>Winner of the IMS 'Leadership =
Regional
Award 2009'</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> <=
/o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt =
0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</spa=
n></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
Crispin Weston [mailto:crispin.weston@alphalearning.co.uk] <br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 10 January 2010 =
15:12<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'Ray Tolley';
advisory@talk.naace.org; secondary@talk.naace.org<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [Secondary] =
Re:
[Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A serious =
rant<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I would agree with you, Ray, that =
in one
sense, the best that any of us can do is “what is right in our own
eyes”. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>But that is not to say that what is =
right
in our own eyes *<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>is</span></b>* in =
fact
right—we all get some things wrong. Nor I am not sure that the =
writer in
Judges actually approves of our sense of post-Reformation
individualism—my reading of your passage is that he would prefer =
to have
a king back, end the anarchy and tell everyone what they should be =
doing. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I am not a fan neither of arbitrary
authority (most of the Old Testament kings, I seem to remember, were a =
pretty
unpleasant lot), nor of a relativistic view that no-one’s opinion =
is any
better than anyone else’s. I think that reason is the best =
sovereign and
that the closest we are likely to come to reason is by a process of open
debate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Passionate advocacy is part of that =
debate
– but so is the retention of some degree of self-doubt, the =
constant
re-examination of what each of us considers right and, to that end, the
welcoming of criticism. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Crispin.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div style=3D'border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm =
0cm 4.0pt'>
<div>
<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span lang=3DEN-US style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter>
</span></font></div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</spa=
n></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
<st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">advisory-admin@talk.naace.org</st1:PersonName>
[mailto:<st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">advisory-admin@talk.naace.org</st1:PersonName>]
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Ray =
Tolley<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 10 January 2010 =
11:24<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
advisory@talk.naace.org;
secondary@talk.naace.org<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [Secondary] =
Re:
[Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A serious =
rant</span></font><span
lang=3DEN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'>Crispin,&nbs=
p; I can
only reply with:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> <=
/o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><i><font size=3D3 color=3D"#c00000" face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:#C00000;font-style:italic'>Judges =
17:6
“In those days there was no king in <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
w:st=3D"on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>, but <b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>every man did that which was right in his own
eyes.”</span></b></span></font></i><font size=3D2 =
color=3D"#c00000"
face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#C00000'><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> <=
/o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1F497D'>Ray =
Tolley </span></font><font
size=3D1 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'>FEIDCT, NAACE Fellow, ACQI, =
MBILD</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><br>
ICT Education Consultant<br>
Maximise ICT Ltd<br>
P: </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a
href=3D"http://raytolley.v2efolioworld.mnscu.edu/"><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://raytolley.v2efoliowor=
ld.mnscu.edu/</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1F497D'>B: =
</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DCalibri><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a =
href=3D"http://www.efoliointheuk.blogspot.com/"><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://www.efoliointheuk.blo=
gspot.com/</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><br>
W: </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><a
href=3D"http://www.maximise-ict.co.uk/eFolio-01.htm"><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://www.maximise-ict.co.u=
k/eFolio-01.htm</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#1F497D'><br>
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#c00000" face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#C00000'>Winner of the IMS 'Leadership =
Regional
Award 2009'</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#1f497d" =
face=3DCalibri><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;color:#1F497D'><o:p> <=
/o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt =
0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</spa=
n></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
Crispin Weston [mailto:crispin.weston@alphalearning.co.uk] <br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 10 January 2010 =
11:11<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'Neil Adam'; 'Ray =
Tolley'<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> 'advisory'; =
'secondary'<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [Secondary] =
Re:
[Advisory] Online Reporting in Schools - A serious =
rant<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Catching up with this thread, I am
reminded of this exchange in Shakespeare’s =
Tempest:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dpurple face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:purple'>MIRANDA. O the heavens! =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dpurple face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:purple'>What foul play had we, that we =
came from
thence? [deposed from <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Milan</st1:place></st1:City>
and exiled on an island]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dpurple face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:purple'>Or blessed was't we =
did?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dpurple face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:purple'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dpurple face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:purple'>PROSPERO. Both, both, my =
girl.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Are schools about people or =
systems? Are
good diagnostics supported by insightful teacher comments or objective
quantitative data (or indeed student self assessments)? =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>“Both, both my girl” =
seems to
be a pretty good answer to all of these questions (depending, I suppose, =
on
whom you are addressing). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The converse kind of argument =
(which seems
to have received a bit of an airing on the list) is based on the =
construction
of false dichotomies. It says that *<b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>because</span></b>*
schools are about people, *<b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>therefore</span></b>*
they do not require good management systems, or *<b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:
bold'>because</span></b>* we like insightful teacher comments, *<b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>therefore</span></b>* quantitative data is of =
no use.
It is a kind of argument which is as commonly heard as it is logically =
flawed.
It is often the synergies – between people and efficient =
management
systems and between quantitative and qualitative data, that really =
deliver the
results.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I agree with Neil when he says that
“It worries me that the level of detail you [Ray] imply will take
"forever" for people to put into systems”. Ray says
“let’s start actually collaborating about the positive =
potential rather
than the negative clouds of gloom and doubt”. But this is another
argument that I hear often but leaves me a little cold – be =
constructive,
don’t criticise, get on board the train now leaving platform 6. =
Good
intentions are dangerous things (even though Ray will be the first to =
point out
that I have a few myself). We have to make sure that the policies being
advocated are realistic, well thought out and are likely to work. I take
“don’t criticise” as a cast iron guarantee that what =
is being
advocated doesn’t work. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Mike Briscoe says that “it is
DIALOGUE that the online reporting activity is focused upon”. I
don’t think that anyone would argue with the value of dialogue or =
of
parental engagement any more than with motherhood and apple pie. But =
dialogue
(perhaps over wine and nibbles) is not the same as reporting. The =
*<b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>quality</span></b>* of any dialogue will =
depend very
largely on the value of the information which underpins it. It will also =
depend
on the amount of effort put into maintaining the dialogue—and the =
amount
of effort required from teachers to marshal the relevant data and write =
the
emails and follow them up and deal with the complaints and possible
confrontations is all very considerable. Which is why many teachers find =
other
ways of spending their evenings—and why I am advocating that we =
should
look to support the dialogue with better data systems. If you put the =
burden on
teachers to keep the dialogue going, nothing will happen 90% of the =
time. If
you create automatic reporting systems, you will allow parents to =
initiate any dialogue
that the data seems to require.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The Becta video clip that Mike =
links to
says that “Schools are using websites, electronic newsletters and =
email
to keep parents informed about a wide variety of topics” – =
all of
these boil down, I suspect, to informal, teacher-driven forms of =
communication
which are not only time consuming but which are likely to have little or =
no
solid data underpinning. It sounds to me like there’s a lot of
back-pedalling going on. “Reporting” is being morphed into
“dialogue” and hard data into =
newsletters.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>So, just to reiterate my position =
(in case
people take it from the above that I am being too negative), I support
dialogue, I support real time reporting and I support what most people =
have
said about the need for rich and varied data. But you can’t put =
the
burden of delivering these things on the poor bloody infantry all the =
time. You
have to provide teachers with the right tools. In this case, that means =
good
data systems with automatic data capture. Data capture is critical. That =
is
what Bill Gates meant when he said “content is king”: you =
can build
the fanciest systems you like but without any data they are a waste of =
space.
And that is why the historic failure to address data interoperability in
schools has such serious consequences for the real-time reporting agenda
(amongst others).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Crispin.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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