WEEK 4: How has your experience of school shaped you as a learner, and as an adult? In what ways do you think your own schooling could have been improved, and what priorities do you think are the most important for schools today?

First of all, I would start that my view of my school may change between my view as a kid and as an adult (even may change if I think as a teacher). 
Knowing that I thnik that in my primary school I would say that they taught me to be a person, how to behave, how to learn, how to live with others, how to relate with adults and kids. Affter that in my secondary school was much more focused on getting better marks, how to get better qualifications for university entrance exams. Each school is focused in what they think would be better for their students, and usually might sacrifice aspects of their growth.
When I studied times changed but not so fast as now, or we weren't aware of that. Nowadays averything changes extremely fast so I think that in my childhood, being trained to be more prepared for changes would have been a good point. It's the same point that I think every school must have resources invested in that, teach kids in how to adapt...how to adapt to everything, changes in how the relationships work, in sudden changes in weather, jobs, cities, travel, comunications, etc. This doesn't mean that there are more aspects that should be taught or trained.

WEEK 3: Reflect back on the teachers you considered in the first reflection task at the start of this week. Reconsider what it was about them that made you consider them to be so good. Would others that were taught by them have the same conclusions?

What helps a student maybe doesn't help others.

This is the first assumption that we should stablish, of course there are teachers than can connect with more students than others,  and also there are teachers that many of their students doesn't get to. But focusing in the ones that get to more kids, maybe is because they get closer to them and also guide them, not taught them directly.

Way better than direct learning is discovery one, people gets involved, needs to understand what happens, "live" what's happening. The key point for this is that theachers or guides, help them in their way of knowledge. 

My example, the Peaceful Warrior follows this kind of teaching, finds a depressed and injured gymnast looking for answers to get better, and also to become a better athlete. What Nick Nolte(the teacher) knows is that the guy has to follow a path to know how life works, how to feel full and peaceful with himself and this will let him become a better athlete and a better person.

Of course his advices for another guy could have beet meaningless, but knowing what to say and do considering every person and situation is a capacity that every teacher should want to have.

WEEK 2: What future for education?

At first I would like to second the idea that everyone can be at least a better learner even if teachers or educators don't think they can improve.
I think my intelligence or my knowledge in school was assessed in a traditional way, the more you know, the more you score. As I wasn't a bad student I don't think that it closed me any door becouse I could do the studies I wanted and work fo something that I love, but I'm sure that if I had to learn subjects that I couldn't understand It should have limited my options to become who I like to be.
I have never felt like anyone judged me by my "intelligence", but in my school I'm tired of listen from other colleagues that if a kid between secondary school and high school is not capable, he should go and study in a job school, and usually a sports job grade (As in sports grade you don't have to study, HA HA), sort kids by their intelligence, habilities, etc. Is a way of recognising what we did wrong as teachers.

I think that I'm not a bad learner (maybe not a good one), I had personal and professional "bumps" in my life and I would say that even in the worst times I had learnt something to use it for living an even better life.

What's going to be the future of education? What will I learn from this course? Week 1

Hello! I'm Marcos, Physical Education teacher.

I'll write my thoughts according to my experience as student and PE teacher so If you read something that doesn't fit, maybe is that I'm exposing from another different point of view.

First of all it's important to make an obvious statement: Time changes faster than we can control and knowing what future waits for the education is a daring supposition to do.

Taking this statement as starting point maybe is this what we should answer, If don't know what should new students learn and we cannot foresee which ways of learning will be open. What shall we do?


As I see, we should start stablishing the values of how do we learn we alredy know, those which Dr.Eleanor Hargreaves and Dr. Fiona Rodger refer to.
As PE Teacher I try to base in the 4 ways of learning: Sharing, Observing, Reading, Experience. And also how do we learn to learn (really useful in learning phyisical skills) DO-REVIEW-LEARN-REPLY. Reading in my subject is not so important as now the knowledge comes from video tutorials or explanations from my own. But sharing, observing and experience are essential for learning skills. Maybe is where we should focus in our classes, If we really base our teachings in this ways of learning or not.

And about what I will learn from this course? Maybe I will see different ways to approach how do we learn, and what is effective.

What you give is what you get

A veces pensamos q todo tiene que tener un rendimiento económico y nos equivocamos...no tiene porque.

En New Zealand hay mercados de coches y compra venta de todo tipo de artículos usados, de segunda mano. Muchos de los que se dedican a viajar compran un coche en 15min, sin tasa alguna por unos 1500e y después de el tiempo q sea lo venden por lo mismo o menos (el valor disminuye en función del disfrute, me explico, a más disfrutes- más rentabilidad "vital" le habrás sacado al coche por lo que el coche pierde valor al vendérselo a otra persona, ya que se considera que lo has aprovechado)...olvidarse de comprar un coche y venderlo poco despues por más dinero, eso no es ético, no va con los kiwis.

Con ello no quiero decir que haya gente así, pero el valor añadido "ficticio" de las cosas es lo que lleva a situaciones comprometidas a las economías de muchos países.

Conclusión...si compras algo y lo vendes por más no está mal...pero recuerda que algo tendrás que añadir (limpiar, mejorar, equipar, etc...) para no entrar en una dinámica abusiva que a la larga....siempre vuelve en contra tuya.

Weekend Trip (lo importante es el viaje)

Esto es lo que tiene New Zealand, el montar un viaje de la nada en 2 dias...pues bién, explico la historia...

Tres colegas españoles(Marcos, Marcos y Manu) deciden hacer un viaje a donde sea(en este caso a Cape Reinga, el cabo norte de NZ) y para cubrir gastos pues venga...a dejar cartelillos por los Hostels de Backpackers de la zona, así q el viernes 11 de diciembre fuimos el equipo Germano-español (los españoles más Vera, Christine y otro Manu)dirección norte.

El camino era largo, y más con las carreteras de aquí...por el camino paramos en Baylys beach para cenar y dormir en la playa, noche perfecta, tantas estrellas q te hacias diminuto...y por la mañana nos damos cuenta que el divertimento de la gente de la zona es ir a mirar el mar...venian solos, acompañados, en coche, caminando...y la gente se limitaba a mirar el mar e irse, el sitio vale al pena.Después de varias opiniones seguimos el camino y nos detenemos en el Kauri Forest(Kauri= árboles gigantes, 40-50 m. alto 5 m. diámetro)parecían sacados del bosque de los Ents (véase/léase el Señor de los Anillos)y por cierto si son tan grandes es por que llueve la leche!así q casi es mejor ir con bañador y chanclas que con chubasquero.

Siguiendo hacia el norte cruzamos con ferry el rio Rawene y más adelante llegamos al inicio de la larga, larga playa de 99 mile beach. larga....bueno, muy larga.

Desde allí la gente hace sand surfing y disfruta de las dunas en quad o de cualquier manera (en NZ inventan todo tipo de deportes).

El dia está nublado,

pensamos en seguir al norte, pero al final decidimos aventurarnos en el oeste de donde no teníamos referencias...y finally nos detenemos en Maitai bay, paraíso natural y menos turístico...puesta de sol perfecta y amanecer sin nubes en una playa paradisíaca(alguien da mas??)

Buenos momentos con los colegas y después volvemos a poner rumbo al sur de vuelta a Auckland...

Por el camino paramos en un bosque impresionante

con riachuelo para hacer una paradita

y tb, como no, a por un helado.

A mitad camino decidimos cambiar el rumbo(que raro, jejeje) y vamos a Murawai beach al este de Auckland...y aunke no estuviera en los planes el dia, el sol, las olas, las gaviotas, hacen de esos momentos, increíbles.....

TOTAL......que íbamos a Cape Reinga y no llegamos.......

pero si hubiéramos llegado del tirón...¿¿¿¿hubiéramos visto las maravillas que escondía el camino????

First day in Auckland

A las 2 horas de llegar ya tengo 2 cuentas en el banco, una para sacar rendimiento y la otra para sacar dinero, tarjeta de débito, cuenta en internet, numero de telefono kiwi, dejado las cosas en el backpackery visto los Copa Amércia neozelandeses....all so easy!!!
Es increíble lo rápido que te integran...no worries man(no hay problemas)
Luego vamos al wind tunnel de la UNiversity of Auckland con Manu, q hoy hay barbacoa, primer contacto social internacional...trankilo, divertido.Con la tarde el jetlag hace mella y me pego una siesta de 5 horas! desde las 4 a las 9 y al despertar en el piso de Manu...8 personas jugando a la wii con un proyector!!!jajajaja, es un no parar!!
Risas y juego hasta la 1!!
Esto empieza bien.