Wilson Waffling

i've spent the majority of the week sat in the library watching people come and go and working on my CMALT and PhD (more to come about the latter soon since I am recording my journey). No matter what I am doing, I usually have my twitter feed up somewhere, keeping up to date with events in the TwitterSphere. It was while doing this that I started to think about whether we should be tweeting throughout a keynote speech or just listening to the information. Of course, the distraction was immediately added as a draft idea and now you get to read it… The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

RRight, I’m back! Sorry if you have been bored with the Minecraft posts recently, I had a sort of break for Easter but I am back now with some usual teaching, techie or just twaddle! I feel that I have neglected my site for a while and if you are a bit disappointed with my recent waffles then I assure you that I am going to try and improve in the next couple of months. In order to get things underway, I thought I would waffle about what I look for and how I continue to create what I consider a mobile technology life… The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

Hooray - schools and university have broken up for Easter! No more work for two...hang on a minute, I'm still working! Due to the amount of marking and work I have to get done, I won't be taking any holidays over Easter although hopefully I will be able to have a break on Easter weekend. Since everyone will probably be taking a break from their daily browsing through blog posts, I thought I would write this week's waffle on something which I wanted to share with you. The many faces of Wilson Waffling... The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

I wonder if anyone of you actually clicked on the link to this post because of the title? Although I will never really know, I will be able to see how many of you actually visited the site from the link. This is through the wonder of analytics. But what are the positives and negatives of analytics on the site? - this is what this week's waffle is all about - analysing those analytics! The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

Learning can happen anywhere and anytime. One of the important aspects of the 'technology revolution' was the use of the virtual, online environment to support and enhance learning. These virtual learning environments changed the static webpage to an interactive and engaging learning hub where learners can join and participate within. But have the virtual learning environments had their day and should we bury them in order to move onto other learning platforms? Well that is what this week's waffle is all about. The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

Talk about a catchy waffle post to get your attention! It is, of course, a Pink Floyd reference to another brick in the wall - not that I was or ever will be a Pink Floyd fan but I am a fan of technology and there has been a topic which I have been wanting to write a waffle about for some time but have never felt I knew how to phrase/write it. Well, today I have decided to bite the proverbial bullet and write it - should learners use their mobile phones within sessions... The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

You see...I have this thing about recording - I think that too often we require evidence in the form of writing and/or paper and really the learning can be recorded in many other ways. Even within my sessions, pages of notes does not necessarily reflect complete engagement - although sometimes it is helpful to have something recorded in some manner for future use. When demonstrating/modelling good practice within the primary school setting, I want to not only preach about using different methods or recording but to actually provide examples of these other methods and practically engage with them so that the learners know the pros and cons of each approach. I have used videoing within the primary classroom from the humble camcorder through flip video cameras to the infamous Digital Blue Cameras. I had never used iPads, since they were not being used before I made my move to higher education, and this week's session appeared to be a perfect opportunity to engage with them. I did, however, have various degrees o

After talking about the difference between working in primary education and higher education last week, my thoughts this week has turned to something which I have been thinking about for a long time – so long that I’m not sure whether I have already written a waffle about it. If I already have then I apologise because I feel the need for speed…I meant to waffle about it again – how do I ensure progression within my sessions.

Facebook is an interesting place to keep you informed about your friend’s activities. I also tend to use it as a summary of what is happening across the nation and the festivals of the year. Of course, yesterday it was full of the obligatory roses, chocolate and romance – but there was also a splattering of lie ins and smiling faces as the school’s half term began. It made me start to think about the differences between teaching in a primary school and teaching in higher education and when I start to think it naturally leads to a waffle… The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

So this week’s waffle is about another section of the Horizon Report on Technology in Higher Education.The last time I waffled about this I focused on the Flipped Classroom – this week I’m going to focus on something which I really want to get more involved with – so grab those open badges, those actions and levels and prepare to enjoy some gamification. The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

are times within our lives when other priorities take over and things that we really enjoying doing have to take a back seat for a while. Despite being very busy with marking and work work, I am still trying to keep up with my pointless gym going and the writing of Wilson Waffling. I have a couple of ideas ready to go with, but due to the time spent doing marking, I’ve not been able to put these together properly so this week is more of a general waffle about nothing in particular. So if you are marking, or planning or just sat with nothing to do, then put me on the speakers or grab a coffee and let’s have a catch up… The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

Every year there is a conference based at the university where I work called “Talking about Teaching”. I can safely say that this is one of my most enjoyable events of the year not only because the focus is on teaching – something which I am passionate about – or that my image appears on much of the publicity (fame at last!) but also it is one of those events when people share good practice and I always leave full of great ideas and enthusiasm to implement this into my existing practice. So what did I experience – well Let’s waffle about the event! The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device and is usually followed by the words 'to work' or 'to session'. There was a time in the darkest and distance past that educational establishments were the places which had the technology and computers and this was the only place where learners could interact with them. Times have certainly changed and now learners have their own smartphones, laptops and mobile devices and teaching and learning needs to embrace this in order to allow for learners to engage with the learning using their own devices. Within my own teaching sessions, mobile devices and laptops are out and on public display. Although I'm sure these are sometimes not totally used for engaging with the session, they are out and ready to be used if needed. So why should the learners have their own devices with them and how can these be used within the sessions. The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subsc

After my break from mass waffling over the Christmas holiday I have actually come back to the blog with a range of things that I want to waffle about. It is very rare that I am “spoilt for choice” for content, usually I wake up on Sunday morning thinking – “What on earth am I going to write about!” I have decided to write a few waffles on technology and teaching and link them to the Horizon Report on Technology in Higher Education. Although this has probably been done a few times across the vastness of the internet, after engaging and researching about a few of these, I wanted to waffle and put my own views across – this week, gym kit on! it’s time for some flipping! The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you la

Well, this is the moment that I don't really look forward to each year...the setting of my new year targets. Do I make them easy so I achieve them or challenging so I have to put some work in to them? or maybe a bit of both? Well my initial target for this waffle is to stop procrastinating and to get on with it! The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

So as the final left overs of the nut roast are being scraped into the bin, I suddenly realised that this was the last waffle before the new year. As it is customary (for me at least) I knew it was time to look back on the targets I set myself to see if I have managed to achieve them or at least make some progress towards them. So grab that last mince pie and let's get to it! The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

I rarely get asked to write an article for a research magazine or another blog so imagine how surprised I was when I received an email asking me to write for the university published York Talk magazine. As you can imagine the initial article I wrote was too long - what did you expect from a waffler! - so they agreed to let me publish the complete article here. So, without further a-do here is my article titled - "Technology, the bane of my life!" http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/pdf/Yorktalk%20-%20Winter%202014.pdf

I'm one of those people who thinks too much and, which doesn’t help my sleep pattern, when I get something in my head I find it hard to shift it until I have given it plenty of thought. Now, I want to make it clear from the outset that I am not trying to be controversial with this waffle, I’m more just thinking out loud and wondered if anyone has any answers to the questions I present. Got you curious? Well this week’s waffle is all about not going outside to learn… The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

Yes, you did just see the trailer for the new Star Wars film appear on your timeline as a waffle from me. I do like Star Wars and of course I am super excited about the new film, but that is not the reason it is appearing as a waffle. Why is it here? Well because it is an excellent starting point for learning. The complete transcript and links can be found by following the link to my Wilson Waffling blog below. Remember keep up to date with my waffles by subscribing to; Twitter- http://goo.gl/FcZaz Blog - http://goo.gl/IRne5D Youtube - http://goo.gl/ssxQNw Facebook - http://goo.gl/lDp6B Podcasts - http://goo.gl/NeEWjF Have fun and catch you later!

There s always a time within your professional career that you begin to wonder what you are doing and why you are doing it. Although I am passionate about teaching and learning, where I am actually doing it is always a constant dilemma for me. Spending a week within school working with both students and children on mathematical assessment activities I once again find myself consider where I should be. After a discussion with my dean of faculty about life and learning he directed me to an activity at the end of chapter one of a book by Peterson called “A Primer in Positive Psychology”. The activity requires you to write your own legacy and so…here is my retirement speech, which includes, hopefully, what I consider my legacy would be.