remote learning characters...

Now that remote learning is in full roar, some class characters are finding new ways to be characters - especially in face to face Google Meets. A Yr 10 student of mine came in with a message above smiling face. 'I love English' - translated as 'I want an assignment extension'.

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

simple? instructions? ...

I love seeing my students inspired+creative....(and I encourage them)...but there is one side of them that is hard work... responding to a simple instruction. Currently it's "Link your Google doc with me..." I can view/comment on progress...so far it's taken a week...and counting

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

Actually, in some cases, it has taken more than a week...possibly two...
But I didn't want to seem mean...

Update: A senior student took pity on me? the strugglers? and compiled a visual step-by-step guide re sharing Google doc. I attached it to yet another email to the strugglers. Did it work? (Email read?) Possibly 5% success. Back to more creative versions of 'It's URGENT'.

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

This thread tries to demonstrate that remote teaching/learning is no 'walk in the park' for teachers. It has fresh, time-consuming hazards to circumnavigate and overcome, far beyond the 'deliver the curriculum' expectation. It's a learning experience for everyone involved.

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

calliandra grandiflora...

Calliandra Grandiflora - native of Central America - by Philip Reinagle

Hand-coloured engraving from 'The Temple of Flora', (1799) by Robert John Thornton

'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'

respect the land

and all therein

it will always rise

above you

Nan Madol...

Nan Madol, an ancient city built on a coral reef is surrounded by water on 3 sides with a stone wall enclosure. Often referred to as the "Venice of the Pacific." More intriguing, is the 'Romulus and Remus'y' story of the founders... brothers...sorcerers...https://t.co/TSIUPApjgq

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

TODAY, the area is east of Pohnpei Island, (the largest and highest island in the Federated States of Micronesia), on small Temwen Island.

So many questions emerge...but I'll keep to a few...

1. 'The Saudeleur built Nan Madol as a temple for the farm god Nahnisohn Sapw, the god worshipped by the Saudeleur nobility.' No god of the sky or sea - the usual expanses relegated to significant gods in civilisations, but 'farm god'... Perhaps land being so precious in such an island environment may elevate the status of a farm god...????

2. 'The Saudeleur were originally a foreign tribe who came to Pohnpei and installed themselves as rulers of the island.' Clearly they were already civilised and from what civilisation? So Temwen Island and Nan Madol were actually the 'jewel in the crown' of this civilisation? So how much more was there?

3. Why is this history so elusive and, in its place, we have been handed down Rousseau's stereotypical 'noble savage' version of the Pacific Islanders?

4. Why would a small island be so attractive as a religious and commercial centre + a royal enclave? Island environment offered natural protection from invaders?

5. The question has to be asked...Why did this civilisation fade out of our awareness? Blind-sided by colonial ignorance?

humble Sam...

Sam has an appealing ability of sharing himself as a humble being... From the background of filming 'Australian Story' - 'In the courtyard of Oliver's café, no-one looked twice at the rumpled farmer reading his beloved Otago Daily Times at table 7.' https://t.co/87jroU4iy8

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

'And there he was, pulling into town behind the wheel of his Mr-Bean-issue 1960 Austin A40...'

Etruria?...

Browsed some of the topics in this....Adore the comment under Early Roman History re the enigmatic Etruria.
'History indeed 'sinketh beneath her cloud.' They have fallen victims to Time, who 'sadly overcometh all things'; around them,...'

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

WW had a surprising range of interest areas... It seemed he liked to rummage in all things history, science, mathematics, religion and more... a new Leonardo?

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) May 1, 2020

Tim

the veggie patch and ISO...

my P-12 school has quite an extensive vertical garden - a veggie patch...
and over this ISO period, it hasn't been neglected...

a woodwork teacher, who finds it easier to conduct remote learning lessons from school,
has been taking the mainly primary and a few secondary students at school
down to tend the veggie patch...

recently the students picked tomatoes
and learnt how to make and bottle tomato sauce from them...

the teacher reported that
the younger students adored having the older students help them...
while the older students felt needed and less isolated...

and all students learnt so much more about
the earth to table process...

that has to be an example of education in action...

there may be a crisis

but some form of valuable education goes on...