Educating the Dragon

WOW nz-interface are running a competition and want you to participate. It is calling for entries into the INTERFACE AWARDS 2008.

It appears there are two categories

BEST USE OF ICT IN TEACHING

And

BEST TEACHER BLOG

It is this second category that got me thinking… There are so many different teacher blogs out there written by New Zealanders or at least folks like me who reside on these fair shores. How are we choose, let alone judge? How can we compare one with the other?

For example how can fair compare the weighty matters of Artichoke , with the reflective practice of Marnie , with the oh so helpful links and tips of NZChrissy , or Greg with his links to thought provoking/ amusing/ novel YOUTUBE happenings… to name but a few? Its not really apples and apples is it. I find each blog I read useful for the content found therein, for a whole raft of reasons.

Even those blogs I have mentioned are interesting and varied in their content on one level or another and should not really be pigeon-holed as I have done.

Then there are the student blogs / wikis/ podcasts that have so far gone unmentioned.

But it’s a starts, so let’s support this, even in its infancy, besides I might even win myself a laptop

I have had a great day today.

So many highs, it’s unreal. Firstly I actually get chance to spend time in the bloggers cafe with old friends. Then I facilite a discussion on the Did you know? material. with Allanah live blogging it. An us all working together on a google doc. Head researcher Amaanda (sic) putting in the links as we go. If you’re interested our notes on the preceedings appear on slideshare. But be warned, to read it you need to download it. With promises of added information etc being made. I spent much of yesterday asking myself, “whose Nicki Gemmel, I know that name.” In fact it was not until I got to the session did she say Nix. and the penny finally dropped. A big thank you to all those present and contributing to the discussion. And those of you who joined in the live chat. I walked out smiling. If you want liking to the google doc just comment and fix you up.

Secondly, I managed to make it to Rachel’s presentation on social bookmarking- She had 41 on her list but I recken it was closer to 50. She worked so hard!

Then the conference dinner. I was able to chat with some old friends AND made some new ones. That is always good.

I even got to the dance floor and ‘got on down’ until I caught myself dancing like my old man and promptly jigged my way off the dance floor.

It’s now 1am and I’m feeling tired but happy. Got Breakfast with Jocelyn, Allanah and Greg tomorrow…. Anyone remember where the Embassy is? Under the thingys and turn right? Turn right and go under the thingys? Best ring in the morning!

I know you all probably saw this on Greg’s blog already but I just could help but share it here too. 

AREN’T YOU ALL SICK OF THOSE HIGH PAID TEACHERS??

Their hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work nine or ten months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do… baby-sit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage. That is right. I would give them $3.00 dollars an hour and only the hours they worked, not any of that silly planning time.

That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 AM to 4:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch).

Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.

Now, how many do they teach in a day… maybe 30? So that’s 19.5 X 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

Let’s see . . . that’s $585 x 180 = $105,300 per year.

(Hold on! My calculator must need batteries!)

What about those special teachers and the ones with master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage just to be fair, round it off to $7.00 an hour. That would be $7 times 6-1/2 hours times 30 children times 180 days =$245,700.00 per year.

Wait a minute, there is something wrong here!

There sure is, duh!

Make a teacher smile; send this to someone who appreciates teachers!

(Average teacher salary $50,000/180 days = $277per day/30 students = $9.23/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student.) Very inexpensive babysitter and they even educate your kids! Crazy!