Things I learned this week #1

Last weekend, Doug Belshaw’s “Things I learned this week #17” mentioned this blog (although with some fake reluctance), and the post that contained the What’s new in PowerPoint 2010 for teachers video. I often read Doug’s blog, as well as listening to the EdTechRoundUp podcast, which Doug takes part in weekly. The thought hit me (belatedly!) that “Things I learned this week” is an excellent way to share some of the snippets of news that aren’t quite important enough to make a blog post all of their own, but lumped together they may make interesting reading.

So, thanks to Doug’s idea, here’s my first “Things I learned this week” list:

Things I learned this week

• I have known for some time about the Microsoft Education Competencies, which was designed by teachers, and is used in a number of countries for professional development and career planning by teachers.
  What I learned this week is that one of the 39 competencies is Humour, and just like every other competency, there are a series of level statements that can be used to describe progression:
  Microsoft Competencies > Humour

Level 1: Basic	Level 2: Intermediate	Level 3: Advanced	Level 4: Expert
Generally uses humour in a positive way	Uses humour to bring people together	Knows exactly when and where a joke or story will be effective	Can see humour in almost everything
Is conscientious about timing and setting for humour	Uses humour to boost morale or decrease tension	Has a great sense of timing	Sought out by others for guidance in this area
Tries to diffuse tense situations with appropriate humour	Uses humour to make for a more relaxed and productive atmosphere	Realises when and where humour will backfire, and withholds	Uses humour as a uniting dynamic across a range of situations
Can laugh at self and others	Allows others to be funny	Understands that laughter makes a more comfortable meeting, classroom, etc	Recognizing and appreciates a great sense of humour in others

And like all of the other competencies, there are sections on improving proficiency, interview questions, learning opportunities and even a recommended reading list.
(Honestly, it took me half an hour to satisfy myself that this wasn’t some kind of April Fool’s Spoof)

• There’s a new Windows Live Messenger around the corner, which integrates Facebook, LinkeIn and MySpace – and will be running on phones etc.
  
  
• My colleagues in the States have created a “Digital Storytelling” e-book for teachers. It explains activities and ideas to improve students writing and creativity.
  
  
• I’m not the only person who’s been wowed by Pivot, from Live Labs. I think that combination of Pivot, and your MIS student data could create a magical SMT discussion.
  
  
• According to a tweet from Phil Neal at Capita, one in three secondary schools in England are using the SIMS Learning Gateway
  
  
• Tony Sheppard likes SharePoint as a basis for learning platforms in schools – partly because it’s so Web 2.0

Thanks for the inspiration Doug