Freebies and Fun

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This time just one year ago I had bagfuls of pens, pencils, leaflets, aprons, stickersrulers, free trials, catalogues and other miscellaneous stationary.  It had been my first visit to the Scottish Learning Festival and I had had a great 2 days.   I didn't go to TMSLF09 though.  I was aware that there was something happening in the evening but didn't really know much about it.  I was also very, very new to twitter so didn't have the background feed to fill me in.

This year couldn't have any more different!  This year I have returned with one little bag with one pencil a couple of pens and not a lot more.  The difference?  This year I didn't go for freebies.  I went to hear Ollie Bray speaking, attend the opening keynote with Mike Russell, meet tweeps and to attend TMSLF2010.

This year was FANTASTIC!

11:05am: I sprinted from the car park, after being caught in a traffic jam for half an eternity, and made it to the opening keynote just in time...

Mike Russell was received better than Fiona Hyslop was at SLF09; with no boos yet there was also a lack of applause.  The first applause that I was really aware of came following a question from Paul Campbell regarding the job situation for teachers.  The response baffled me to say the least.  Perhaps I misheard in my excitement about knowing the questioner, or perhaps I have misinterpreted exactly what Mike Russell was trying to say?  Was the response that jobs should be given to NQT's and other newer teachers in order for them to gain more experience?  If this is the case, what about the very experienced teachers desperate to return to the classroom?  Is it right to rate the need to get experience over the value of tapping into existing experience?  The response from Mike Russell did not for me answer anything other than prove the point that politicians can be very good at moving things around then trying to make it look like large scale change.  I don't know the solution to the job situation but I do know that ignoring experience is not it.

In the same address Mike Russell also highlighted the fact that we have schools that are fantastic, inspiring and motivating:

we have some of the best teachers in the world - most of our schools are wonderful places to learn and great places to be... Teachers must talk, argue, and support each other; inspire other teachers not just in your school but in other schools.

For anyone who uses twitter for education , you are already doing this.

After the opening keynote I met with AnneMarie and we went to see a demonstration of BrainPOP at the Promethean stand.  It was great to see BrainPOP being used by the BrainPOPpers themselves and interesting to see how it works so well with the Promethean tools.  When Eylan finished the demo I was able to introduce myself and wow!  I had always known that the BrainPOPpers were friendly but I have to tell you they are all so incredibly lovely (and they had cakes with orange frosting and glitter, yes glitter and they were tasty).

Next it was time to meet with GTCS at the TES cafe.  Have to confess that at this time I didn't know who I would be meeting as I hadn't thought to ask the GTCS twitterer what they were called.  Thankfully AnneMarie was more prepared than I was and she even knew what Kelly would be wearing.  We met up, grabbed lunch and headed to the LTS stand to watch the Consolarium crew, Derek Robertson, Charlie Love, Ollie Bray and Brian Clark, in action (dancing to Let's Dance on the Wii).  You know the times when you are grateful to be holding a cheese and ham toastie?  Well this was a perfect example ;0) AnneMarie and Kelly were rounded up to compete in the next dance off in the hope that someone would steal the crown from the talented Derek Robertson and I was free to eat my lunch (and video the fun).

What could possibly top this dance off I hear you say.  How does the sound of meeting national treasure Alan Hamilton sound?  Well that was our next stop!  We caught up on Glow stories and heard tales of LTS burning the midnight oil, 4am!