Lessons Learned

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way

                                                                                               Napoleon Hill


Today was a really interesting one full of learning and no small degree of laughter at my inadequacies. As I try to create the resources to support participants in the project, I am discovering how much I need to learn about the tools we plan to use. I love nerdling. I love the fiddling and tweaking and collaborations that help build my skills so that I can help others. 

Today I made three sets of Google Sheets which would have probably worked but in a cumbersome way. Click on the images below to see them more clearly.

This seemed a natural starting point but how awkward would it be to navigate between pages?

I am lucky to have a friend well versed in all things Google and he helped me to re-image and tighten my original plan so that now, rather than have three cumbersome sets of sheets which would have been difficult to manage, I now have a Google Form to collect my data which feeds into a sheet where I can apply filters. Participating teachers will be able to find a range of stimulus materials which can be filtered according to target age, themes et al.

The information then gets collated in the Google Sheet like the one below 

The Google Sheet looks like this

Our intention is for participating teachers to help build a repository of texts, both literary and visual, which everyone can access. Texts come in so many different forms and it is wonderful that we will gather such a range across participating countries. We are excited to hear the poems, read the articles, novels and stories, see the photos and videos that allow us to learn about other cultures and also the gift of sharing other people's perspectives in their responses. Google Forms have so many options that allow for data to be gathered. I love learning the nuances of each tool and understand that it really is an ongoing adventure.

It was also pointed out that the project needs its own website outside of my own one. This was something I hadn't thought of and frankly was absolutely on point and so I created a Google Site and embedded materials I had created using Adobe Spark. This is a collaboration and as such needs to stand alone. This blog as well as one I will encourage Maria to create, will be embedded in the site. It might be nice to have each participating school create one and share the links too. So watch this space.

Lessons learned today:
1. Have a clear view of your intention and be ready to look at different iterations.
2. Don't be precious. Be prepared to learn and tweak and delete. The aim is to create the best version rather than tick an objective off the list.
3. Google Forms is far more versatile than I imagined and I LOVE the spreadsheet collection of responses.
4. Using forms means that group members can contribute and view but not upset the spreadsheet formulas.
5. Google Groups allow for a shared folder to be accessible and that I am also able to keep other material separate.
6. Enjoy and learn from those generous enough to share their expertise and passion.

Writing Our Way To A Better World

“At its essence, sustainability means ensuring prosperity and environmental protection without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A sustainable world is one where people can escape poverty and enjoy decent work without harming the earth’s essential ecosystems and resources; where people can stay healthy and get the food and water they need; where everyone can access clean energy that doesn’t contribute to climate change; where women and girls are afforded equal rights and equal opportunities.”

UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon 

The idea of having young writers engage with the Global Sustainability Goals really appeals to me. Perhaps it is because I teach in a Catholic college where the Catholic Social Teachings are integral to my daily practice, perhaps it is because of an inherent desire to see fair access to the natural resources we have become stewards of, or perhaps I have finally found my voice and a vehicle to help raise awareness in a meaningful way beyond my classroom and beyond the curriculum. I am not sure. I do know that through the Asia-Europe Foundation, and with Maria Silva, a teacher from Portugal, I am going to build resources and experiences that will hopefully inspire our young writers to; participate in making a difference, persuade others to pay attention through their debates,poems, slam poems, stories, articles, letters and lyrics. They will be able to act and curate their actions so that they can see how far they have come, not only in their writing, but in their thinking and delivery. Writing should be passionate, joy-filled, shared and make meaning of the world we inhabit. With the use of the Erasmus E-Twinning platform and a number of applications such as Google Earth, GSuite, Flipgrid, Write the World, Adobe Spark, Online Voice Recorder among others, students will collaborate on areas they are interested in. They will see one another, listen and respond and build cultural understanding and a broader view of the world. 

I don't want to set many expectations, I want to see where young minds take their inspiration and apply it. We are currently designing the project and you will find regular updates as the project progresses.You might be interested in participating or simply observing the journey. Either way, wish us luck. This blog will also be embedded in my website where you will find resources and more information about the project.

“Be a global citizen. Act with passion and compassion. Help us make this world safer and more sustainable today and for the generations that will follow us. That is our moral responsibility.”

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon

You can also follow the journey on Twitter @BentleyJuliette