• Home
  • About Us
    • Creating 'Single Steps Learning'
    • Andrew Pearce
    • Lynne Williams
    • Contact Us
    • Photo Gallery
    • Acknowledgements
    • Mapping the Single Steps Journey
  • Principles
    • Our Values
    • Designing for Learning
    • Five Key Concepts
  • Events
    • Training Events
    • Training Events in Wales
    • Embedded CPD
    • Consultation and Development
    • Designer Projects
  • Feedback
  • Inspire
    • Inspire 2019
    • Inspire 2018
    • Inspire 2017
    • Inspire 2016
    • Inspire 2015
    • Inspire 2014
    • Inspire 2013
    • First World War Postcards
  • Community
  • Blogs
    • Snippets
    • Blog
    • A Peak A Week
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
Single Steps Learning
Andrew Pearce 
Lynne Williams

Snippets

Whilst musing on the best place to write the odd comment…we came up with the concept of 'snippets'. A blend of Facebook and Twitter (but without the need to sign up to social media sites), shorter and more informal than our wordpress blog…a space that offers a sense of community, a way to share links to resources and, for those of you who like to know what we are up to, an insight into the daily life of Single Steps Learning...

Wordpress Blog

New Research Article by Hattie

12/8/2016

0 Comments

 
A new research article 'Learning strategies: a synthesis and conceptual model' by John Hattie and Gregory Donoghue was published online two days ago with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The link to the article will allow you to read it online, download a PDF copy or view an interactive PDF in ReadCube. The PDF version is below if you would prefer to download it from here. 
npjscilearn201613.pdf
File Size: 796 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

Dare to Dream

7/7/2016

0 Comments

 
​"Don't be afraid to have dreams. Because four years ago, I was as far away from this as you can imagine and look what's happened! If you work hard enough...if you're not afraid to dream...and if you're not afraid to fail. Everybody fails. I've had more failures than I've had success. But I'm not afraid to fail." (Chris Coleman, 2016)

Whether you a sports fan or not, the Welsh football team demonstrated the importance of grounded values and the attitudes they produce. It was heartening to listen to ‘world-class superstar’ Gareth Bale talking with a complete lack of ego. In every interview, he emphasised that he was just one player in a team and that it was a team performance. Every time he also ensured that he acknowledged the commitment of the supporters and its effect on the team. These attitudes were echoed repeatedly by other individuals, players and coaching staff. There was a lot of talk about ‘we’ and ‘us’ as opposed to ‘I’ and ‘me’.
Whatever the result, the team gathered together in a circle at the end of the game and listened to a team-talk by their leader, Ashley Williams. Then, win or lose, they applauded and thanked their supporters, who responded in kind.
Chris Coleman’s statement about daring to dream and being unafraid to fail is a mindset we continually encourage as part of effective learning. It is wonderful to encourage this kind of thinking but we must also actively provide the environment for it to actually happen, otherwise it is like buying your team the best kit but never giving them a pitch to play on.

#togetherstronger​

Like many, we were inspired. 

Picture
"Op school hangt de vlag al. Go Wales!⚽⚽⚽" A message we received from a school in the Netherlands.
0 Comments

Interesting Article: Why the Factory Model of School Persists and How We Can Change It

5/11/2015

0 Comments

 
An email from EdWeek  just popped into our inbox and we immediately followed the link to this article. 

Why? The visual. It immediately evoked memories of Sir Ken Robinson's 2006 TED Talk. 

​So, nearly a decade on, how has education progressed? 

Why the Factory Model of School Persists and How We Can Change It
0 Comments

'Growth Mindset'

1/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Really pleased (and relieved) to read this recent article by Carol Dweck - thank you to two of our Scottish colleagues for bringing our attention to it. We had a growing concern about 'growth mindset' becoming 'a gimmick' and being 'done' to both learner and educator as awareness and popularity grew. The honesty of Carol Dweck's response in this article is refreshing and thought-provoking. We urge you to read and explore/reflect upon your own thinking and that of your setting/workplace. 

The article was published on 22nd September 2015 in 'Education Week' - Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'
0 Comments

Creative Schools

31/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Discovered this book in a friend's house this weekend. It has been on our wishlist ever since it was published earlier this year. Now it's ordered and we can't wait for it to arrive.
Picture





Picture
0 Comments

Which teacher would you thank…?

5/3/2014

0 Comments

 
Part of our design thoughts today had us exploring our past experiences in education. So, if you could say 'thank you' to one teacher from your school years, who would it be and why?
0 Comments

Growing up in the 80's...

22/7/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of spending 5 days facilitating 'Designing for Learning' events in Hailsham, East Sussex. One participant from the secondary sector had asked his students to engage in an open-ended problem based task/project as part of their History lessons. The products were impressive and really provoked dialogue between everyone. 

The 'History of Women's Fashion 1900-2000' caught my interest…and I turned immediately to the 1980's - my teenage era. 
"Pirate style…power dressing…shoulder pads…designer labels…look as if you had made it"
I have to admit that my first reaction was to laugh loudly. Images and memories came flooding back! From clothes, we moved onto TV programmes with big shoulder pads - 'Dynasty', 'Dallas' and 'The Colbys'. Much laughter ensued.

A few days later, on a more serious note, I started to reflect on technology in the 80's. The 'space invader' game, my Spectrum 48k computer with rubber keys, our first video recorder (did we opt for VHS or Betamax?), vinyl records, telephones with cords and the dial that you operated by putting your finger in the metal ring and pulling it round. 

On talking to my 14 year old nephew, he was aghast…and I think the comment went something like, 

"Lynne - were you really alive in those olden times?!"

In the 90's, I was at University. My campus had the first of the internet regional servers. I remember attending a seminar, sitting on stools in the library back area. We were about to get our first taste of this thing called 'the world wide web'. 

As they put in a search term chosen by us, I sat waiting. Intrigued. 10 minutes passed by…20 minutes…almost 30 minutes. And then some information popped up. 

My reaction as a 'trainee teacher'…

"This internet thing will never catch on! Can you imagine having to wait 30 minutes for it to work whilst sitting with a class! What a nightmare!"

How little did I know!

(And the search term we asked for…Emma by Jane Austen! We were writing assignments on this and thought we could do with a bit of free research from the 'world wide web'!)

Reflective question for you all: When did you first hear about/use the internet? Where were you? What were your initial thoughts/reactions?
0 Comments

Learning can be uncomfortable...

7/7/2013

0 Comments

 
…for all involved. 

This week is going to be full of learning for us…and potentially quite challenging. We are preparing ourselves for some uncomfortable moments. 

If you are reading this and know that we are working with you this week, you have no need to worry. The 'learning' is more to do with our peripheral tasks! 

For those of you who have watched with interest during training events as Andrew organises the resource boxes and bans me (Lynne) from even going near them...this week I get to learn! The question is 'who is likely to be more uncomfortable?'.

Andrew is recovering from recent surgery and has been advised not to lift/carry anything for 3 months. We have needed to react positively to this news and reassess how we prepare for events. It has left us reflecting in a very real way on the emotions that occur during moments of new learning - however insignificant the learning may seem to others. 

Learning can definitely be uncomfortable - for all involved. Whether you are the perceived 'teacher' or the 'learner' in the task. In fact, more often than not, the 'teacher' can be equally uncomfortable during new learning situations - the moment when you relinquish control, take that risk and trust your learners to take ownership. Sometimes the most difficult task is knowing when NOT to step in.

So - this week we head to East Sussex. I will be carrying boxes, organising resources and ensuring everything is packed away in the correct place. These tasks are not usually high on my list of priorities. They are not within my preferred skill-set. Yet, I am motivated to learn and to achieve success. 

Motivation and relevance is key to new learning. I'm also pretty sure that I will be needing some 'gentle' guidance, support and recognition of progress this week. And, who knows, I may even develop some muscles as a by-product of my new learning. ;-) 


0 Comments

Currently reading "Are you smart enough to work at Google"...

18/4/2013

0 Comments

 
This week has been a mixture of reading, research, meetings and school visits. After ruminating on the various documents available for the new LNF in Wales (National Literacy and Numeracy Framework - statutory from September 2013), we turned to our most recent book purchase…for some light reading!
Picture
Are you smart enough to work at Google? (William Poundstone)
The interview experiences and questions were immediately engaging and provocative. It challenged our thinking. It made us reflect on how we would act in such interview situations. And, ultimately, we needed to put the book down for a while as our brains began to hurt!

As we continued to work our way through some of the puzzles described, we began to wonder how learners of different ages would react. As adults, we tend to immediately self-check our responses and suggestions - often choosing to remain quiet if we perceive that an idea may be met with negative reactions from peers. How does this affect our ability to think creatively and explore multiple options. Do we limit ourselves?

We shall leave you to ponder two of the interview questions included in the book. (The second of the questions reminded us (slightly!) of one of our problem-based tasks for 3-5 year olds regarding Humpty Dumpty - how can we prevent him from 'cracking' every time he falls off the wall?)

Interview Question:
"You are shrunk to the height of a penny and thrown into a blender. Your mass is reduced so that your density is the same as usual. The blades start moving in sixty seconds. What do you do?"

Interview Question:
"You work in a 100-storey building and are given two identical eggs. You have to determine the highest floor from which an egg can be dropped without breaking. You are allowed to break both eggs in the process. How many drops would it take you to do it?
0 Comments

    Author

    Andrew and Lynne share moments from their daily lives as co-creators of Single Steps Learning.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Apps For Education
    Curriculum
    Designer Projects
    Education Perspectives
    Education Resource
    Embedded CPD/CLPL
    Guest Snippet
    Nursery School
    Primary School
    Reading And Reflections
    Research
    Single Steps Learning
    Technology
    Training Events

    Archives

    April 2018
    November 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

Andrew Pearce
Creator of Single Steps Learning
Trainer, Consultant, Designer, Learner, Teacher

0772 555 2093
andrew.singlestepslearning@gmail.com
Picture

Lynne Williams
Creator of Single Steps Learning
Trainer, Consultant, Designer, Learner, Teacher

0772 555 2173
lynne.singlestepslearning@gmail.com
© Single Steps Learning Ltd 2018. All Rights Reserved. 
All images and information are the intellectual property of Andrew Pearce and Lynne Williams at Single Steps Learning Ltd. 
We respectfully ask you to contact us for permission if you wish to use the material in any way. 
For information about how we collect, store and use data, please read our Privacy and Cookies Policy.


Single Steps Learning is the trading name of Single Steps Learning Ltd. Single Steps Learning Ltd is a registered company in England and Wales. 
Company Number: 9570731    Registered Address: Lower Floor Office, Glenaub House, Old School Road, Porthcawl, Bridgend, CF36 3AW

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.'