Okay, I have a confession to make. I’m about to backtrack on some of the opinions I held
before my minor epiphany (seen here and here). I finally found the time to watch some of the
Teachers’ TV programmes that had been recorded and gathering dust as I spent my viewing
time on more frivolous televisual entertainment. Where I found this time, I don’t know;
I suspect that it was lurking behind the time normally allocated to school holiday
pursuits such as taking really long baths and mooching round the shops. But let me
tell you, it was time well spent. I’d previously watched little snippets when nobody
else was in the room, guiltily flicking over only to find a panel of dullards
yabbering away in that manner boring old teachers seem to affect. I felt ashamed to
be thinking about work when I should be enjoying the latest in prime time TV
entertainment, and then disappointed when the cheap glimmer of inspiration was not to
be found.
This time, I perched on the edge of my seat to watch a recorded programme made to
illuminate teachers of my particular subject – perched, not with excitement and
anticipation, I hasten to add, but so that I could easily switch it off should this be
another example of yawn-vision. But hallelujah! This was actually interesting stuff!
It would be easy to pick holes in such details as the attentive class seen in the
practical sections, or the number of resources these teachers had to hand, but what
was refreshing was the way in which lessons were shown, subject matter discussed and
re-evaluated from different angles, and the way the programme stoked the dying embers
of enthusiasm that I currently feel for one particular topic I have to teach. Suddenly
I felt ablaze with ideas, seeing things from a different viewpoint rather than from
the rut I’d involuntarily rolled into of late. I became aware that I’d started jotting
notes down on the corner of a newspaper, and itched to go onto the internet to research
the new avenues that this programme had inspired.
It was a complete surprise! Having just tempted my appetite, I find that I now want
more of this type of thing, and I want to feel that inspired on a regular basis; it’s
the antidote to the daily routine of treading over the same ground with pupils who
need different approaches for it all to click for them. It also made me remember what
it was like to be the learner in the classroom as I watched these other teachers
engage their pupils in different activities, and helped me to shake off the assumptions
I make far too often about children’s peripheral knowledge.
However, as I’ve mentioned when writing about Teachers’ TV before, the rolling
repetition of programmes means that I may have to wait for some time until I see
something new on that subject area, as even a month or so after I first recorded
the programme I think it’s still popping up in their listings. Now I have scoffed
down a piece of Teachers’ TV, I want more: not the 10 minute talking heads
snooze-fests, but the wholesome idea-filled flavours that I’ve now had a chance to
sample. Humble pie can taste good. I just wish my department could have been watching
it too.
added 27/3/05
© Copyright laws apply to the contents of this website. 2003-2005