Please note – if you are looking for this post it has been relocated here.
Many thanks!
Creative Education
The Creative Education Blog
News, trends and ideas in education
Please note – if you are looking for this post it has been relocated here.
Many thanks!
Creative Education
I’d like to add that I have found the TES site much better and teacher friendly since you took over. Thank you for the help you have directly and indirectly given me since I joined Twitter a year ago. I look forward to #ukedchat, don’t always feel ablle to parutipate, depending on topic but always find something of interest.
Thank you again.
Ann
See you next week :)
Be strong here Pooky. There are many people, me included, who love the work you have been doing as @creativeedu and @tesconnect. No one can doubt your passion.
What is clear though is tonight’s experiment did not work. In fact it back fired so spectacularly that it started people asking questions. So the fear is that this will be the thin end of the wedge. More product focused evening that do not feel right? It seems the community will accept it when a person with links to a company makes good contributions – it clearly strenthens that company’s image. But when the subtly goes, so does the credibility.
Jamie Oliver was talking this week about editorial control in the US. He was stunned that advertisers completely controlled the content to the extent that he could not operate. People quite rightly have concerns that if #ukedchat has a paid for moderator then there is a risk to open debate. For example, did you see on the TES jobs page a list of prefered employers – all academy chains. What if these paying advertisers say that cricticism of them is not to be accepted or they will pull their advertising? Will you be able to say no as a paid employee of TES?
As the Daily D said earlier this is not about you, there is a principle at stake. Pooky must be free to be Pooky and #ukedchat must belong to the teachers!
I’m so sad to read what has been happening. I was unable to join #ukedchat last night (something about HMI AND Ofsted got in the way!) I love the weekly discussion and although I am not able to join regularly, I’m happy to put myself forward to host the occasional week.
As you rightly say Pooky, these things do grow and change just like our community does. Some things are for the good some not so. In yours and Colin’s hands I’m confident that all the changes will be of the former type.
Thank you both for the commitment you have both put into one of the best sources of CPD for teachers.
Hi Pooky, I don’t think you’ve been ‘attacked’ personally at all. People are simply (and justifiably) concerned that #ukedchat is being taken out of the hands of teachers.
I dot think there’s any excuse for not being transparent about the situation. It seems underhand.
This comment concerns me
The only thing that will change is that Colin and I will be able to dedicate MORE time to #ukedchat once it is officially supported by the TES (which it isn’t yet).
How will it be supported?
With money?
With resources?
Why are TES doing this? I would expect it is because they want to increase sales of TES.
TES support for #ukedchat may be nice, but it does mean that #ukedchat is no longer independent.
You should change the name to #TESukedchat and be honest and open about it.
I agree with James Clay. This post does not put my mind at ease at all. I’m very disappointed with the direction of travel and the fact that the changes were hushed up. The idea that a hashtag can be “officially supported by the TES” is ludicrous.
The TES can use their own hashtag any time.
I also don’t agree that there is anything personal in the criticisms, and so defending them by saying “you know me better than that” is arguing against a straw man. You haven’t argued with the actual criticism.
I get asked about ukedchat regularly as colleagues in my school know I’m a geek (and I’m repeatedly referencing twitter as a source of ideas), but I won’t be recommending it as grass roots any more.
Hi there. Just a quick note to say for at least over the weekend I’ve turned the approval process for comments off to help discussion of this. I usually approve comments to prevent spam, but I don’t want anyone’s comments being held up unduly. Thanks. Tom
The trouble is, people are associated with the organisation they work with no matter how they want to be seen.
When I left the classroom and began working for NCSL it didn’t matter how much I said, “I’m still me! I’m still a teacher!” it didn’t matter, all people saw was NCSL.
When a person works for a particular organisation, it doesn’t matter who they think they are, all people who do NOT know them will see the company or organisation they work for with mixed results.
I work in the private sector and the public sector and the mindset, especially in the primary sector, is at odds I suggest. I think like a teacher but I understand the need for companies to make money and grow their influence which involves competition.
Personally, I like the teachmeet model where firms are kept at arms length, they contribute to the framework, but are not involved in the content.
No one sets out to hide or mask things, I suggest, as teachers this stuff sort of just sort of happens because we’re big hearted, always willing to help, giving and selfless and more often we’re just not aware what the possible outcomes might be as we’re not used to the commercial world.
However, let us not kid ourselves, those in the marketing depts of big firms are more aware than ever on the power of social marketing and they will target areas where their market audience gather be that off or online. I think the issue is, how they are going to do it – constructively or destructively.
Are they looking to encourage diversity and support disruption or or are they seeking to control and consolidate under their brand.
Dear Pooky,
It’s regrettable from our perspective that our ‘chat’ topic was dominated by our sponsor rather than our aim which is to recognise the amazing work of teachers from across the country, celebrate the profession and offer students the opportunity to formally thank a teacher who has made a difference in their lives.
As you already know, Pearson and the DfE have kindly given us the money to run this year without wanting to be involved in the judging process or the running of the organisation so we are able to continue as we have done for the past 12 years, as an independent charity.
We hope that #UKEdChat continues to bring teachers together to discuss practice, policy and new thinking – and hope that our ‘one-off special’ has not put a dent in your valuable contribution to the teaching community as a whole.
All the best,
Rob
Teaching Awards