graham.dickie

… by the cover.  I know!  But I have to make some comments about the Glow try-out.  So let me see if I can draw out forward looking suggestions.

Glow needs Broadband! Not having it in our school, introduced new ICT rituals, like selecting a page and going to get my lunch from the kitchen while it loads. This is not a Glow problem, but an infrastructure one.  I await news of installation, with great interest!

Glow will be full of possibilities! Because of the long load times I didn’t see too much, and all the details that I suspect should have been on the main page (right), ended up in a long column on the left, below the screen.  What I saw, if I saw it correct, wasn’t that intuative.  This suggests that orientation and training will need to be gradual and step based, for many an ordinary teacher.  Having a staff tutor or mentor for one big day might backfire. Local in-service over several weeks might support and encourage long-term use. But one person’s experience does not research make!

Glow will connect people! We have reasons for connecting with others: interests, enquiries, questions, resources, escape! It would be good to allow these to grow organically.  I suspect that some of the problems with the Masterclass Online experience was that we were put in artificial groups and told to create.  I don’t know about you, but I’m selective with whom I create!

I’m still looking forward to Glow. It has so much potential. I’m also looking forward to hearing how others got on, and to the Argyll & Bute plans.  All this anticipation, and Christmas too!