assignment writing & TLC

At last i found an example of a High Distinction assignment from a work colleague - a different masters degree to this one - so i can't plagiarise. I think it is important to see models of writing that is expected at post graduate level otherwise i feel like i've been floundering and not getting anywhere but not getting help to get on track with academic writing. This sink or swim attitude of some is not fair to the older novice. Now i realise that i have to do more in text referencing and acknowledge as much as i can from the sources - even though i have said it my way. Academic writing doesn't come easily to me - apparently it comes easily to some! It is not like getting on a bike again and riding to success. I have had to learn a different style of writing and also juggling this with forums, blogs and on line communication - on top of all the readings - impossible if you work 5 days a week for 2 subjects. I am now looking forward to easing my load next semester.

Just read about TLC (Montiel-Overall) - Teacher Librarian Collaboration - much of the success for this depends on the Principal giving teachers time to make this happen on a regular basis. At our school teachers are so busy - it's hard to get them aside to talk about planning a unit of work together. Some teachers are happy that they can send their class away to a competent teacher who can organise library related activities without too much input on their part. The ideal is to have a collaborative culture where social interaction is creating educational experiences but this is not easy in an hierarchical culture where power play and authority games become the order of the day. "Collaboration is a trusting, working relationship between two or more equal participants involved in shared thinking, shared planning and shared creation of innovative integrated instruction" - this can happen if time is allocated by the Principal - so much hinges on the Principal's support due to the hierarchical nature of schools.