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I’ve spent much time this week reading Ken Robinson’s Element, if you’re familiar with the TED talk and his recent lectures at the R.S.A. and Specialist School Trust conference, the first section comes as no surprise.

I’m not sure whether I’ve found my element, one for another post, but the chapter on tribes really hit home for me.

He suggests that one part of finding your element is becoming involved with a tribe, people who share your passion.

Finding your tribe offers validation of your interests. People ask why I share what I do, but blog comments, emails and people speaking about how they have used a resource, all provide an indicator that there is purpose to my work. It encourages me further, as a result it also reminds me of my need to validate the work of others. To provide encouragement, and offer advice, when appropriate. Tribes provide a circle of influence that encourage and support innovation.

The tribe also provides interaction with others who share a similar passion, as a result it encourages yourself and others to raise the bar terms of your shared interest, developments come when people build upon the ideas of others. I remember a long time ago feeling excited at finding other individuals online who shared similar viewpoints and interests, I have many teachers who I aspire to, enjoy their work and want to inherit some of their style!

I think are many developments, past and present, that are helping to develop the nature of teaching tribes, particularly within Geography. But, we have to guard against any tribe becoming exclusive, it must be open to all, even those with dissenting views. I wonder about the lack of argument that seems to take place within tribes, dissenting views, even blockers, enable us to evaluate our perspectives from a different position, hence the encourage innovation. As in all communities tribes develop (unconsciously?) a hierarchy, the challenge is for the ‘hierarchy ‘to encourage dissenters /blockers, rather than alienate, as well as new membership and fresh ideas.

The idea of synergy within a tribe is aspirational, the collective minds of the tribe collaborating on a shared project. I think we can see green roots in some areas, I wonder how long before a set of colleagues, from across a wide geographical area, collectively write a whole curriculum, teaching with the same resources, evaluating and adapting as they proceed. It seems madness people working alone…

Much to think about, especially the link between materialism and happiness- the new development?

Also check out Oliver James’ ‘Affluenza’.

I looked at this whilst wandering about Waterstones, it’s a book of stickers, posters, postcards, and other treats which can be used to conduct your own awareness campaign, the retail price is fifteen pounds, so I dropped it… but lovely Amazon are selling it for half-price, which means it’s ordered. Slight irony though, I imagine the book’s carbon footprint will be that little bit larger now. 

Perhaps one for Santa? Oh, I’ve just realised I’m now encouraging consumerism.

I looked at this whilst wandering about Waterstones, it’s a book of stickers, posters, postcards, and other treats which can be used to conduct your own awareness campaign, the retail price is fifteen pounds, so I dropped it… but lovely Amazon are selling it for half-price, which means it’s ordered. Slight irony though, I imagine the book’s carbon footprint will be that little bit larger now. 

Great read and a funny section about cloning of the High Street.

Great read and a funny section about cloning of the High Street.

Legendary Geographer that I enjoyed reading at University, now there is an going archive of his letters, which you can also subscribe to.

Latest from Harm De Blij.

Latest from Harm De Blij.

I read Oliver James’s book Aflluenza quite a while ago, there is a great section on education, just came across his talk at the RSA from 2006.