Football Crazy

One of the delights of online learning communities is the opportunity to bring to kids the best teachers in the world. Many of our students have an interest in writing AND an interest in sport and want to consider a career that combines both. Who better to learn from that a sports author, who worked his way up through the Football Association.

This month GoldStarCafe students welcomed author and sports Journalist Dan Freedman into the Hot Seat. Dan, previously editor for the Football Association, has published two books – The Kick Off and Shoot to Win.

Dan Freeman in the GoldStarCafe Hot Seat

During Dan’s Hot Seat, members of GoldStarCafe aged 11 to 16, asked him questions about his books, his experiences, what he reads, his writing and his career path. These are some examples of student questions and Dan’s responses;

Q: Dan, what inspired you to become an Author?
A: It was a combination. Partly the fact that I loved football and had so many experiences that I wanted to share, and partly the fact that I thought that it was important for there to be some new football books out there.

Q: When you were at school did you always want to be a writer and if you did, what kind of books did you read?
A: I actually never thought it was possible really...I always liked Roald Dahl's books and anything about football!

Q: As a sports journalist - Who is the most famous person you have interviewed?
A: Probably David Beckham. There aren't many more famous people than him. I also got to meet the Queen. Football has given me lots of fantastic experiences.

Dan's interviewers were studying for their GEM awards, in GoldStarCafe. These are linked to the new KS3 national curriculum. They develop children’s knowledge and skills by involving them in active learning tasks. With successful completion of each task, children earn a separate facet of a Gem badge for their GSC home pages. Tasks include creation of homepages and web rings (interest groups), writing articles, leading forums, and contributing actively with others in GoldStarCafe. To gain the Emerald Gem, pupils explore careers and enterprise. Participating in careers Hot Seats, counts towards their Gem Award and helps them understand a range of careers from people’s real experience. Amber (13) asked Dan:

Q: Was it tough getting into Journalism? Did you have to go to University for it? I really want to be a Journalist
A: It was tough. I started at the very bottom, making teas and coffees and doing the photocopying! If you have that desire and talent then people will soon want to keep you around the office. Going to uni certainly helps too if you are able to do that.

Amber later wrote about the Dan’s Hot Seat:

“The Hot Seat was absolutely fab. I loved talking to him because he is doing the job that I would like to do......Dan gave very informative answers and he inspired me to go on with my journalism/author work!”

GoldStarCafe Hot Seats guests have included, among others: best selling authors, a cosmologist, a Guardian Editor, a professional illustrator, a lawyer, multimedia designers, a human rights campaigner and a professional artist. Also representatives from charities, government and entrepreneurs. The diversity of background and occupations represented by Hot Seat guests, inspire young people to investigate a range of careers.

If you want your children to communicate and collaborate with many other inspired children – PHONE 0800 169 1024
Or Email: goldstarcafe@intuitivemedia.com.
Or take the Tour at www.GOLDSTARCAFE.net