24/06/2021

Kia ora Koutou

Day 8 of Digital Fluency Intensive

Computational Thinking. 

For me this is the last session of DFI. 

Computational Thinking

A digitally capable person can 

• create their own digital technologies solutions
• decide what technology to use to solve problems
• become innovative creators and designers
• understand programming fundamentals and transfer these skills to various programs

MANAIAKALANI -PEDAGOGY   Empowered

"The Manaiakalani kaupapa  of empowerment is about advancing of Rangatiratanga;  helping them the control back of their lives." Pat Sneddon, Chair, MET

The New Digital Technologies Curriculum

It was informative to get a deeper understanding of what is required in the curriculum area. Some of the early activities are similar to those we are touching on in class just more specific to coding. It is confirming  that Y 1-6 are only expected to be achieving Progress Outcomes 1 & 2. The exemplars are useful models. 

Exploring Coding

I can see the development of problem-solving, collaboration, resilience as well as technical skills being developed here. The need to understand a common language becomes very obvious if these skills are to be transferable. A whole new vocabulary. Gamers must find this much easier to pick up, because they

are used to manoeuvring their way around other domains. My level of frustration was quite high.

Mihi Maker - Gamefroot

Fun! I enjoyed creating this game because the skills required were at my level. Unfortunately it would not save and so it lost. But I will do this with my class because we have just learned our mihi for assembly tomorrow and it will be a fun way to finish this learning. 

REFECTION

At the end of 8 Weeks; Questions to reflect on: 

1. How has completing an eight week intensive digital fluency course had a positive impact on my learners?
2. What have I learnt to improve my confidence and efficiency in my workflow and efficiency?

My confidence to plan and teach with digital devices has quadrupled. I no longer see devices as the problem, but see the problem that I may be able to solve with a device. I still get frustrated when I am unable to do what I want to do on a device but this is now more evenly balanced with pride and excitement when I can. This shift in self believe, increased basic skills and digital pedagogy has definitely had a positive impact on my classroom.  Is this positive impact measurable - I'm not sure how to do this? 

PROBLEMS to work through next: 

SHARE - I find it hard to want to share with the world which is weird because I pride myself in being a good mentor of younger teachers and a colleague who is happy to share and collaborate with others. 

DIGITAL CAPABILITIES - my digital skill set is low and I need to keep developing these. I find it frustrating spending time exploring - I just want to get the job done quickly.

LEARNING STYLE - I really enjoyed the presentations on Pedagogy and general overviews on Zoom. I did not enjoy learning and using specific skills and creating tasks in a zoom meeting. The demonstrations were too fast for me to keep up and there was often too much new learning in one bite. I would prefer to learn where I could watch others and have the time to repeat a new skill several times before moving on - my problem is to find some place that facilitates this type of learning.

Thanks  Phil, Andrea, Zoe, Louise, Deb, Lisa and my colleague Nic for your expertise, patience and sharing. 

Nga mihi

Sally 

  

 

 Day Seven of Digital Fluency Intensive

17/06/2021

Wow, these learning sessions are nearly over.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF MANAIAKALANI KAUPAPA AND PEDAGOGY

Ubiquitous - Rangiwhapaha

4A    anytime

        anywhere

        any pace

        anyone

So what does this mean for children's learning? If you have wifi and a device, digital technology should make it possible for all children to be connected to high quality learning. Rewindable learning gives students the ability to pick up learning at a time that works for them and their whanau. 

When we stop seeing computers just as at tool, they can be seen as solutions to problems like:

• summer slide
• illness
• absentee of either the learner or the teacher
• children who learn at different paces. (I definitely feel this need having taken part in this course. * need to have all children on the same device/ teachers need to know how to use these devices. 

" Kanohi ki te kanohi" Face to face.  I found  the video from Edith Paining from Tumuaki Bay of Islands College really interesting as I too thought that devices would minimise conversations - what I have found in my classroom is that when technology is being used there is more collaboration and sharing of creations and helping one another. Conversations are often amplified within the classroom and more connections made out of the classroom. 

REFLECTION from Covid Lock down.

I was proud that I gained enough skills to hold a goggle meet every school morning to which 25/28 kid joined regularly. For many children this was their 'norm'- stability for the week. We learned a karakia - one line each week and came back to class with everyone knowing it. My feedback, feedforward to children about their learning was better focused  and more regular - because I had the time within  school hours to think, without the noise (literal and figurative) of school. Our teaching team collaborated and shared the good and bad and created some super team learning. We had fun.

I regret that over earlier years pre-covid I could have upskilled myself in technology, but never found the time, need or desire to do so. It would have been very useful  and definitely less stressful. Up to this point I definitely saw devices just as another tool, a set of tricks to entertain children.

Initially our teaching team continued to collaborate and have fun but as the terms have progressed we are back feeling the pressure of an overcrowded curriculum, and working long hours in our own spaces.

My class use devices everyday but more often for purchased programmes (maths buddy, write that essay etc) researching, publishing and more recently creating as my confidence and skills grow. 

If we went back into lockdown tomorrow - I would be able to cope better, and most of my learners are more device savvy. 

I have the confidence to learn with my children. I have used children as experts to help others. I need to give them the reins to screencastify the learning for themselves and other children in the class. 

Being Cybersmart - Vicki

"The roof above our head". We must teach children to be Cybersmart so they can become: connected and confident decision makers, positive and successful digital citizens. 

Online comments need to be ( in real time life as well)

• Positive
• Helpful
• thoughtful

* Be Internet Awesome - I need to find this for the children. 

What does your digital footprint reveal about you?

What you put online stays forever!

Chromebooks

I have been meaning to do this since the beginning of the year when the chrome books arrived in my class. I have simply relied on super kids to help others find out how to maneuver around them to complete tasks. I felt the normal frustration of trying to achieve a task and not know how but it was a worthwhile session exploring. 

Recording your screen.-Phil

If it's worth teaching it's worth capturing. 

If it worth learning it's worth capturing.

I feel much more confident to screencastify after Phil's demonstrations. 

Another informative day of learning.

Nga Mihi

Sally MacNeilage

 

  10/06/2021

Kia ora Koutou

Day 6 of Digital Fluency Intensive

Enabling Access Sites

Phil's Bubble

I enjoy meeting with our bubble in the beginning of the morning learning. Its good to hear what the others have been trying and I inevitably pick up some great tips from the other members.

• Video (screencastify) to give the first instructions on the class site
• Children always need to make a copy of the document they are working on
• Children / and myself should always learn to put their work in a folder.

MANAIAKALANI -PEDAGOGY   Connected

"Connectivity is a way of life for our students. Take it from them and they will check out." DFI

Connectivity empowers us by giving us access to knowledge that was not always available.

I agree that in the past, local and national school communities would  connect to compete in sports, cultural or literacy but digital technology has provided a tool to connect as a partnership in learning.

He waka eke noa : We are all in this learning together.

Te mea nui rawa ia ko te noho tahi, ko te whakawanaunga, ko te whakawhiti whakaaro.

The important thing is living together and exchanging ideas.

Making a class site.

It was very useful to look at some models of sites to get some ideas of what will work for me.

I spent all afternoon trying to change the site I am building into a simple colour scheme and don't like it. I thought the multi coloured buttons were far more inviting. Go figure!!

However the day is not lost because my learning style is to practise, practise, practise before I have nailed something.

Nga mihi

Sally

 27/05/2021

Kia ora Koutou

Day 5 of Digital Fluency Intensive

I continue to learn more about the Manaiakalani pedagogy.

MANAIAKALANI -PEDAGOGY   VISIBLE

Making planning, teaching and learning, visible to everyone who has an invested interest -children, whanau, and colleagues- is important to create equal opportunity for all children to succeed. 

• We all learn in different ways and at different paces.
• Only some people are good at mazes or working out what the teacher is thinking. 
• Visible learning/ rewindable learning / allows for more children to feel success
• Seeing how other people have created a solution to the problem can motivate children to keep going or improve on their effort. 
• digital learning can also create barriers to learning by locking out whanau with passwords etc 
• Poorly designed learning can also a barrier for some children. 

There needs to be the discussion about what part of learning needs to be private. 

Multi Modal - Kerry Boyde Preece

I enjoyed this presentation. Comparing websites to the front display of a shop window provided a clear  image. Finding the hook for some of our learners in today's classrooms is as important as the actual learning. Helping to inspire and encourage all children and then make learning accessible is important. Multi modal sites can providing a vehicle that allows children to be empowered by their learning and learn at their own pace. Sites need to be constantly update for both the teacher and children. Sites can be an extension of the creators personality.

Google Sites 

I learnt so much today about creating a site. I can't wait to complete my Kaitiakitanga site and use it with my class. It was helpful today to have a look at different models of sites before we had to start making our own.  I enjoyed working collaboratively - an excellent example of the benefit of working as a team.  

I am going to add my site to this blog when I have finished it. Overall another successful day of learning.