Agent of Change

Agents of Change

During lockdown

This year has been a case of deja vu. Yet another lockdown in 2021. In 2020 we were able to eliminate the virus and life pretty much went back to normal. Unfortunately in 2021,  Delta has been a game changer. We are dealing with vaccines, social distancing, the traffic light system,  isolating, covid masks......the list goes on. 

During the 80's there were two great cartoon agents from the UK. Inspector Gadget and Dangerous Mouse with his sidekick Pinfold. Danger Mouse and Inspector Gadget were able to tackle any circumstances thrown at them, with a bit of luck, determination and creativity. Pinfold was nicknamed 'Jigsaw' as he tended to fall to pieces. So I guess that during the lockdown I had a combination of all of these attributes that each of the agents possessed. Making the best of a bad situation by using our gadgets.....(devices). Acting quickly by taking the opportunity to strengthen our teams online skills.  Launching my class site, designing learning tasks to support our online learners, which in turn helped to strengthen my online teaching knowledge and creativity. Remaining connected to the students, whanau and our team was paramount to feel productive and being able to respond to learning needs. But most importantly taking the time to breathe when everything was getting overwhelming. 

Using our google class site has been paramount to support our learners.  Students value connecting with one another, the social interaction with their peers is very important. The children have had access to a larger variety of reading books, and learning tasks. Being able to read each day with the children, as well as continue to improve their maths and writing skills has been invaluable.  The last few years has really highlighted the importance of having access to online learning through the use of devices for our students. If the students had their own devices to use at home, especially during lockdown, their education would not suffer and they would have the added bonus of being able to socialise with their friends. Together we could navigate our new normal........without falling to pieces. 

 

DFI Week 9

Week ( 9) - External Recognition

The week of the test….ahhh 

The nerves, the fear……what if I forget everything that we have covered so far…..what if my computer doesn’t work…what if……

I know I am not going to remember everything….I haven’t had the chance to embed everything that we have learned on our DFI journey so far. We have covered so much in a short space of time…..but it is all relevant. 

 Post test 

The test is over.....thank goodness....and although I don't think that I have aced the test by any means....I think that now that I have tried my best, regardless of the results I can see which areas I need to spend more time working on. 

I have to say, that using the Google lessons pre-test were very helpful, with the youtube clips and extra support that was easy to follow, and straightforward....it is a great resource to use in the future! When I need to troubleshoot problems myself, or I need a refresher course!

Looking back

If I had started working at a Manaiakhlani school and there were experienced teachers there to support me in this journey, then maybe I would feel a little more confident. However we are developing and implementing online learning within our learning environment so there is a lot more to learn and to cover…especially with Harpara...I haven't used this within the classroom.

During the holidays, I will have time to dedicate to resources and focusing on a plan to incorporate 1 to 1 devices in the classroom. I may have to talk to some of my colleagues who are attending this course to collaborate with. 

Looking back to the first week I found that it seemed quite overwhelming....actually every week....I have felt overwhelmed...but now that I have experienced and used different google platforms, e.g google forms. It is not as scary...and in the long run, I can definitely see how it will save time. I especially see the value in providing feedback and feedforward. Also being able to mark work anywhere, anytime. But perhaps the biggest comfort, is knowing that if you have CRT, or have PLD out of the classroom, you can still assign work and the students are still able to work. 

There is still a lot to learn, and feel confident using....but, again with time it will only get easier. It has been great learning online. I have especially enjoyed working within our bubbles. Each person has brought great tips and advice. It is nice to get different perspectives across a range of expertise and experience. So overall, I am much more confident....but still have a lot to learn.

DFI Week 8

Empowered learners and teachers - Week 8

Being or feeling Empowered is an important element of the Manaiakalani Kaupapa. Connectivity helps to empower people’s lives. Agency – using agency with our whanau - be careful of the word agency, because it comes with negative connotations. Whereas empowered is a better word to use that highlights the importance of technology. (As technology crosses barriers of distance and time). 

Technology is not just a tool, because of its transformative power. The digital divide is very real, and this can impact on children’s future learning potential. It is important for the children to develop language and communication skills. Which can also be continued with blogging. Replying to comments, and hopefully engaging in communications skills in this way. The children can also enhance writing skills. (Communication skills does not have to be in English, sharing ideas, and critical thinking).

The Jetsons – from the 1960’s, which is set in 2062. A lot of the concepts are implemented in our lives day today.  (Maybe not the flying car.......yet).

Computational thinking, empowering our young people to be active in an online world. The children's future pathway, social and community issues. Making sure that young children are able to experience technology at home, so that they can active participates in their learning - at their pace. 

Digitally fluent person, can decide when and why to use specific data. (Teachers – being digitally fluent – can enhance students learning experiences). Students can make the most of their time if they use technology in a positive way. 

Students need to develop skills – with changing technology. Being cyber-smart  so they can collaborate, and share relevant information. Pedagogy behind that, in a one to one learning environment is inclusive. Using scratch and some of the resources that is available is great. 

I have used non-computational learning in the class, before starting to use coding with the children (last year). Writing and following instructions, learning to code etc. The children really enjoyed code.org - which is a great website for all different learning abilities. So this website has something for everyone. 

Computational thinking is a set of problem-solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in the same way that a computer could execute (following instructions - method). For example – procedural writing, which follows steps.

During our explore time I worked on Mihi Maker - which is a game in gamefroot. It is actually a fun activity. When I published my Mihi at the end, it actually didn't post. (Which is frustrating, but also a learning curve). I actually had experienced problems throughout using this game, but had managed to trouble shoot, up to this point. Sometimes experiencing these problems, being uncomfortable is a great way to pre-empt any problems that may occur in the classroom. 

DFI Week 7

 

Week 7 

During lockdown, it really became clear that schools needed to move to a digital platform that would support children during this time. Collaborating with colleagues and developing lessons that the children could work on while at home. 

It became obvious that the staff, children and parents would need to be supported to use technology and the children would be able work independently. After lockdown the children would need to be more confident to use technology in class. More importantly, staff would need to be supported to use technology in class. Developing plans that would work in class and outside of school hours was and is also important.  

Children owning their own devices, and bringing them to school every day will be a sure fire way for the children to continue learning, should we go into lockdown again, or even during term time, and holidays. There would be engagement and the students will have control over their own learning. (Especially using Hapara – visible learning). 

Removing barriers, so that learning can take place, anytime, anywhere, any pace, from anyone. Children have the opportunity to learn – at their time and their choice, by using online digital tools. Not just inside the classroom. We have the geographical barrier taken away, during DFI.  So that it is not just a tool – it needs to be transformative. 

It can be empowering for children to be able to have access to information and lessons from a teacher of their choice. (Learning from anyone). The idea of pace, and at the pace that we can keep up when using  rewinding learning. Does this mean that teachers will be replaced in the future.......will they even need teachers.....just one or a few super teachers? 

During lockdown, ubiquitous learning started to make sense, and also became a reality. It was a way of learning that we all did. (distance learning). Learners have the opportunity to well thought out planning and learning developed by their teacher. (Including and the outside of the normal school day – term). When taking on all the school trips, TODs etc…..being able to continue learning online, without disruptions.

Conversations for children's learning is important. From research some children are exposed to less than 30,000,000 less words than children from Decile 10 schools. Ubiquitous learning is a way to empower and give children an even playing field. Over the summer slump (drop off), which is global – ubiquitous learning can help address this. (How can we support students to be able to confidently navigate technology outside of the classroom, and how teachers can develop the content to support their learning). 

Todays learning was a lot to process.....I enjoyed the task where we created online using chrome books, and iPads. Anything creative like that is enjoyable....but also incredibly frustrating because it takes such a long time.  I had a yellow screen, when I tried to use the camera.....(snap camera) and couldn't remove it, that becomes frustrating when you are trying to complete a task and have to rethink your original plans. 

It is a case of troubleshooting and trying to adjust. (Using a photo from my desktop instead). 

I can really see the importance of using screencast to record over slides. This will be great for the children to use. It will go along way towards having a student focused classroom, and creates independence. I am really glad to be able too quickly and effectively use this app. Also the children will be able to share their learning using this app also.                                                                                                                           

Please copy the link below to view learning.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RIp-aWIPA94tNcFxM9t4HOkdpIjEIeJv/view 

Empowering learners to be cybersmart and making sure that the children are confident using technology is also a big learning curve. There is a need to use positive language, using the analogy that we walk across a crossing safely, instead of telling children not to run across the road. As well as developing online skills for children to be confident to share, but to also have some information that remains private. 

It was actually quite daunting trying to get through all of the lessons today. It is quite hard to learn online at time. Listening, and trying to use devices as well. So there are times when it is extremely frustrating. It is also quite hard to retain all the information, as it does take time to master a skill, and have the confidence to learn something else. 

DFI Week 6

 Week 6 

Kaupapa - Connected - with the focus on digitally connected empowers our learners. The learning is shared invisibly. We can connect across the classroom, school, and beyond. In 2006 - the many schools are connected to each other. Joining forces with schools with a similar focus, helps to make the journey easier, and efficient to reach goals. 

The act of sharing, helps form connections. - Because we are time poor, our workload can be loaded if we are not confident using devices. If we don’t have enough devices. But face to face is also very important, but we can achieve a lot more using technology. We need each other to connect, at least 2 people. But within a classroom, school, community, world we are able to connect to many. Learning to navigate that world safety is important. Not standing alone, people are working together. This especially worked well during lockdown, when children could learn independently, using blended and independent learning. 

Finding time to explore, or the opportunity to master technological skills. Being able to navigate class sites, blogs,

Harpara confidently will be great. It is very daunting at the moment. Especially planning, and all the extra work that

is involved, especially in the initial stages. It takes a long time to set up, and to be confident embedding information

into google slides etc......It's also going to be a work in progress, so my output may not be where I want it to be.

A class site, or being able to confidently set it up, as well as blog sites. Accessible learning, that is available anytime, and opportunities to go view the learning at their own pace, and have rewindable learning...... is empowering.

(I can see the benefits if their is a reliever in the class, as the children could follow on with their work - regardless of  whether their teacher is in class or not).

Setting up a class site will be very helpful. I am going to focus on sharing work with an independent group. (early adaptors) and they can provide feedback before rolling out with the rest of the class. 

I need to continue working on my site, so that I do not forget any of the skills that I have used this week. From last weeks google site to this week I had forgotten a lot.  To improve time management skills and to upload work -

(in the same timeframe as I would - creating a slide - or emailing a colleague - will be fantastic).

https://sites.google.com/roscommon.school.nz/room15-2021/home

DFI Week 5

Collaborate Sites - Week 5

Learn, create, share pedagogy really helps the students learning, but it is also

underpinned by a number of ideals. Visible learning is an important foundation for

learning. Manaiakalani kaupapa has shown the pedagogy of teachers showing their

students, families their planning, timetables and student learning. This is inclusive,

which knowledge is accessed by all.  

Today online sights need to be engaging online sites, because  teachers have to

compete with. We need an engaging classroom online learning site. Technology in

the classroom  will be a welcome addition, but the enthusiasm will wear off. 

The importance of planning and the need to use UDL - Universal design to learning.

Each class has a variety of student needs and interests. So we need to engage

them behaviourally so that they are able able to focus on learning.

Being able to create a learning site, will be very important going forward. There is a

lot to navigate, but again with practice it will become second nature. The excel

spreadsheet that we used today for our site was also very valuable. Working

collaboratively to collect resources, as well as scaffolding text and websites is

excellent. I also like how some teachers' plans are to be used over days or weeks.

Front page should or could have links to other pages, and a portal for parents as well

as being engaging for the students.  Notice board. Key learnings for the week. 

Using the children's artwork on the class site really makes it engaging and

personable. 

After mastering and being able to develop sites myself, it would be great for the

children to use in class. Being able to get first hand feedback, and the children's

in regards to how easy or hard it is to navigate. 

Different google apps are standardised and easier to use, as I gain more confidence

and exposure. It is just a case of using and reusing google apps, to help me with

planning. Using google jam - in Team meetings, or with reading groups is an awesome

way to support learning.

DFI Week 4 - Google Maps

Google maps 

Week 4

Today we learnt that during 2005 social media platforms really took off. For example in 2005 - youtube was formed. This enable users to share and connect, which is a hook for learners. It also help our young people to connect with an audience. But nothing is more important than communicating face to face. Technology amplifies learning, but face to face is much more effective and important and essential in our nature to share. The purpose of sharing, is actually sharing to an audience. If you are sharing to an audience and no one is replying it can feel deflating. People who choose to listen to you, are an authentic audience, instead of just a teacher marking a student work.

Children are learning to be blog and being / cyber-smart while at school. Completing, finishing and sharing the children's work is an important lifeskill. This is able to be performed while blogging. Feedback and feedforward is so important, regardless if a student is online or not. 

I really like the idea of creating spelling tests, etc...via google forms. I loved the way it linked to google maps, and you can load a lot of information. the possibilities are endless. This is a tool that the children could easily master for themselves. Also being more confident using spreadsheets to analyse data is also fantastic. The information can be stored and sorted for numerous tests.

As with any google apps, it is just a case of practice makes perfect. (This also includes blogging). The familiar I am, and the more chances I give myself to explore them the more confident I will become. It is a bit like driving a car. At first you have to mentally note everything that you do, but eventually everything becomes second nature. It just takes time and practice.

Blog Graph

You maybe wondering why I have 2 blog graphs posted. The graph directly below is a screenshoot that I uploaded. The second graph has been embedded correctly.....after numerous attempts....when I wanted to give up....but I didn't.