Parent Interviews

At the end of Term 2, we had our annual parent interviews.  This year we had to think of another way that we were going to run our interviews as we had 54 students with two teachers. This would have only given our whanau and students 7 minutes each to talk to both teachers. We decided this was not long enough for students to be able to share their own learning - student agency.

To trail a new system, we had four students within a half hour block along with their whanau.  We had an introduction korero sharing how we work within our learning spaces and what our expectations are for the students.

The students were set-up around the room with their books, portfolios, chromebook and a STEAM kit each.  All students actively discussed their learning with their parents, sharing what they have been learning, what the enjoyed and what they found challenging.  As teachers, we roamed around the room and sat with the parents for short sessions to answer any questions and concerns.

Deb and I felt that this worked really well in the sense that it was less intimidating for students and parents. This gave students ownership of their own learning with less of a focus on the teacher.  We are currently surveying our parents to find out what their thoughts were on the process and any suggestions that they would like to make.

Manaiakalani Creativity Workshop with Donna Yates

Today with Donna Yates we looked at Creativity in the classroom. What creativity have we completed with our students? What have we created using technology? When was the last time I created something.

Creativity empowers learning. The image above shows the variety of ways that students are able to create - using vocals (singing, etc), whole body (dance, etc), hands, spiritual, feet, and with technology - which helps the learning - the brain in the middle.

Creating doesn't always have to be the end product, it could be the hook to 'hook' them into the learning, in the middle or at the end.

So my challenge, how can I create with my students more often? What creativity can we include in our learning.

Last DFI Session - Google level 2

Yay, It's done.  The most challenging part was creating a pivot table, lucky it's an open book test and google jumped to the rescue.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the last 9 weeks of learning. I have made new connections, building on professional relationships, with whom I could share my learning. Reading their blogs, and listening to them sharing their learning journeys have been interesting.  So many ideas and resources to take away.

Thank you Donna and Kerry for your help over the last 9 weeks. I have especially enjoyed hearing from all the different facilitators, because each of them had different ideas and ways of doing things.

DFI Session 8

DFI Session 8

What worked well this last week?

After our visit to Manaiakalani headquarters and visiting some schools in the Manaiakalani cohort, Deb and I went home dedicated to use our student individual blogs for sharing their learning. This has had a huge impact for our students and they have embraced this next step towards sharing their learning. The students have all been very enthusiastic engaged towards this learning and 

Empowered - With Gerhard Vermeulen Ako Hiko, Auckland 

The device is not just a tool. Empowerment only works if we have the other three aspects of the Manaiakalani Kaupapa - visible, connected, ubiquitous. With connectivity, students are able to rewind their learning and is empowering them. 

Providing students the opportunities to be creative, hooks students into their learning to enable empowered learners. As a school and a community, we need to work on having all four of the elements of the Manaiakalani Kaupapa to ensure our students are successful on this journey. All four the elements have to fit together like a puzzle, with even one missing, the learning won't be as successful.

Empowered - Connected - visible - ubiquitous

Taming the Gmail Jungle

I have started using labels in gmail to organise my mail, because in the past I have deleted all my inbox mail to clear it, as I felt overwhelmed. I can now save all these emails without feeling overwhelmed by all the clutter. 

Google Hangouts

Using google hangouts to connect with people across the country side. I can see how this would even benefit me within my classroom, because I don't have a smart panel to share students screens/work.  A google hangout can be used to connect with a student, share their screen and the whole class would be able to see what they are looking at.

Manaiakalani PLD - DFI Week 7

On Wednesday Deb, Robyn and I went to the Manaiakalani headquarters for a professional learning day with Dorothy Burt.

What I've learnt about the Kaupapa of Manaiakalani

• Sharing to students blogs could and should include a variety of student learning from plans and drafts right through to published work.
• The devices isn't the magic bullet. Instead, effective pedagogy is needed. The device is only the tool to support their teaching and learning.
• Commenting on students blogs are essential and could/should be part of our daily programmes to allow students to leave comments on other's blogs.

What I would like to try with my class:

• To connect with the class that we visited at Panmure Bridge
• To schedule in time for our students to comment on other's blogs
• To use the 'Learn, Create, Share' when planning

The students accessed a blog log to share all their blog posts with the teachers. Teachers are able to easily see who hasn't added posts that were required. 

DFI Session 6

DFI Session 6

What I have tried before this session:

• Students posting their blog profiles to their blogs.
• Students using screencastify to record how to post to their blog.
• Share their screencastify video onto their blog also.

What I need more support with, or what hasn't work:

• Lack of devices in our classroom to fully implement all learning
• Students needing more time to familiarize themselves with google and the device, ie. navigating between tabs, etc.
• Students knowing how to make a copy of a document correctly, naming it properly, and saving it in the correct folder.

Visible Learning

The Manaiakalani kaupapa is for all learning to be visible.  This includes the learning, planning, etc.  This is why creating class sites. Students can share - this is what I'm learning, this is the purpose of my learning. This is beneficial to teachers also, as more ideas are shared across schools. Teachers can access other teachers sites to find ideas, resources etc.  

Having all learning, including student blogs, visible creates connections between home and school. The sites allows students to read what's in the teachers mind. 

Having learning visible ensure there are no surprise. Students know where they are starting from and where they are going. 

Hapara enables visibility for the teacher to see where students are, what they are doing, follow up on work etc. 

Keeping learning visible makes it easy for anyone to access. As soon as you put up barriers like passwords etc, people usually only try a couple of times then give up.  Then this is a learner lost, or a lost connection with whanau.

Tuhi Mai Tuhi Atu

A collaborative sharing platform using blogger to connect to a school. This is something I would like to have a look at doing next year when our students have their learning blogs up and running and we have 1:1 devices. Students make comments on other students learning. 

Hooking Student in

Teachers at Pt England school hook students into their inquiry learning at the start of each term. This is showcased as a large assembly at the start of each year.  An example of new entrants teachers can be viewed on this slide, slide 6.

Google Sites

Today we are creating google sites.  We were given information to use, and with that we had to create an engaging site for our learners.  In our group, we created a garden breakout. This requires students to find hints on the site, to answer questions on a form. Here is my example.

Reflection

Today was an exciting day for learning. I have enjoyed learning more about google sites and how they can create a learning platform for students to use, for example a hook into an inquiry topic. 

Google Educator Level 1

On Sunday I finally took the plunge to sit my Google Educators level 1 exam. It was nerve wrecking at first, but as I progressed through the questions and scenarios, I realised I was only completing activities I do on a day to day basis anyway. 

So after 2 hours and 15 minutes, I clicked the 'Submit' button, waiting anxiously to find out if I passed.  Within minutes, the results were in.