DFI session 7: Devices

Today we focus on the devices our students are using to support their learning. I'm already quite confident with the use of Chromebooks, but need more support around Explain Everything (EE).

Today I thought I would complete the digital dig, along with the participants in my group. I have completed this a couple of times now, and each time I find a new shortcut that becomes my new favourite!

My new favourite shortcut is CTRL + Backspace.  This deletes the previous word typed! Love it. This is going to be a time saver for me!

My completed digital dig. During Thursday's explore time, I will create a google draw with my favourite Chromebook shortcut. 

It was a bit of a different experience having a go with the online whiteboard app. It is a great app to use however, I do feel that the EE app on the iPads are far more user friendly to use and navigate. We had a few issues in our small bubble with people not having the option to save and share, one person's pen didn't work, yet all their other features worked.

Another issue that we had was opening a teacher created EE on an iPad. It kept saying that it was an unsupported file, and required the teacher to click the three dots > open in > Explain everything.  For some this worked well, others it opened in a blank project, but when they went back to all their projects, it was there. I need a lot more time to experiment with EE and all the different little shortcuts that are available to ensure ease of use!

Here is my Whiteboard explore task. 

Frustration of the day - WIFI kept cutting out! Google Meet kept freezing! A couple of times I have ditched my bubble buddies unexpectedly because I couldn't connect. 

DFI Session 4: Dealing with Data / Thursday's Cohort

Today during our DFI session on Google My Maps, I had a little play around and planned a girls weekend.  My sisters and I are getting together next week, and these are the places we want to go to.



Today's session went smoothly. Each group I worked with were keen and eager to learn. It was particularly rewarding during our spreadsheets levelling up activity to see other participants take the lead and share what they have learnt - helping others in the group. Such a positive vibe happening today.

DFI Session 4: Dealing with Data

Today as we (the Manaiakalani facilitators) support the cohort participants to analyse data using google sheets, I took some time to reflect on my own blog and the picture is presents.

Dorothy shared that we can always learn from a person based on what and how often they share on their blog.  I have always tried to be reflective, and often write a whole blog post (in my head), and then never find the time to publish it. Today I have taken that time to share what I see happening on my blog, and to ensure I share it on here.

I most certainly need to be posting to my blog more regularly. This will be a goal for myself, to try and post atleast once a week. It would be a great habit to get in to.

Below is my analysis of my blog data.

I have also used Google My Maps to map where all my 'viewers' are from. Quite interesting to see that I have viewers from all over the world, not just from New Zealand.

Visible Learning

Today during our DFI online hangout, Dorothy shared her positive experiences with visible teaching and learning.

This is something that I have always felt strongly about, ensuring that students are always able to see what they are learning, how they are going to be learning, etc.

During Term 1, I relieved at Paparore School. I had ensured that I had my relievers plan and all activities on a site, which I share with the students at the start of the day. The students knew already how to access learning via a site, and straight away they were able to engage with their learning. At the end of the day, a student came up to me and said, "I'm going to complete my reading activity when I get home tonight". Now that would not have been possible if I didn't provide them with all the materials/resources they needed.

The country's sudden Lockdown also provided evidence of the importance of using a class site to support students and their whanau. Those teachers who already had all their learning available on their site, just continued life as normal, with a few minor changes. Others who have relied on paper activities found it a little more challenging. They either had to provide parents with a 'kit' that included all their learning or had to start using class sites. 

Moving forward - I think there is still lots of work to be done to ensure online learning is successful, I do think visible learning and teaching should be the first step.  For my future practise, I will ensure that my site is always up to date, students have access to all learning resources needed and that parents are well informed of what is happening within the classroom.