Week 9

 External recognition.

Well here we are at the end of the DFI journey.  Amazing way to learn.  I must admit i was very sceptical that it would be of any use to me.

1.    because I don't like change and couldn't see my class being able to use devices in class.  I just didn't 'get' how it would work and work well.

2.    because I thought it would either be too hard or too easy for me.  I can hold my own with ICT but I am certainly no digital native.

3.    I couldn't see the old devices we use any good...

Well... brush me with glue and throw feathers on me. I was wrong!

I have found the course to be 'bloody' useful.

I was concerned with students being "on" devices all day but it certainly isn't like that.  Yes it can be if needed but there is a lot of ways to work device use into hands on activities.  One my photocopy bill is way down!!!  But having a tool that can be used to plan and work with others on the same document is wonderful.  The conversations that have developed are amazing.  I have found different and useful ways in which my class can use and share their work with their parent in an online world so parents aren't having to come in and view it.  It has taken down many barriers for whanau.

Having the time to play with each tool as and when we are talking about it was incredibly helpful.  Learning one step ahead of the students is great if you have the time to stay one step ahead.  The kids are so quick that they figure things out a lot quicker than me and having time to talk about what we are doing and how it can work in class has been priceless.  So yes the old dog has learnt things and a pace that worked for everyong. I didnt feel like I was holding anyone up or being left behind.

I found that having the old devices in class was both of benefit and of detriment to us.  The older devices need to be plugged in at all times and have buttons missing but it allowed for both me and the students to have a little leeway in learning how to treat them.  The students are young and heavy handed and these old devices are big and heavy and not easy to lug around so that made them stay in one spot.  Which is good for younger students.  The fact that some buttons were missing help too in an odd way. More experienced students could remember the keyboard quickly and they took those devices. 

So on to Google educator test.

I passed!

Would I have passed 6 months ago?  Nope. Nah. No way.  I have learnt so much in such a sort time.

I do plan to continue with this blog as a tool and with my class site.  I am however changing years so it will be interesting how I can use ICT with juniors.  But the important thing is Im not scared to try.

Week 8. Coding

 Coding is hard!

In saying that I was comparing when I first started teaching and I would never have envisaged teaching online. So given time Im sure I will get it sorted and it will become like second nature.  I can remember my very first after school job and I had to work the fax machine!!!  

I was petrified then.  (Not a lot has changed)

If I was teaching my class I would be saying things like mistakes mean you are trying. Mistakes are good.  Keep trying don't give up (OMG I am annoying)

I was trying out Scratch and I was so confused.  I can not see my kids being able to use this unless it is simplified.  So how do I simplify it.  It is up to me.

Simple...I learn.  I become proactive and figure it out. I also give credit to my students and realise that they, as digital natives, are probably better than me and will not have the fear I have. 

 

So the above is my very small effort of trying a code.  I sucked...  but the next one will be better.

Week 7 Devices

 Well Device day without devices is annoying.  I recommend anyone doing this to search an iPad and Chromebook out because frustrating not having one.  Even though there is PC versions it doesn't it is do it justice.  I am really intrigued by explain everything and how this will work in a junior class room.  I imagine it s a very slow process to get them to an independent stage because even though the new generation are digital natives they seem to struggle with using devices in an productive way.  I have a child in my class that is very digital savvy but that is only in a gaming and short cut way.  To get productive work him this child is a real mission as they are always flicking onto pictures or games or very surface type features.  So I can see that Explain everything will be useful for the younger ones to be able to see the true use of ICT in the classroom and that it is not just a 'fun' activity to fill in time on games etc.

I am really liking the google sites and are starting to see potential uses everywhere.  So my main goal is to practise practise practise building and adding to the sites I make and look for ways to make them more seamless and smooth to use for the students.

What are you proud of?

So far I am really proud that I have been able to keep up. I was concerned because I like to have time to explore and try things over and over for them to stick and we have had that time.

What do you regret?

I regret no having an ipad with explain everything on it because it looks like it would be of real use to me

What have you taken forward into the ‘new’ era of schooling?

OMG! what haven't I taken away. There is so much to think about now. How to share with students. How to make things accessible to them. How it include the whanau. How to relate things when in class as well as out of the class. How to keep them engaged. How to upskill myself and students and parents. How to make resources that are interesting and that actually teach something not just being pretty. How to store files so things are shared correctly. How to teach!!!

I am relearning so many things in a different way.

But to be honest it is not as scary as it sounds. I think I now have a good base of digital knowledge to springboard off from. I am not so afraid to try things that may benefit my students.

So...

Go me!

 

Week 6 Enabling Access Sites Agenda Day 6

 Well 

What a day.  

I have absolutely been absorbed by this weeks topic.  Last week we looked at sites and the basics. We developed a site and used it within the classroom during the week and wow what a great tool for the students to have available to them.  It allowed them to have some personal choice in what and how they could learn and even widen the choice of what they learnt.  

Today we had time (oh such a glorious word...TIME) to perfect or stream line the site we have or develop a new site.  The difference is amazing.  Just the opportunity to make things smoother and more professional, user friendly, simple but advanced.

What an oxymoron of terms.  but it definitely what it is.  On my end it allowed me to professionalise the links and pictures and content but it should make it easier and simpler for the students and whanau to use.  I have started to make a site for next year and I feel by then it should be much better than previous attempts.

We set goals at the beginning of the site building but I am taking my time to do it right so haven't really achieved them yet.  I am however really pleased with the basic set up and how  simple it look but how easy it is to work it...so far.

Week Five

Te Moana Site Today we looked at Class sites. I have struggled to get my head around sites and their actual purpose. We have only just started using devices so up until term 3 sites really didn't seem to be of any use. Even during lockdown they felt like lip service. "ooo look at what Im doing" Mainly because my kids couldn't really access it because of no devices or no internet or the lack of independent skills to use the site. I also felt we had shared work via Facebook and Hero and reports and felt it was just repeating work for the sake of repeating work. However... after today I can see the use of sites. With my co-teacher we quickly made an attractive site relating to our termly topic, Te Moana, with books and videos to access with create tasks and extension activities for approx 5 weeks. This is not independent tasks but can be independently completed by some. This will allow for some of our students to work at their own pace and others to work with support. Of course this is not finished as I would like to go back and do a screen castify video for some of the test so that my less able readers don't have that as a barrier. This will allow for a whole range of students to feel success in their learning and being independent.

Week 4

 

Well look at me go. I am very interested in spread sheets and google forms and we looked indeapth at these today. #%$&*!!! Mind blowing. So much to review and think about. I really like using these and can see many many uses both in the classroom with students and in my other roles within the school. So lets look at the prompt questions... What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy? I can see clearly how the use of ict can increase the audience for both our students and teachers. this will make their learning valid and make the whanau more aware of what is going on. Certainly breaks down many barriers that can be against whanau inclussion. I can see the way using digital can support learners of all levels to be successful at many levels. I like the korero about. some studnets never actually finishing and have some of those non finishes in my class. What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow as a professional? Spreadsheets and google forms. LOVE IT. It may be a love/hate relationship for a while until I am more capable of creating and sharing what I have learnt. There is just so many possibilities for streamlining infomation and data. What did I learn that could be used with my learners, how could they use My maps have so uses in class particularly when if comes to "fitness and life skills. But also with maths and english. make a map to match a story...use screen castfiy to explain how to get from A to B. There are a lot of possibilities. What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life? I dont know if there is much use for this tech in my 'real life'. as I dont travel and try to stay off digital tools in my down time... but maps would be useful for travel. Spreadsheets and forms are definetly usefull for work but not so much at home. Man my head is swimming with the possibilites. especially in my role as sports coordinator. BOOM

Week 3

This was a hard one to follow as I had to host a family gathering due to a death in our whanau. I have reed all the notes on the agenda and I certainly need to have time to play with all this. new information.  With my co teacher taking notes and showing me what she has tried or set up.  So we have a pixton class now and have got many of our kids in class to create their own avatar.  Man kids. blow me away with their skill level.  They don't know they aren't supposed to know how to do this stuff!!!  They just do it! They have no fear! So that is my goal for this weekend. To try use one of the new tools and set a pretend class or similar  and jump in boots and all and just try.