DFI 2021 Week 9

Well, what a wild ride! It's been like a roller coaster, with some parts zooming around at break-neck speed and others going slow, so I can look around and enjoy the time. It has definitely been exhilarating!

I wish that all schools with the need could have access to Manaiakalani and the possibility of being part of an Outreach cluster. I also wish that all teachers had the opportunity to participate in this PLD programme.

It's reminded me of what I think is important about learning and teaching and given me time to reflect on how much education has changed since I started out in the classroom.

When I look at school and class sites I now have a greater appreciation for what sits behind what we see. I am definitely conscious of the 'three click' guide when I am on websites, particularly PLD sites that seem to take me down a merry path to get the information I want.

I also create and look at presentations with a more critical eye - what is the key information and how is it presented? I recently shared a presentation from the Teaching Council with my staff and two of them noted the amount of information on single slides. We then discussed what we would do.

I know that often we do PLD, then get caught up with the 'busyness of work'. I will certainly make use of what I have learned. I've already started changing and adapting how I work, to incorporate what I have learned.

I still have lots of 'techie' questions, for example, why does the new blog post always start with a letter indent? Does it only happen when I transfer a previous post? I guess I will find out.

Will I continue to add to this blog? What will I blog about? Would it be a good forum for my sabbatical wonderings, learnings and musings? I guess I will find out.

I'd love to do the DFI again; maybe dip in and out in the areas I want to learn more about.

A huge thanks to the Ako Hiko Education Trust for enabling our Ako Hiko teachers to participate in this PLD. As I've said before, I'm very grateful to have had this opportunity. A huge thanks also to everyone who has shared their time and expertise to help make this a very positive learning experience. 😀

DFI 2021 Week 8

I got very excited about today's learning. I've spent a lot of today emailing our teachers asking them if they have tried the options that have been shared with us.

What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy?

Empowered - communities having a voice and having choice.

I agree that connectivity in every home is a need now and should be supported by the government. I also agree that in some of our communities 'agency' has negative connotations.

I think I agree with Bill Gates' comment that tech is 'just a tool'. I think it is a transformative tool of 'this' time. I also think pen and paper were transformative tools initially too.

I feel very strongly about the 'working poor'. These are people who work incredibly hard, often with multiple jobs, but they just can't get ahead. The 'system' seems to be set up to thwart them at every turn. Their hard work needs to be recognised and supported by the government.

The results from the Starship testing that correlated with the SEA data on children from decile one schools really surprised me - that their mean performance, both academically and physiologically was equivalent to a 3 yo. It made me think of the Dunedin study, when they looked into 'nature versus nurture' and found trauma in early childhood had a lasting effect on people genetically (I'm simplifying it, I know).

What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow as a professional?

I've realised how frustrating it can be when people say 'play'. I do it frequently myself. I tell both students and staff to 'have a go' and 'find out' what something can do. What I didn't realise is how important it is to have some kind of a foundation on which to explore. When I got a couple of tips on Scratch it made such a difference to how I could explore and 'play'. With no foundations the experience can be incredibly off-putting (when it should be fun and exciting!). 

It's important that students have opportunities to be innovative designers and creators of digital solutions. How do we do that? Do we give them these opportunities? It makes me think of PLD and trying to make the school or the students fit the model. It just doesn't work! We have to change how we work, not try to fit our digital workspace to the traditional model.

'Kua tangata whenua ki te ao matihiko'. For our children to be 'at home in a digital world' they need to have a voice. How do we give them that voice?

Thank you to Manaiakalani for looking at how the Cybersmart Curriculum aligns to the new POs in the DTHM. 

Thanks for the link of POs 'decoded for learners'. 

Questions I have:

The questions I've asked above will add to our curriculum review.

As teachers do we have conversations with our students with five or more interactions? Do we allow time in our programmes for children to have these interactions with each other? Do we provide learning experiences and vocab to support these conversations?

What did I learn that could be used with my staff?

I would like our teachers to have 5+ interaction conversations with their ENGAGE target students.

I've emailed my teachers asking them if they have used the Moral Machine activity. It could be a part of our P4C programme.

What did I learn that could be used with my learners?

I think my learners can probably do a workshop with me on Scratch. I may see who is reasonably confident with it and ask them to work with me as a SODA task.

What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life?

I need to remember to use the Explore button to find something quickly eg an image.

DFI is definitely very empowering for educators, supporting us (in a ubiquitous way), very quickly in a wide range of aspects 😀