Digital Fluency Intensive Week 1

Professional Learning [Our Code Our Standards p20] Professional Relationships [Our Code Our Standards p20] Learning Focused Culture [Our Code Our Standards p22] Design for Learning [Our Code Our Standards p22]
Oh my goodness! I've been working in Google Docs for more than two years now and there are still so many features I am unaware of and don't know how to use. Today's session with Dorothy Burt and Kerry Boyde-Preece was both informative and practical. Thank you Dorothy for the feedback regarding the Scavenger Hunt document.

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

The distinct message that came across in today's session is that Digital Technologies provide an expansive platform for learning. Manaiakalani pedagogy is about exploring the different ways that students can be engaged to further their learning through the 'Learn, Create, Share' philosophy. Great teacher pedagogy is still the key and digital technology the tool to extend learning and raise achievement outcomes, provide means for creativity, connection to others and  authentic audiences including whanau. Dorothy shared statistical evidence of the Summer Writing Programme which raised student achievement in Literacy through blogging during the holidays. The results for those students who participated are in stark contrast to those who didn't.

What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life, my professional life and in the classroom with my learners?

Being more capable at using the many Google Tools, Apps and their features will increase my confidence to create and teach using a variety of digital technologies. I am especially looking forward to applying and adapting some of the new learning to Explain Everything which the students in my class will use on their ipads to Learn, Create, and Share. Better organisation of files for ease of access, will help improve workflow, planning and classroom management. 

The table below indicates some of my learning acquired in DFI Week 1. 
The first attempt to add a Google Doc to my blog by screen shot succeeded, however, because the original table was rather large this process required a total of four screen shots and I didn't like the final look!

I then made several attempts to embed the Doc changing the HTML code until I got the following result. I'm still not completely happy about the width of the middle column so there is still further learning to do in this area.

Term 2 Manaiakalani Staff Meeting

The emphasis was on CREATIVITY in the classroom. What creative experiences had we provided for our students this year? What had we as teachers created? Had we used technology to create? Creativity gives a real purpose for learning.

The image above reveals the different ways students are able to be creative: using vocals (singing, speaking etc), the whole body (dance, etc), hands, spiritual/wairua, feet, and with technology - which empowers the learning.

Creativity may be the process of learning, the hook into learning, and/or the end product.

I can see wonderful opportunities as I continue my digital learning journey through the Digital Fluency Intensive and for creating and sharing student learning using 'Explain Everything' with New Entrants during the next two terms. My personal journey into a blended digital classroom begins!  

"Creativity is now as important in education as literacy, and we need to treat it with the same status"

Source: Sir Ken Robinson TED talk 2006