DFI - Week 3

I love that Manaikalani still wants us to be creative educators in the digital classroom.  For me this is very important as I best learn through creativity.  I love to share my creative side with my students while encouraging them to be creative.  Hooking our students into learning using a variety of tools is important and I can see in my classroom how many learners are empowered by using digital technology to be creative and to achieve success.

I am finding the Hapara Hot Tips really useful.  Learning that this programme is not just for 'spying' on students.  I think Harpara will definitely help with workflow as being able to view and manage student files and folders in one place is so time saving!

I am going to do a Pepeha with my class and get them to publish this on their blog.  We are working through a unit 'About Me' and this fits perfectly.  The slideshow will also allow the students to use their creative side.  

I am also going to get the students to make a video of them reading some of their recent writing that then can be posted on their blog.  The students have artwork to accompany their writing so they can share this alongside their writing.  

I have been to nervous to attempt to work with the student blogs as this is very new to me but I am gaining confidence due to DFI!  To be honest I didn't think I'd ever say that!

Me Pepeha Slideshow

 

How To Embed Video On My Blog

Reflection From Today:

For me the move to a digital classroom is very scary and exciting.  I am having to learn a whole new way of presenting my teaching.  I have found that I am still able to work alongside my students rather than just presenting.  It will be a long road of learning for me but As Dorothy said 'we are not throwing out the baby with the bath water' and what has previously worked and been successful in my class teaching can be adapted digitally and still be a winner.  

I really liked the example that Dorothy used about teaching the Treaty of Waitangi because it did show how effective technology can be in the classroom.  I also felt like I am not completely failing with the digital classroom as I did have some great videos and links that I used specifically for teaching the Treaty of Waitangi and other curriculum areas.  I am a work in process and am learning how to be more effective in my practice.  

Once again it was a full on day of leaning and have found many things useful.  I really liked the deep dive around cleaning up tabs and making folders.  I am not completely confident I know how to do everything I want but having the slides to go back and look through is a bonus for me as I am a person who likes to follow written instructions.  I must admit I sometimes jump ahead and think I know what I am doing but often that isn't the case.  This has made me think about some of students in my class who do the the same thing. 

I like  when others can share their tips and tricks as I often can pick up a shortcut that I did not know about and oh how this makes the digital world easier for me! 

Blogging is very new to me and I will  have a professional blog set up shortly for my school.  My students also have blogs that they share work and learning on.  I am hoping blogging will make more sense as time goes on.  I liked the tip of being able to have your student blogs in a folder pinned to your tab to make these blogs more accessible.

I can see attending this Digital Fluency Intensive will help me become a more effective educator in the classroom and in my practice.

Reflection Day One:

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

I didn't have any idea what 'Manaiakalani' was before today.  I have just moved to Greymouth from Dunedin to take on the position of Year 7&8 at Blaketown school in a long term relief position for 2021.  So it was very imformative to see why such a organisation was established and that this has been a work in process for many years.  I learnt that a group of passionate people decided that all students deserved to learn and be educated in the digital world.  I really liked how the founders took their ideas to whanau to see what would be attainable for them.  Allowing all students to have access to digital learning helps to raise achievement outcomes and motivates our learners to engage with today's curriculum.

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

There was so much content today that I found it rather overwhelming!  I feel that organising my drive with numbered folders would totally make my life easier.  I am returning to teaching after many years and have been thrown into working totally online with my students.  I am enjoying this challenge and can see orgnisation of dives and emails will make the process a lot easier.

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

I really liked the idea of voice to text and can see how this could be life changing for some of my very reluctant Year 7&8 writers.  Some of my students have a low level of spelling and find themselves not wanting to attempt a writing activity.  

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

I guess the more organised digitally I am the less time I will be spending in my own time doing these things.  As I gain more knowledge I can see my workflow being easier to manage.  I will be able to complete digital tasks with out having to flit in and out to find information on how to do these tasks.

 

Creating In Google Doc