Day 9 - DFI

THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

 Manaiakalani Digital Fluency Intensive - Week 9

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

Ubiquitous Learning 

Ubiquitous learning takes place outside of the traditional classroom in the digital era.  Anyone can connect with experts anywhere in the world, regardless of location or academic background.  It enables students accessibility that they wouldn't otherwise have without devices.  Connection can happen at any pace allowing the students to choose how fast or slow they receive or send information and also allows for rewind learning or skipping information.

Rewind Learning

Rewind learning enables children to have access to the learning when they have missed a day in the classroom for various reasons. Rewind learning removes the traditional teaching/learning from 9-3pm.  It also allows the teaching to be shared with whanau and to show them what learning looks like today in the classroom.

                                                                         Ubiquitous Learning in Room 6

My weekly planning have are now being presented in the form of digital modelling/planning books which have video clips injected into the google slide pages.  The videos and digital modelling books allow the children to rewind learning anytime and at any pace.  The videos have been collected from a number of sources to support the teaching/learning process.  The digital books also allow the whanau to view the teaching/learning occurring in the classroom and opportunities to offer support in their child's learning.

Looking back over last week or last term

What are the kinds of reasons children have not being present for the teaching or learning moments in the classroom?

Room 6 have had a number of children regularly absent  because of sickness that spreads quickly through the class especially at this time of the year.  There has seldom been a time when the whole class has been present so I am able to update the class picture on the Room 6 website.

What is the most frustrating part of a planned teaching/ learning sequence for a child to miss?
The most frustrating part for a child to miss is the beginning of the week on a Monday when the children look over the weeks programme in the digital books.  Reviewing the week ahead allows them to have a sense of the work load, learning intentions, view the different components of the digital modelling books and expectations ahead.  When they miss the first day there is a huge appreciation for rewind learning and ubiquitous learning to occur outside of the classroom.

Are there children who need support for a wide variety of reasons?
It is very difficult for a number of children to learn and retain new concepts quickly or on the first introduction.  The opportunity to rewind the learning or take advantage of ubiquitous learning is priceless.  The processing of information and differences in learning styles is supported through the use of digital technology.

How do you address the challenge of managing multiple groups while having effective teaching moments with the group in front of you?
Well, two weeks ago I would have answered this question using the word 'rotation' which I use in my reading and maths planning.  HOWEVER, since using the digital modelling books I cannot believe the on task, engagement, time management, completion of work, learning new concepts and more teaching time in the classroom due to the digital modelling books.   I have never in all my years of teaching seen a maths lesson work so well.

What digital tools could you make more use of?
More use of the google suite and google apps that enhance the classroom programme.

Summer Learning Journey 

The results from a summer learning journey programme, by children blogging over the summer period, suggested that significant, positive gains were made by the students.

How to continue professional learning in Manaiakalani opportunities 

Manaiakalani Innovative Teacher Programme

"Over the first four years of Spark-MIT we have had teachers who have taken this opportunity to investigate ways to accelerate learning outcomes for our young people via the Manaiakalani pedagogy. The most successful inquiries have subsequently become the foundation of classroom implementation for their colleagues within Manaiakalani and around New Zealand. Spark Foundation and the Manaiakalani Education Trust are keen to support teachers who are challenging their own teaching practice through inquiring into innovative ways to meet our cluster goals and provide inspiration to their colleagues. " Manaiakalani Programme 

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

A number of us that attended the DFI course got to sit the Google Education in the classroom Level 1 certificate.  It was a 3 hour exam in which I had 39 seconds left before time was up.  Very intense and so worth it.  Learnt how to navigate a number of google suite areas and can't wait to sit Level 2 which I will be using the holidays to complete.  Looking forward to the challenge.  

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

Ubiquitous learning and rewind learning is a must in the teaching and learning in the classroom.  It now has to be a part of my planning because I have seen the benefits of this learning in the classroom and the many positive spin offs there are to offering it to the children.  

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

In the labour weekend our whanau and hapu are holding an unveiling for my mother and great, great grandmother.  Because a lot of our kuia and koroua have passed on we have been left with the huge task of organising the unveiling.  And, I can tell you now, that because I know how to use google slides, share google docs, collaborative on a google doc, invite people to hangouts and conference call by telephone that this task has been made 10 times easier when keeping everyone informed.  Thank you Manaiakalani team for extending the learn, create, share pedagogy to us so we are able to learn, create and share with our whanau, hapu and iwi.  I am so excited about teaching creating and sharing this knowledge with our hapu in order to bring a closer to organise such a big event, anywhere, any place and at any pace.