Te Kau

 

Iwa

 Final day of DFI,  we have just finished the 3 hours exam and a delicious shared lunch, and Mark wants us to be reflective! 

I have enjoyed learning about the pedagogy of Manaiakalani.  I feel like a kid who has been given one of those gifts that is layer upon layer of wrapping paper, and each layer brings more excitement as we get closer to to the end. Although in this case there is no end.  I am hoping to take all the slide shows back and somehow keep looking at them.  I am wondering how I get the pedagogy embedded into my team along with regular blog posts. There is nothing like .........I have completely forgotten what I was going to say in that sentence or where it was going.  Is this age, tiredness or the distractions taking over.  Mark made the comment about Jen's blog and how good it was to read as it identifies her learning style. I would have to say I have learnt that I need a quiet space with little or no talking around me. The table next to me during this journey, has been noisy and at times I have found it difficult to work due to this.  Maybe that is why I have presently forgotten what I was typing!

It takes 14 days for the results of the exam to come back - that's funny in today's world of instant responses!  I am now just waffling so should stop as this may impact my profession! 

Waru

 DFI - second last session! For the first time ever, I have butterflies when I think of the exam which I know is more about reading the question correctly!

I am once again shattered today and finding coming up with something to reflex on difficult! Feel the bullet point side of my personality starting to take over!

Empowering - I am wanting to write something amazing and intelligent in regards to this but can't remember enough about it to make that comment! That is because I am tired not because it was boring, I assure you.  I will need to go back. The one thing that won't leave the front of my mind is economic inequality and how this is so prevalent in our country. Growing up in the peaceful Waitaki valley as a farmer's daughter who never wanted for anything then starting my teaching life in South Auckland reminds me of the economic injustice that is everywhere.  I loved South Auckland, I miss the joy and love for life those kids had. I have often holidayed in Auckland with my own children just to let them see how lucky they are, and how other kiwi's live while making the most of all they have. To be involved in something that is empowering children and their families is a pretty cool feeling! 

I completed the moral and ethic challenge in regards to the cars and the thoughts and discussion around that was great.  The balance of all this great technology and the essence of human life and the environment will always be a massive challenge to balance out.  In an ideal world, making money wouldn't be the underlying reason for doing anything. 

Enjoyed the coding - Especially the Minecraft one, we use Scratch a lot at the moment in our class and would like to look into Minecraft also!  So I made this comment as a reminder before I went on to the Create part of our agenda and discovered the website Code in an Hour with all of its amazing resources. So I have been lost in the world of The Grinch, Minecraft and Mini Mihi.  I like the idea of setting a coding challenge up for the kids on a Friday afternoon, reminded me of Stem challenges.  Something for our team to look into.

Oh this is short!  I am tired and ready to go get my beautiful daughter!  As said before, I have throughly enjoyed this PD and will somehow continue my learning process!  Here's till next week and the exam!  Can't wait!!

Whitu - DFI

 I can't believe we are up to our 7th lesson for DFI, the time has gone so fast and to be honest I am not looking forward to the time ending!  Wonder how I can get involved in DFI level 2?! 

The Cybersmart Session we great, I have only just started to beware of these amazing lessons, resources and ideas. Thank you to all involved in creating the concepts, lessons and resources! Talk about making my life easier!  The idea of elevating the positive and empowering the children to be smart online from a positive angle is refreshing, and yet something that has been around for a long time.  As someone who always sees the positive before anything else, which at times can be detrimental, it was great to see such a positive approach!  The approach of do instead of don't. I love the saying " The idea that everything is private was interesting too as I had never thought of sharing in that way, and presenting all information as personal, whether you choose to share it or not clarifies the concept of what is private so quickly while empowering those who chooses to share.

Hapara sounds amazing especially the visibility to the learners and the ease in which it seems to work and am looking forward to using that in the future! 

Explain Everything

Explain Everything    - So Marvellous Mark has been teaching myself and the class all about Explain Everything for the last three weeks.  Have to say I am a bit of a fan, of EE that is! Ok, and Mark! The children have embraced and run with Explain Everything, and we loved all the Toy videos that they have created. I have used them as modelling books in maths and the children quickly explain how they have solved problems - something I have struggled to get them to do using paper! To now see the potential I may embark on becoming an EE expert! The ideas are beginning to develop and I am excited about how this app can and will enhance my learning and the childrens! I will endeavour to add some of my EE videos! 

PS Managed to attach my class blog to the blog list Go the Gadgets!!