DFI Session 9

Exam Time!!!

After sitting my first Google certification exam, I have been left feeling a little bit down and deflated.

I did not complete the exam on time and only managed 3/4 quarters  of the online test.  I believe that if I  did not have the time constraint the results could have been a lot better.   

Learning Through Failure  

Moving forward, I would to resit the exam again.  To better prepare my self I will -

- Reflect on the areas I fell short on
- Put into practice the skills I have learnt and use it more regularly (practice makes permanent).
- Ask fellow DFI teachers/educators any questions to clarify any wonderings that  that I may have.
- Next time be more aware of the timing in the exam and be better prepared for it.

"Watch This Space"

DFI Session 8

Cybersmart 

Cyber smart learning should be a school wide focus.  Ideally, from a learning and teaching perspective we should  introduce/revisit the three fundamental categories -  

• Smart Learner (our learn term)
• Smart Foot prints (our create term)
• Smart Relationships (our create term)

What next? check in what students have learnt and 

Student dashboard 

An amazing tool to monitor learner activity.  Projecting certain pages like 'highlights' can show the teacher what learners are up to.  By having dashboard projected, it can help motivate student learning and deter off task behaviour.   

So what? - make using dashboard a daily occurrence to promote a safely monitored environment.

Screencastify 

This app allows for recording directly off the screen.  The teacher or student can navigate multiple pages and tabs while recording their experience.  From a rewindable perspective it can be great for learners who need to see and hear the teaching again.

DFI Session 7

Big Idea/ Talking Point-  Is digital learning more than a tool? The pros and cons of digital learning and its delivery within the Manaiakalani cluster can be debatable. 

From one perspective digital learning is considered only a tool.  Like all tools it is taken out of the  education tool kit only when it is needed.  Arguably, learning is only as good as the teacher that is delivering the digital curriculum.  

On the other hand... Whanau are investing a lot of money in digital learning.  The term empowerment is used to tap into the learn, create, share cycle often associated with student agency.   We must take advantage of the learning opportunities and capabilities technology offer.  In an evolving world of technology and digital platforms learners of today must be digitally fluent.  In essence we cannot afford to think lowly of tech devices instead we have to maximise its usage to empower our learners, especially in an ever digitally demanding word.    

DFI Session 6

Class Sites 

Key notes taken away 

• Class sites should be engaging and geared towards my intended learners
• Content should be 3 clicks or less away

Class sites ideally should have evidence of the following - 

• Visible Teaching and learning

• Rewindable learning

• Multimodal content

• Multitext content ie a variety of texts supporting the 'main' text

• Ubiquitous access to learning - could the child learn by self from eg the Starship Hospital?Connected (Blog links, school site)

• Opportunities for learners to be creative

• Are learners empowered (have agency) over data eg tracking sheets etc

• Effective teaching practice eg NZC, learning progressions, NZQA etc

DFI session 5 Collaboration with Sites

Visible Learning

• To inform others 
• Sharing teaching and learning and making it visible

Class Sites - In lesson 5, my partner and I created a multi-modal site for our learners.

https://sites.google.com/glentaylor.school.nz/sciencesitestatesofmatters/home

 No. 1 rule "have sites  that are 3 clicks away from any learning"

DFI Session 4

Data Collection 

• Excellent way to create a survey in minutes 
• Can work well to get student voice 
• Can be done often and for regularly

Google Maps 

• Interactive Tool 
• Can be used to collect data 

Spread Sheets 

• Data collection
• Multiple ways to graph data 

DFI Session 3 Media

Media 

Streaming video and recordings is an excellent way to share and rewind learning content. In addition, drones can further enhance visual effect and teaching.

Youtube content can be a good source of media and  information.  In contrast, it is recommended to use Google Drive when uploading media.  benefits include legal protections and safe accessible sharing.   

Google drawing is an excellent creating tool. It can be  used to create and share an endless array of art work . Here we have a rose that was done in   approximately 1.5 hours on Google Drawing.