WEEK 1 Teaching and Learning (In class and Online teaching)

23 May 2020


This week was the first week of teaching after the LOCKDOWN. School officials have divided different year levels to different days to come to school so that they can easily understand what's are the expectations of school, teachers and other staff members from the students. Assurance always comes first. At this stage, we are on level 2, but still, we have to take alert measures to ensure our safety and well being.



On Monday, particularly level 12 and 13 came to school, on Tuesday year 11, on Wednesday year 9 and 10. From Thursday school was open for the whole school. We have only 50% of students are coming to school in various year levels. At this stage, every class has a seating plan. This seating plan remains the same for the complete year. Teachers are taking extra prudent measures for students and themselves. For example, on the entry of every class, there is a bottle of hand sanitiser and surface sanitiser. Students come to class after sanitise their hands. A box of tissue, gloves, masks are available at every level. Students can use anytime in the group.

Students have to keep a 1-meter distance from everyone. So, the seating plan is like that we can cover the 1-meter distance in the classroom. We are still doing online classes, like HANGOUTS with classroom teaching, because the students who can't come to school due to some reasons they can continue their learning at home. We don't want students learning to be affected due to this level 2.

Moreover, my STEAM classes were on HANGOUTS in this week. Because primary schools didn't resolve yet to come back at Tamaki College for Technology, for further notice from Primary schools, we will remain online teaching for them, and for the students who are at home(YR9 to 13). 





"Actively contribute, and work collegially, in the pursuit of improving my own and organisational practice, showing leadership, particularly in areas of responsibility".

Digital Fluency Intensive Program (Week 8)

Date: 1 May2020 Agenda: Computational Thinking

Today is the second last day of the DFI program. This session, we started with Connecting. We connected in our regional groups and shared our pedagogies and strategies which work in our teaching and which don't.

Dorothy starts  session by talking about empowered. As an educator, you’re in a position to empower your students to become better learners and better people. Most of the time we recognise the positive influence we have on our students, but there may be times when we feel we need new ways to motivate them and create a culture of involvement.

Every teacher wants their students to feel involved in the learning process. Knowing how to empower students is a valuable skill. Student empowerment is an approach to teaching that puts students at the center of the learning process, allowing them to make decisions about their education and giving them the confidence to achieve their goals.

                                                               

Then, Gerhard continue session by describing computational thinking and Hangarau Matihiko.  A digitally fluent person can decide when and why to use specific digital technologies to achieve a specific task or solve problems.  A digitally capable person can create their own digital technologies solution. Teachers are supported to acquire digital fluency required for effective teaching, planning, assessment and professional learning

Teachers learn how digital technologies used effectively can have a significant impact on accelerating achievement outcomes

Supporting teacher digital fluency and confidence to deliver the curriculum in a digital environment in a 1:1 digital learning environment.

In education, computational thinking is a set of problem-solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in ways that a computer could also execute. It involves the mental skills and practices for 1) designing computations that get computers to do jobs for us, and 2) explaining and interpreting the world as a complex of information processes. 

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. –  Benjamin Franklin

Week 7 Digital Fluency Influence Program DFI

 24 April 2020                                               AGENDA: DEVICES

This day focuses on the devices our young people use and we will experience Learn Create Share using Chrome books and iPads. Today we heard Fiona share her competence on all things Cybersmart. She explained very beautifully about Cybersmart learners. What are smart learners, who

• Understand and demonstrate responsible use of their device as described in the Kawa of Care Responsible Use Student Agreement
• Confidently navigate and harness their device and learning applications 
• Are mindful that being Cybersmart is staying up-to-date with our Cybersmart learning. 

To make the most of their Chromebook or iPad and Google Apps, Smart Learners follow the Kawa of Care and learn to use their device confidently and in clever ways to Learn Create Share. While each Cybersmart category has specific learning outcomes, how teachers engage learners  will be in response to the school community and interests of their learners. To empower learners it is critical that learning sites are visible and accessible and that learners are able to confidently navigate the site to access learning. Smart Learners' always know how to interact with others online and make smart decisions about what information has shared. 

They maintain positive and supportive online relationships and can make smart decisions about how and who they interact with online. Moreover, they understand what to do when something doesn’t seem right. And know what to do when things go wrong.

Gerhard's session on Chromebooks was really interesting. He explained how to use Chromebook simulator.How to Use the Chromebook Simulator. For example, to get started using the Chromebook simulator, fire up your browser, and head to the simulator’s homepage. From here, you can use the panel on the left to browse through the categories for a guide or click on one of the “Popular Topics” at the bottom of the page. You can even use the search bar to find what you want from the topics covered.






Our next session was on Screen Castify, and it was fabulous. Maria explained what is screen castify and how to use it. Screencastify is a Chrome extension used by people to easily record, edit, and share videos. It is especially popular with teachers who make screencasts and webcam recordings to share with students. Link how to use screen castify.




"Select teaching approaches, resources, and learning and assessment activities based on a thorough knowledge of curriculum content, pedagogy, progressions in learning and the learners."

"Gather, analyse and use appropriate assessment information, identifying progress and needs of learners to design clear next steps in learning and to identify additional supports or adaptations that may be required."