DFI - Day 9. That's a wrap!

Well...after 9 weeks of DFI, we are done and dusted. Over the term I have learnt many valuable skills and gained plenty of knowledge from those of you in the know. Much of this will be if it hasn't already been, taken directly into the classroom. Undoubtedly I am more competent and more aware of the tools available to me, and my students.

Having been given the time that we have had, based at home, and during class time has been invaluable. I appreciated that the agenda was shared two days before so I was able to get my head around what was coming up. I enjoyed how sessions are organised with regular breaks and the different types of learning (chalk and talks, deep dives, bubble groups, create, share, etc).  I appreciated how the bubble groups remained the same so we got to know each other and felt comfortable asking questions. This all added to a productive and comfortable learning environment.

Having started out on a DFI journey face to face pre-COVID, I was more than anxious wondering how I would get on doing it online with no support around me. However, I learnt very quickly that this process was going to work just fine. A supportive bubble group as well as all the facilitators that I encountered have made this recipe work for DFI online. 

While I didn't complete the external recognition by choice (with the support of the school), I can honestly say this would be the best professional development I have been part of in my nearly 30 years of teaching. So to everyone involved - thank you.

Computational Thinking - DFI Day 8

Today we learned more about the Maniakalani kaupapa of empowered.  The kaupapa of empowerment is about the advancing of Rangatiratangi - Taking back control of their lives (direct quote). Again an interesting chat.

As far as improving my workflow/confidence as a professional, I guess being introduced to coding as I was today, allows me to understand the concepts my students are learning, when they attend weekly sessions at the high school for technology - which includes Digitech. Their major focus in these classes seems to be on coding.

With my learners, I will be experimenting with many of the sites that were introduced to us today for coding. I also had a chance to dig around in Khan Academy, which is a resource I used to use a lot with my extension classes a few years back. I will definitely also be using Gamefroot when it comes to creating their mihi, using Mihi Maker. While I seemed to have some issues with that today, I am hoping I will figure these out, and then share the site with my class. My intention is to revisit this so the game is a success, and share it on here over the long weekend.

Overall, I learnt a lot today, however I will need to go back and try a few coding sites out, so I can feel competent when working with my class.

DFI - Day 7. Devices.

 Today we started off talking about how far we had come since lockdown, what we were proud of, what we regretted, and what have we brought into our teaching since. I have to say I am most proud of the fact I even taught from home. I really didn't have much clue prior to lockdown. I had many patient and wise colleagues. I'm not willing to call it a regret, but I would do things differently. Less is more type thing. Using my class site more has definitely come out as a positive from lockdown, but of course there is a long way to go on that front.  

From a professional point of view, learning to use Hapara Workspace was my highlight. Having the opportunity to explore these different tools is an absolute positive on DFI. While I had to become familiar with Screen Castify during lockdown last year, and Explain Everything isn't a tool I would use, Hapara Workspace definitely has untapped potential for me.

So what would I take out from today that I will use with my learners? Hapara workspace, the blogging tips were really useful - and something I want to focus on this week. Phil's timing of his hot tips was very fortunate for me regarding adding the blogs down the side - as I had just heard from my Tuhi Mai Tuhi Atu paired teacher, who discovered she couldn't see my student blogs. I did last night put them on the class site, but not onto the class blog. The class blog really needs my attention this week.

 DFI - Devices

Today I got to experiment with Explain Everything. We were set a simple task...write our name in different colours, insert a picture, draw an iPad, make a recording summing up our experience, and download/share it. Here is my first attempt at using Explain Everything.

Sharon's Explain Everything

DFI - Day 5. Collaborative sites

It was an interesting start to the day with Dorothy Burt speaking to us about being visible. Being visible to our learners and whanau on our class sites, and the students learning being visible to us (Hapara and blogs). Everything (planning, learning, outcomes) needs to be accessible, available and in advance...ie no surprises!

It was an odd position for me today because I know a bit about class sites having had to up my game last year at lockdown, and having used T-shaped literacy. So I found that I knew enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be really dangerous. I learnt I can hide any preplanned work from navigation, which will make a huge difference to me. My main problem is that it takes me ages to sort and prepare multi-modal learning and/or t-shaped literacy. I really appreciated having the time to look around other class sites, and have already bookmarked some sites that I know I will be revisiting.

This week I will be making buttons for my class site, so will be giving this challenge to my class to create as suggested. I will need to teach them how to, before they create. I will also be casting the sharing tab to show them any items are floating.

As I didn't complete my Celebrating our ANZACs, I will screenshot part of what I do have on my site for t shaped literacy, which I find remarkably similar to the multi-modal. I think the key difference is the multi-modal is used in a cross-curricular context.

DFI - Using data. Day 4.

Today's DFI was a bit of a lashing on my brain to be honest. I have learnt about some really useful tools which I will definitely be putting into use in the classroom, as well as for my own professional use. 

As always I found it really interesting listening to Dorothy. I had never really questioned why we use Blogger, but it was good to hear the 'why' behind the choice. I found it interesting to hear the reasons behind sharing, being so many opportunities for feedback and feedforward. While I knew about the different ways to check on posts and commenting, I didn't realise until just lately about the posts being on Hapara, and the ability to see the comments too.

Undoubtedly using Google Sheets will benefit me professionally the most from today. I can see these will be used in a variety of different ways, both as the professional, and with my class. I love its ease of use, and easy to follow systems.

I will be (with time) teaching my Year 7 and 8s to use all the tools I have learnt today (Sheets - the blog analysis will be one they can all have access to their data personal to them), My Maps and Forms. To be fair I got quite stuck on Forms - which was annoying - as it looked like it should be simple. When I have another go I will try and post the link.

In my personal life, I will be using Sheets for my boys' PB's in trainings (Bronco times / fitness testing etc). This will be a much more efficient way to manage all that information ( 4 sons = loads of data) and using the sparkline (my new favourite tool) we will all be able to view trends with ease.

DFI - Using Data - pt 2

We have been learning how to use spreadsheets throughout the day today, and this afternoon we were asked to analyse a student's blog posts. It has been interesting learning the tools available, and will definitely be using spreadsheets for student data from here on in. The most difficult part (for me) is remembering how to embed these different tools onto my blog.

Using Google My Maps

This morning at DFI we have been introduced to Google My Map. I have created a map showing where I have lived in my lifetime.

Day Three of DFI - Media

When I reflect on the day today - so much information has been shared, I'm not even sure where to begin. Listening to Dorothy Burt speak about the Create (of Learn, Create, Share) was inspiring. Although as an educator this wasn't news to me, it was inspiring to hear it explained in a way that was enthusiastic, and backed up by research.

Using Youtube as a teaching tool is something I have done previously, however knowing how to find, create and share playlists with colleagues will be a game-changer I think. Till now I have never saved clips at all, and we have just put links in our digital planning for digital resources. I can see our team will definitely take advantage of this for saving and sharing resources on our big ideas.

This afternoon, I opted into the animation workshop. Well - that was a learning curve. While I needed to spend a bit of time figuring out why my computer wasn't doing what it should have been doing, Dave was very very patient with me. My intention is to use this immediately in class so I don't forget. Although it is unfinished, I learnt a lot from this session, as will my students.

While not necessarily in my personal life, I am becoming more competent in working on blogs. Having said that...I am about to attempt to embed a slide.....so we shall see.

DFI - Day Two - Workflow

I was actually on leave for Day Two, however, I did complete Day Two, in 2020 prior to lockdown. Having the benefit of a year behind me following on from 2020's Day Two... it would be fair to say some aspects I have mastered (like Google Hangouts - because I had to), and others I put on the backbench with the intention of revisiting one day (Google Keep) 

From this session (reviewing the notes) I enjoyed refreshing my memory on RATE, which of course ties in beautifully with T-Shaped literacy, which is something else I am also beginning to get my head around.

As a professional, in terms of using the teacher dashboard on Hapara, I find I am continuing to discover new ways of doing things differently/more simply, using the variety of tools it offers.

On Day Two last year, I was introduced to Google Hangouts for the first time. The following week I was not only using it on a daily basis but having to instruct my students on how to use it. It couldn't have worked out more perfectly. I continue to find more tools available while using it - but boy I am glad of that initial prep! 

I still have a bit of trouble remembering each time how to embed a video. I was fine in lockdown, when I was doing so regularly, so the notes on this definitely helped. I am sure I will be revisiting many of the notes from DFI regularly.

As far as workflow in my personal life goes, most definitely I need to up my game on organising my professional and personal emails. I have made a decent start on this now, and intend to sort them entirely. Nothing like a plan with a finishline.

DFI - Day One (Take Two)

So this is my second attempt at DFI - as I started the face to face version in Term One last year...and then came lockdown. At that point this was all new to me, as I had just returned to the classroom after 15 years part time. However, along with lockdown, came my steepest learning curve I have have experienced in my teaching career. Teaching on-line! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Dorothy Burt speak about how Manaiakalani came to be. Such passionate educators and advocates for their learners and whanau. Sharing this and their reasonings behind the setup, along with their challenges, was actually quite inspiring I thought. Just doing the DFI will help both my confidence and capabilities. While preparing work for school, and navigating my way around the digital world - I get there, but very slowly! I am hopeful/certain that this PD will up my game in all areas digitally. I will definitely be using Eyes on the Text with my students, as well as the Scavenger Hunt. Both useful ways to incorporate a wide variety of tools. Already from the two days I did last year, I incorporate quite a few 'housework' ways of doing these and navigating the students around their drive. Organising my drive will be the biggest positive flow on effect on my professional and personal life without a doubt. The skills revisited today do need to become part of everyday so I won't forget them if I am using them regularly. My own kids will probably appreciate me doing this the most - as I won't be asking them 'How do I....?' every two minutes.