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.