Session 9 - DFI - T4, 2021 - External Recognition

Day 9 - External Recognition

Google Exam and Farewell Day

Day 1 of DFI looked like this for me!  

Very confused and in despair.

Yes, unfortunately I did feel like this, but I am happy to report that my confidence utilising the Google Suite has grown immensely.  Just having the opportunity to be shown and have a go has been great.

As mentioned throughout my blog posts I still need to practise my new skills, so I do not lose them.  One progress of mine I am proud of is creating a Google site.  I still do not have a class as yet but it certainly is a good start for me when I do.

Day 9 of DFI now looks like this for me!

Wahoo!  I got through the Google exam.

DFI Demo Slam

Wow, so many programmes out there I want to try.  Further great learning opportunities for me to explore and to introduce to my future learners.

I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to complete the DFI course.  Thank you to all the great facilitators for passing on their knowledge.

Session 8 - DFI - T4, 2021 - Computational Thinking

 Day 8 - Computational Thinking

Connecting with Manaiakalani

The focus today is Empowerment.  My takeaway from today's presentation is altering the language often used for choice, the word being ‘agency’. Today highlighted that the word agency often has a negative connotation associated with it, it can have an emotional link and its meaning is often not understood.  We often link the word agency with State agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Justice. By replacing the word agency and using the language empowered it is more proactive and understood.

Deep Dive

The Future of Technology

The session started with a cartoon from my childhood that may or may not be familiar to you the reader.  

This cartoon was made in the 1960s and is quite interesting to watch the perceived views of what they thought their future would look like.  I can recall the days of connecting with my family in the UK by sitting around a tape deck and recording on a tape cassette!  And now……we have Zoom.  I can talk to my family in real time – how amazing!  I wonder what the technology is going to be like when my nephews and niece are Grandparents.  My mind boggles.

As a teacher I must think about what our future workforce and societies are potentially going to look like, to prepare our learners for the unknown.  I feel my key role as an educator within technology, is to teach how to be ethical in our digital world. To always be kind and demonstrate integrity when communicating in our digital world.

Chalk n' Talk

Digital Technologies Curriculum

The technology curriculum allows learners to feel at home in the digital world.  The future workforce will be grown by providing them broad knowledge, first-hand practice, and a temperament to represent our communities, cultures, and ethnicities within the digital world.  

Explore

I enjoyed the opportunity to explore the various digital resources available for coding.  There are many great resources available to support my digital technology curriculum.  Having the opportunity to view what is available and to try other coding programmes was great. 

Create

I chose to attempt to create a whare utilising Tinkercad.  I found manipulating the boxes frustrating but with more practise I am sure I will get better.  Tinkercad provides a great learning platform for geometry, manipulating shapes and creating 3D design.

My creation.  I have inserted as an image and I will update with an embedded link to show the 3D creation from all angles.

Session 6 - DFI - T4, 2021 - Enabling Access Sites

 Day 6 - Enabling Access Sites

Connecting with Manaiakalani

The focus today is being connected. Slide two provided a great visual for me of how connected we are within the Manaiakalani Group.  It is quite encouraging to know that I am part of a great big learning community.

Chalk 'n Talk  

Leading Learning using Google Sites

Not having a class of my own means that I do not have a class site I am responsible for.

However, the tips gained for creating a Google class site that empowers visible learning provides a great checklist for me to ensure I am creating the best digital learning environment for my learners.

For my future class site(s), I must ensure:

• I provide a visually appealing site that hooks in the audience.
• Keep the page layout similar so it is easy to navigate within the class site.
• The planning and teaching are clearly visible.
• The weekly overview and timetable are clearly visible.
• Leaners can navigate from the homepage to the relevant learning in three clicks.
• Provide multi modal opportunities to access content.
• Allows for the provision of rewindable learning.
• Allows for the provision of distance learning e.g., Meet Links, video updates.

Personalising your learning site

More helpful tips for personalising and setting up a class site.

• First step - plan!  Grab a whiteboard, paper, or use a graphic organiser and plan the layout of the class website.  What should it look like, feel like and what is its functionality?
• Have a site header that captures the audience.
• Use Google site buttons - ensure these follow a theme throughout the class site.
• Find free images online 

I have been working on a Google site, inserting pages, images, video, audio and site buttons. 

This is an image of the top part of my home page (a work in progress).

Session 7 - DFI - T4, 2021 - Devices

 Day 7 - Devices

Connecting with Manaiakalani

Anytime, Anywhere, Any pace, Anyone (A⁴) - the ubiquitous component of Manaiakalani.  This A⁴ became the distance learning we identify with today.  Technology enables and has demonstrated that it can remove barriers to access learning opportunities.  Technology is more than a tool!  For me, Covid has highlighted the importance of technology, keeping teachers, learners and family connected.

Deep Dive 

Cybersmart Curriculum

Being Cybersmart is about empowering learners to make smart decisions in our online world by teaching them to engage in online behaviours that elevates a positive digital presence and positive interactions. 

Chalk n' Talk

Part 1:  Chromebooks 

Life as a Chromebook User - Digital Dig

The digital dig I found extremely beneficial.  Any induction to digital technology should include instruction before a user is let loose.  I have limited knowledge of all shortcuts relating to a Chromebook so an interactive slide deck requiring knowledge of these functions was great.  A great resource to teach learners who are transitioning from an iPad to a Chromebook.

Recording your Screen - Rewindable Learning

The first slide states "If it's worth TEACHING, it's worth capturing." and "If it's worth LEARNING, it's worth capturing."

This states it all! - Recording your lessons and any discussions from this learning provides a great tool to review any strategies or information that may have been missed or misunderstood.  Utilising rewindable learning is particularly important in our current Covid environment.  Having this opportunity to view lessons at any time is extremely useful to work around distance learning commitments.

Part 2:  iPads

Introduction to Explain Everything

This is an image of my first attempt at Explain Everything.  I completed this task on my laptop touchpad.  I feel this task would be more controlled if completed on an iPad with a stylus pen.

Creation using Screencastify

This is an image of my first attempt at Screencastify.  I have only included an image as the video and audio do not synchronise.  A new tool to continue practising to use and for me to master troubleshooting!

Session 5 - DFI - T4, 2021 - Collaborate Sites

 Day 5 - Collaborate Sites

Connecting with Manaiakalani

Visible Teaching and Learning

It was great to reinforce that visible teaching should be accessible, available and in advance for learners and their whānau.  A takeaway for me is to avoid learning sites requiring passwords that the learner chooses.  With learner password choice they could lock out the teacher and whānau, creating barriers to sharing their learning.

Deep Dive

Multi Modal

I found this informative, in future, I know I need to create a learning site that is engaging and hooks in the user.  It was a lightbulb moment for me to recognise that teachers are competing against social media and online gaming. To create a learning site that includes multi-texts, video, animation, audio, podcasts, photos, websites, and cartoons will assist to sell the love of learning.  This variation will provide learner engagement, student choice and provide different perspectives / points of view to scaffold and challenge the learner.

Chalk 'n Talk 

Introduction to Google Sites

Again, I am learning that once you are shown setting up the various functions of Google are achievable.  A great tip received was to ensure all the site contents are stored in one location, with permissions set so users with the link can view the files.  This will ensure that the students have access.  

I know I require more exploring to learn all the functions to provide a multi modal Google site.  I enjoyed having the opportunity to create a Google site page and I am looking forward to having my own class where I will have the opportunity to develop a Google site.

This is an image of my Multi Model Google site

Session 4 - DFI - T4, 2021 - Dealing with data

Day 4 - Dealing with Data

Connecting with Manaiakalani

Connected Learners Share

I had a bit of a reality check when listening to today's focus of the Share pedagogy....and that reality check was our akonga who are 16 years old and younger are part of a world that they know no different about sharing their lives worldwide. Our learners are truly 21st century citizens connected via the digital age - vastly different from sending an old-fashioned letter via 'snail mail'.  Their opportunity to share their knowledge and opinions on issues to an audience now extends beyond the local community and reaches globally.

The opportunity for students to share their voice allowing feedback and feedforward guidance is empowering our learners.

Chalk 'n Talk 

Google Forms

Having the opportunity to create a Google form I was pleasantly surprised how easy it is to select options for answering the form.  I have never created a form and with a bit more practise I feel confident that I will be able to create forms for future classes.

I have since practised utilising forms adding images, video, and a variety of ways to answer questions.

Deep Dive

Google Sheets

As previously advised in other posts, I have a background of being a Microsoft User.  In my past vocations I have had varied experience utilising Excel from creating formulas and creating graphs to display data.

Some of the features of Google sheets are very clever.  I particularly liked the use of the Sparkline feature.  Having a visible mini graph in a cell provides a quick visual - an extremely useful visual if you wish to have a quick glance of student progress.

Creating with Sheets - My example of analysing data from a student blog

This is my example of utilising Google Sheets for analytical purposes.

Google My Maps

The My Maps feature I have not heard of within the Google Suite.  I have utilised Google Maps for working out how long a journey is going to take or find that elusive street in an unfamiliar city.

I can see the benefit of the My Maps feature as it provides the ability to make and edit your own map.  One bonus of My Maps is planning a trip and sharing this with your friends and/or family.  

My Maps has the potential to provide many learning opportunities for students.  Utilising the drawing tool feature allows the user to connect to points on a map by selecting drawing a line.  This feature alone provides an opportunity to learn about distance, rate, and time.  

My Map Creation

This is my creation of My Map detailing places of interest I enjoy exploring. 

Session 3 - DFI - T4, 2021 - Media

Day 3 - Media

Chalk 'n Talk 

YouTube Creation

This session I found interesting as to how simple the steps can be to set up your own YouTube channel.  Learning about privacy settings and how these are structured I now have a better understanding.  Being part of the Manaiakalani Group I understand this is a tool for the teacher only to collate resources for learning.

Google Draw and Google Slides

I am enjoying the opportunity to learn the steps and short cuts for the Google Suite.  One take away for me is the ease when adding in a video and having the ability to set the clip to play and finish at specified sections.  Having this knowledge will be a useful tip to share with the students.

Deep Dive

Media

There are so many options to consider using in the classroom which is great.  I appreciated the suggestions of tools and equipment to use, especially when you have a slim budget.  I am looking forward to exploring the media options available.

Create:  Making meaning of content

Animation with Google Slides

I was excited to have a go at animation.  I have been in awe of the student's development of animation slides and to have a go myself I can see why they are excited to build on their slides.  

Here is my attempt at animation.