Why am I studying with Unitec-Mindlab, Rotorua?

Hey look!

This photograph was taken during our Week 2 Mindlab class.  The Daily Post was here to help 'show-case' this course and how popular the course is seen by many educators.  I truly hope, this opportunity is provided for others in this area in 2016 and beyond!  I believe this is an opportunity which shouldn't be missed by other keen like-minded people.  Pretty cool :)

Why am I here?

I have been on a journey for a little while now, to learn as much as I can about myself as a teacher and how I can uplift my teaching practice, therefore my teaching and learning pedagogy.  Over the years, I have had the misfortune to witness a few things (thank goodness - a few!), oh and many, many wonderful awe-inspiring things, that have helped shaped who I want to be today.  Questions I have often asked myself is, "Why am I here?  Why am I teaching?  Why am I still teaching?".  

What makes me tick?

I have, from a young age, wanted to be a teacher therefore, one can assume, I've had the 'luck and fortune' to have had some great teachers during my schooling years, inspiring me to be just that.  I have had the most inspiring role models who I have wanted to mimic, to be just like them.

Fast forward quite a few years, and I am here. I've been teaching for at least 20 years now and the education landscape has changed somewhat since I was at school, and even when I had first emerged as a fledgling teacher.  

I am here working towards my Post Grad Certificate in Applied Practice.  I am very lucky to have 2 friends also taking this journey who I am able to share ideas with and work out how I will put into practice ideas.

What makes me remember why I'm here?

I have my own children to remind me to be a better teacher, if not a better mum.  

I have my students I teach, with their families supporting and encouraging them.  

I have my colleagues who I look up to, admire and want to be a part of this 'inspirational world' and I have myself, who wants to be reflective, critical and inspiring about her teaching practices.  

I have the belief 'I belong here' but if I want to stay here, I have to work hard to do so.

Post Week 1 - Mind Lab

After one week, I am still trying to get a 'handle' on getting my blog ready for my reflective pieces and tasks as well as navigating throughout the Moodle site (which I am not getting 'so lost in' anymore).  

Despite already spending time studying through the University of Waikato from July to late October this year, I'm actually finding studying again challenging!  Also challenging, is the collaborative approaches - I have done everything and relied only upon myself but now, many of the tasks require a collaborative effort...so I have to work with people, share ideas with people and complete tasks with others....a new learning curve!  But don't worry, I have a couple of awesome friends who are on this Mind Lab journey with me and they'll soon help me 'get into ship-shape'.

What I did enjoy from Week 1 was the video task our group had to complete and upload to the Moodle site...in only half and hour!  I wanted hands-on, practical, creative, innovative, informative...not stressful lol...well, learning can be stressful to some extent.  I appreciated how everyone kicked into gear and 'got their groove on' without hesitation.  The video task enabled people to show how creative and 'out-of-the-box' thinking people were capable of and the many videos uploaded last week were all different.  Last week I tweeted about how lucky I was to be surrounded by so many remarkable people, I just hope I fit in fine for the duration of the 16 weeks I have with this group.

As soon as I have time...I'm going to revamp my old blog to become my 'updated Learning and Reflection Journey' blog'.  Over the next months, I will post:

*My new learning

*My reflections about how my new learning impacts on myself, my classroom practice and my interactions with others and my learning and working space (ie the classroom)

*My 'Now What?'

*And anything else I can think of later ;)

Till next time 

PS Meet my son above :)

Mind Lab - A New Journey!

Well...I'm here with about 50-55 other people who are here seeking similar goals to me.  I love the range of people here...ages, experiences, backgrounds and locations.  I'll be coming here a lot over the next 32 weeks!  :)

My Second Post

My First Post

New Learning Journal! Need Some Inspiration?

No...I'm not going to give my e-addie for my new learning journal as that is strictly between Me and the Principal (or Appraisal team) when he/she fills out my "Yep, She's a Pretty-Good-Teacher" form for my next teacher registration...but I will describe what it is intended for!

All NZ teachers are now required to keep some kind of 'Learning Journal' that records the learning and professional journey of a teacher which should support why they should be registered (and continually registered).  What should this learning journal keep tabs on?

1. Professional development - what has this teacher done, learnt and done to show they have grown as a professional teacher?  What have you done to address your weaknesses?  How have you continued to develop your strengths?

2. Critical and Personal Reflection - what has this teacher done to critically reflect on their professional and personal development?  How has this helped in the classroom?

3.  How any of this critical to what a teacher does in the classroom?  - Well done!  If you are going to do any personal and professional development all in the name of teaching and learning, it better matter in the classroom especially in terms of uplifting student achievement!

I'm sure the list goes on but the short message is...'What am I doing to uplift my pedagogical content knowledge, professional and personal development so that I can develop into a Pretty-Hot-Teacher?'.  I have been questioning my performance for some time but now I really look at what I'm doing in the classroom and asking questions like "Did that matter?", "How does what I do matter?", "How is what I am doing uplifting student performance" and ... "How am I uplifting my own performance so that it matters?".

Whew!  Not much to ask :)

Anyway...as a last but aspirational note, here's a TED Talks vid that I am pretty inspired by...PS Rita Pearson is no longer with us but her spirit and message will be for what I predict, a long time!

The Meaning of Ironic

Sooo, the last time I was here, I was pretty excited about the upcoming Mumford & Sons concert to be held in NZ in November (yeaaaaa!). 

Pre-month preparations.  Checklist included:
     1.  Tickets                                                                     Tick
     2.  Concert bubby or buddies                                        Tick
     3.  Driver                                                                       Tick
     4.  Money for food, petrol and merchandise                 Tick
     5.  Songs almost memorized and practised                   Tick
     6.  Bags ready yesterday and, today ready to go          NOPE!!!

This does not include the pre-month of bragging (advertising) practices on FB, over the phone and over the staffroom lunch table to staff who neither really cared or knew who I was talking about (which I didn't care about because everyone was going to hear the 'bragging' anyway!).

The Concert day arrives...
The only time my body decides to get ill and refuse to obey Over-ride commands from the Brain Centre is the only time I really, really, really want to go to enjoy a music band I really, really, really like!  

New checklist includes:
     1.  Tickets passed on to only person who wants to still go                                 Tick
     2.  Concert buddy has her new buddies                                                               Tick
     3.  Driver cancelled and aware of why                                                               Tick
     4.  Money for doctor, replacement energy and rehydration tablets                      Tick
     5.  Absolutely quiet and darkened house with fan going, windows open            Tick
     6.  Sleep, sleep, loo, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, loo, ARRRRGGGHHH            Tick

No longer watching Mumford & Sons vids anymore until they return to NZ because it is feigned -depressive-irony that is before me as well as the feeling of, 'so close, but yet so far!'.

PS  Clicked 'Like' for a lot of pictures from the only concert-buddy that still went to the concert (boo hoo) but have not mentioned a word over the phone or across the staffroom lunchtable regarding M&S...yet.