Flip, Flip...Blend it!

Week 7, December 17th 2015
We have been discussing 'Flipped Classrooms' and 'Blended Learning' this week opposed to traditional classrooms.

What I have been watching and reading about this week has been very interesting and one question that I immediately thought about was, what about the students who have limited or no internet access or equity access to digital technologies?  The flipped classroom doesn't seem to work as well in theory however, one of the last videos address this question in part.

Instead of a 'flipped classroom' it then becomes a 'flipped- blended learning' scenario where students have access to video or online information and resources during school time as a rotation group and then by the time they have had time to practice in another rotation group, students have the opportunity to work in small groups with the teacher.

(photo of  models)

Leadership You, Leadership Me!

Week 6, December 10th 2015
Just thinking out loud!

This week, our class has been reviewing different models of leadership and what different types of leadership characteristics look like.  I've also been thinking about leadership roles people take on without actually having a formal leadership role 'as-per-say'!

I don't have a formal leadership role and I haven't had the opportunity to as yet but I do recognise in a small sense, I've had a role in helping others when others needed support.  I'm talking about 'Key Players' or 'Change Agents' within a school's staff that are the ones that take to PD like water to a duck's back or are ready for challenge and change in the name of what's good for my students and for me!

My good friend was our ICT/eLearning facilitator at my last school and when offering new professional development was like 'fresh air'.  Myself and some colleagues were excited by the chance of new learning and hands-on skills/knowledge/practice that would benefit our students and of course, those with the motivation and a little bit of 'know-how' will try to learn as much as they can...we also became the 'informal go-to-people' when our friend was unavailable or when our 'techie' guy couldn't help.

In a sense, these were leadership roles that also provided support for colleagues re: technical support and advice or tips but we also provided the 'just-in-time' learning for others...I mean that when others had an issue or question or need, we could try to provide solutions to these 'at-the-time' of need.

Leadership styles and types are 'a-plenty'.  After last week's survey, I found my strongest leadership quality of characteristic is 'Participative', followed by 'Laissez-Faire' and then 'Transformational', amongst a few others.

Refreshing to know I'm a major Team Player who may be indecisive at times but will give all the responsibility to the other person to work out how to finish the job based on their own intellect and skills - but I like how I interact with others...remember participative and transformational!  My results are in the LDC Notes and Tasks tabs.

Makey Makey!

Week 5, December 3rd 2015

This week, our class kicked off with a Makey Makey-Scratch coding activity!  we used wires, a mother-control board hooked up via USB to the laptop.  While Ma tackled with the wires and technical side, I played around with the Scratch coding side (thank goodness for Coding for Junior via Ulearn!).  To cut-to-the-chase...I thoroughly enjoyed playing with Makey Makey-Scratch.  All groups were involved deeply with their own 'spin' on the task and were actively creating.  Fruits, playdough, paper...nothing was safe!

The Task

The Gear

The Play

For a little more information, check this story out on DCL Tasks :)

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.

Mumford & Sons (playlist)

Sooo going to see these guys when they come to NZ!!!  CANNOT WAIT! :)

Making a Vid Using Movie Maker

At the beginning of the year, my class, a few buddies from two other older classes and myself made a video for a school assembly as one of our items.  Our class was hosting the school assembly.

Enjoying Watching NZ's Got Talent

I was watching NZGT a couple of weeks ago and saw these two brothers.

Back at School! :)

Back at school and pretty refreshed and...felt tired after the first day back at school!  :)  I have 1 NE but have 3 very new students that started in the last 1-2 wks of last term and so essentially beginning this term with 4 NE...hence...tired, lol.  Am enjoying being back with the 'fantastic babes' and even though am feeling tired by 3pm, loving being back in the classroom.

Have also started a new semester and the readings alone look so, so, SO daunting!  I have sat down to read a few pages and found I have falled asleep, not once, but twice this week just trying to start my course readings!  Gosh, not the rivoting start I had in mind but I will get there :)

Anyway, here is a song from a group I sooooo love!

School Holidays - YAY!

Yay...I'm enjoying the school holidays!  My family and I have already spent the first weekend of the hols at Mt Ruapehu (had fun snowboarding) with two other families and I'm back at home...house is clean!  I've already spent the second day exploring new websites (educational) and trying to get my head into planning for Term 3 (at a leisurely pace :) ).  Looking forward to adding new and exciting website links to my class wiki and learning lots of new things!

PS I have already finished my first semester paper (only 1!) and have had good grades and now am looking forward to the second semester!  PG Dip...here I come!  :)

A cool start to the weekend!!!  :)

Continuing Studies

Before I forget...I've started a year of study (while teaching!  Groan  LOL).  As if teaching wasn't already challenging enough, I've now started part time study via the internet with Waikato and at the end of 2011, I was thinking "Yep, online study should be pretty 'sweet'"...NOT!".   I'm new to online study.  I'm new to online 'moodle'.  I'm new to the whole online learning/study thing...BUT...I'm really enjoying the challenge.  I'm taking a good look at myself as a teacher and the role I play as 'educating our young minds'.  So far, as honest as I am, I'm not as good as thought!  But that's ok because I know I'm 'pretty OK' and for my next level, I will be...WAY BETTER! 

Ever Thought of a Bucket List?

Totally random, but have you?
I wasn't until up til a few minutes ago and thought, "well, no I haven't!".   No one knows how long they have here but why not think of a few possibilities...maybe 10!  :)  I saw the movie, wasn't it inspiring!?!  I believe so.  Sooo, guess what I'm thinking of at the moment (I hope it lasts more than that!).

What will your Bucket List be comprised of?

L

The Sunscreen Song

While looking for a 'sunscreen song', I found this!  I had heard this a while ago and of course, once hearing again...had to listen to the whole thing!  I bet you will remember this one!  :)

 

An Old Start for a New/Old School!

A new start for 2012!  An old school with a new name, a new/old school with old and new students, a new start with old and new staff!  I bet you are thinking...."huh?!?".  Our school has joined two other schools as part of a merge and of course we have a new/old name!  We were 'Putauaki Full Primary School' and now we are 'Putauaki Continuing School'! Ahhhh, the creativity in a name!   We have new and old students returning as well as new and old staff!  WOW!   What a beginning to what will be an exciting and busy year...again! :)