Computational Thinking

Empowered: Pedagogy & Kaupapa

Presenter: Dorothy Burt

It's NOT just a tool!

Digital learning needs to transform the way we learn, it needs to offer new experiences and empower learners, teachers and whanau.

Dorothy talked about the challenges for low income families and the statistics gathered about low decile learners.  

Below are some sobering statistics:

• The mean academic level of new entrant students is they come in at a level of a three year old.
• These young learners have 32 million less spoken words than a decile 10 school.  (It doesn't matter whether they speak Maori, Tongan, Hindu, Spanish)
• 1/3 of the children change school every year.
• 50% of students change schools where there are new government housing developments.

The Future of Technology & What it Means to Our Tamariki

Presenter: Gerald Vermeulen

Gerald focused on looking into the future.  

According to Bill Gates these are the 10 breakthrough  technologies.  These technologies were amazing, the skill and expertise with developing and programming.  Manaiakalani programme enables our young learners to develop skills and their own digital kete so they are not just participants but they have many opportunities to be creative and reflective programmers, users and confident cybersafe citizens.  Who knows what our students will become... its exciting!

10 BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES
… according to Bill Gates

The New Digital Technologies Curriculum 2020

Presenter: Kerry Boyd Preece

Kerry talked about the new digital technologies curriculum, discussing the  new technologies in this curriculum and clarifying key points.  I definitely need to reread this presentation and familiarize myself with using the digital language.

Explore: Coding

Computational thinking and the Digital Technology Curriculum 

Presenter: Gerhard Vermeulen

Gerald's presentation gave me the opportunity to explore different coding games and attempt to some very simple coding.
Minecraft Coding Game
Breaking into small Google Meets was an excellent opportunity to practise basic coding.  I chose the Minecraft coding game which you can view on the link above.  I found this very easy to use.  There was no problems loading the game or using the coding tools and you get instant gratification.  For a first time user I was very chuffed with myself.

Now the 'Mihi Maker' coding game was not a great experience.  Initially I was so excited about the prospect of embedding this coding game in my blog but unfortunately I ended up feeling tired and exhausted.

Coding was at times very frustrating especially the coding game 'Mihi Maker' at times it froze then my computer got stuck with uploading a photo of myself that was too large.  On saying that according to the specifications on this game the photo was within the specifications.  Then I had difficulty publishing and embedding my animated mihi.  But unfortunately I still have a lot to learn as my mihi is not animated.  In fact you can't see view any of my mihi!

I am now in the final days of my professional development with the Manaiakalani facilitators, and it's time to revise and practise all the skills I have learnt.  My learning goal this week will be to do lots of deep dives and rewindable learning so I become more proficient and confident with Google sheets, and screencastify.

  

So Much Learning....

Hangouts 

My first Google hangout - the presenter was Lenva Shearing from Manaiakanai programme. The focus of this hangout was talking about 'Effective Teaching'.  To be able to recognise, amplify and turbocharge - this effective practice.  Learning in a digital environment is liken to 'swimming in the digital ocean', Lenva Shearing.  

The Manaiakalani programme is evidence based progamme.    It is esssential that there is the infrastructure and pedagogy needs to be parallel in order to successfully move from an analogue to a digital world.

The learning in this lesson was in giant leaps, I can easily see Google hangouts being a very effective tool to be used in my role as 'Learning Coordinator'.  This can be used for professional conversations as well as supporting and communication with families and the wider community.   The statement ' Technology opens doors for learning' is a powerful statement and embraces face to face sharing of ideas.

Setting up a Google hangout was another essential part of my learning.  Using my Google calendar to set the time, date and inviting guests to the hangout was an effective and easy way to link everyone.

Google Keep - is effectively like a filing cabinet.  Another wonderful app from Google that I had no idea was available.  I will be using this app especially for saving links, images, readings on the web.  I can even use images that I have held on this app and drag them into Google docs.  This app will be a time-saver!

Chery Torrie one our my facilitators orientated our group around Google calendar.  I do use this in my work environment so I felt quite confident with most of the tools except I learnt about sharing and inviting colleagues calendars.  This will be valuable in my role as a learning coordinator especially as I work across three schools.  The ability to be able to coordinate a meeting or hangout will be an efficient use of my time.

Tab One 

Tab One was another Google app that I learnt about.  This amazing app collects all your tabs and can enable me to sort and collate them together.  I love how I can go into a 'deep dive' and rewind my learning at my own pace in order to embed this new digital tool.

Blog Comments

Blog commenting was a new experience and skill that I need to practise.  I was fortunate to practise in a small group with my peers, this is an area I need to practise!