Share

Digital Fluency Day 4 Share was the name of today's learning, and probably the one I did least in the past. It is quite thought provoking when we think that in 2005 social media was born and the children we teach are born in a world where public sharing is second nature.It is our job to encourage children to share there learning in a safe environment hence we are blogging. As blogging is new to my kids they are very enthusiastic in sharing their learning. Once again I have been reminded that sharing is not the end product- children can share to carry on learning- in order for this to happen, I would like my children to respond to their comments. This way we will embed further learning and not see blogging at the end product.

I thoroughly enjoyed the multi-modal part of our learning today. Knowing we are on the right track always feels good, but extending our practice is even better.I will endeavour to make my window of learning a place where my students want to engage in learning. Here is a start to to my window dressing of Matariki

Create

Digital Fluency Day 3

Our day in one word = create.

It is so good when ideas come together. Not only is Create embedded in our Manaiakalani/Ako Hiko mantra, it is also one of May Road School's learning powers.   

           
Key learning ideas form today

• Creativity empowers learning
• Creativity helps children become problem solvers, communicators and collaborators 
• Children love creating 
• Children are born to create
• In our Early Childhood Education Centres children are encouraged to create

And then they come to school where content has become all important and creativity seems to come a distant second or third. Content based learning was needed 10+ years ago for the factory geared work force. Yet we know that factory work force is becoming more and more automated so now we need creators. Yes I know I am preaching to the converted but I often struggle with the how. The idea that keeps reoccurring in my learning so far is that our Learn Create Share model is not linear. We don't have to go from Learn to Create to Share. 

Here is something to shake my practice:

Digital Fluency Intensive Day 2 As always the Manaiakalani journey is fascinating, and I am learning and understanding more about the learn create share model that we are using. The word intensive sure lived up to its name today. I thought I knew about today's topics, but I knew less than the tip of the iceberg. The deep dive we did today was very informative- now how do I incorporate this knowledge into my planning. Kauri teacher's watch out I am going to bombard you with great ideas. I am buzzing with the new deeper knowledge about google forms- why have I stopped using them this year.... They are a great way to embed comprehension skills that I am teaching in Reading. And who knew Google Sheets could be so captivating. This was not one of my preferred option. But I can really see how to present data using Google sheets.

The process not the end product

Learn, Create, Share - Easy you say - you learn, you create something, you share it. Easy for some.
In the past, we as students spent all our time learning, we didn't really get the chance to create and we hardly ever shared our work - other than with our teacher. Then some of us become  enthusiastic teachers.  Over time, gone were the old ways of teaching - inquiry is the new buzz word with the children creating  the end product out of their learning. Let the children become the the agents of their own learning. Some teachers couldn't make that change - couldn't relinquish the power, some saw the ideology and muddled on through and some  soared like eagles. I was one of those teachers who struggled with the creating part. I saw the power in letting the students become agents of their own learning, but I am just not a creative person, how does one  enthuse creativity when that is so foreign.
Then came the digital age now it seems easier to create and to share, but as with "publishing" some children never seem to get there. I now see that I have been stuck at the polished end product phase and not celebrating the process the children go through to get their end product.  The discussion of removing the barriers that developed from a conversation is what struck a cord with me. I am going to spend more time developing my students  confidence in their ability and not be hung up on the end product as much. Now don't think I am going to can the end product, just differentiate it to meet the students needs - now where have I heard that before.