Thursday, September 22, 2016

Blogging today with a fantastic group of learners...

I am very excited to be here writing with a great group of Year 6 learners.  We have just started our first blogs and are learning about the responsibility of our own space online. 

Thursday, September 1, 2016

A day all about learning for ME!!!

Enjoying a webinar in the comfort of my home on the first day of Spring, and Random Act of Kindness day.

Say what?  Do you Speak Ed Tech?  ISTE Webinar

Jen LaMaster, Assistant Principal, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, from Indianapolis, sharing this morning.

  1. Set a vision - the foundation!
  2. Know your trends - and filter!
  3. Resources - Focus on your vision and trends!
How does your learning fit in with the Standards:
  • Empowered Learner
  • Digital Citizen
  • Knowledge constructor
  • Innovative Designer
  • Computational Thinker
  • Creative Communicator
  • Global Collaborator

Trend 1 - Re-thinking content delivery

Trend 2 - Analytics and

Trend 3 - Mobile, Mobile, Mobile Assess, Evaluate and Use - assess your learning needs, evaluate what tech etc you need and use.

Trend 4 - Coding and Creating - looking at coding and ability to modify.

Trend 5 - Makerspace - be kids and learn through play.

Trend 6 - Virtual reality,

Trend 7 - Wearables - sports trackers... Knowing when and why of turning off.... (Interesting after reading the article in the ODT yesterday around fitbit use... Using trackables for learning, and to expand our instruction...

Trend 8 - Gamification - learning through play!  Bringing play back into the classroom!

Trend 9 - 3D Printing

Trend 10 - Active learning Spaces...

Set your vision, know the trends that will suit your purpose...

Avoid tech trends that fizzle out - how? The visioning is so important here.  Have a very clear vision of what the needs are and what you want to achieve.

Okay, so after after this webinar I am reflecting on the trends identified here, and CORE's ten trends...
CORE Education's Ten Trends 2016

Lots for me to reflect on and revisit here..

Next up on my day - feeding me - with PLD...
Strategic Roadmap webinar with the CLA team...

The strategic thinking roadmap – supporting the development of your digital technologies action plan
3 21st Century Imperatives - at the heart of the why?
  1. Pervasiveness of technology in our lives!  (Nigel Latta's show was a wonderful insight into screenagers in this light). 
  2. The science of learning - 7 principles of learning.
  3. The changing nature of teaching and learning.  
5 Key concepts
  1. Always start with your purpose and principles
  2. Link your planning to teaching and impact on learners
  3. Champion inquiry and innovation
  4. Planning needs to be informed by research and data
  5. Ensure a school-wide commitment to continual professional growth.
8 Essential Planning Strands - Weaving the Strands
  • Powerful pedagogy
  • Intentional leadership
  • Innovative learning environments
  • Purposeful curriculum
  • Learning partnerships
  • Robust digital infrastructure
  • Expanded teacher capacity
  • Coherent digital services
Reflective questions - pdf or available on each of the eight planning strands

WOW what a mind blowing day of learning!

And to cap of a totally MAGIC day I get to have an amazing session with Hazel.
A reflection on my recent times and thoughts is a whole new post.... and this one needs revisiting and fleshing out, but for now, I want to share the MAGIC of my day!