Toasting Pauline for such a kind act today!

Today is day 16 in my 'new lifestyle'... Can you imagine how it felt to go to drinks after school today to find that the school secretary got grapes and carrots for nibbles.  Some people just do the kindest things.  I would like to toast Pauline - MAGIC!

ICOT - International Conference on Thinking

Please join me at the International Conference on Thinking in Wellington in January 2013.

This is an opportunity to hear from cutting edge thinkers, researchers and practitioners who are drawn from such fields as education, health sciences, the arts, sciences, sports, government and business.

The conference themes of 'Future Survival', 'Future Society' and 'Personal Futures' impact on everyone, from all disciplines.

Over the five days of the conference you can participate in full day master classes run by invited speakers, listen to the world leading keynote and featured presenters and participate in a stimulating programme of over 250 presentations and workshops.  Combine this with a magical 'tour' programme, artistic performances, two receptions, a conference gala dinner, and you are sure to have an unforgettable experience.  

Looking forward to starting the year on a MAGICAL thinking and learning high...

Goals and dreams...

You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.  

 C. S. Lewis

Isn't that a wonderful quote.  I am dreaming and setting new goals right now...

Strength and comfort

I know there is strength in the differences between us.  I know there is comfort where we overlap.  Anti DiFranco

Feeling the passion of 'What Ed Said'

I have been carrying key notes of this post around with me for a while now and finally I find time to reflect on it!  Ten ways to differentiate learning
I really do value this thinking and these ten steps and I want to reflect on what they mean for me.  I think I embrace new learning and ideas when I personalise it - so here goes...

• Let go - allow the learners to lead and learn and teach.
• Change your expectations - this one challenges me - my expectations are very high and I always expect the unexpected.
• Change the sequence - I liken this to Tara's concept of problem posing rather than problem solving, mix it up and flip it around.
• Use technology creatively - make the technology sing... use, create, innovate;
• Care about what matters to them - getting to know my learners all over again each term - keep up with where they are at and what motivates them;
• Assess for learning - learning is a journey, set goals, reflect and learn along the way
• Embrace inquiry as a stance - inquisitive learners are questioning, challenging and reflecting and questioning all over again;
• Don't be the only teacher - we have a range of experts across all levels and I learn with, alongside and from my students daily;
• Focus on the learning not the work - Learners know the journey and the multiple paths to success, 
• Encourage goal setting and reflection - in everything we do we attempt to set a goal, challenge ourselves and reflect on our journey...

I am so inspired by this list. Thank you for sharing Edna Sackson - you are inspiring... 

I am working my way through the ten things series...

Embrace...

Embrace relational uncertainty.  It’s called romance. 

Embrace spiritual uncertainty.  It’s called mystery. 

Embrace occupational uncertainty.  It’s called destiny. 

Embrace emotional uncertainty.  It’s called joy. 

Embrace intellectual uncertainty.  It’s called revelation. 

Mark Batterson

Clarity, Focus and Purpose...

Sometimes something happens in your life that really brings things into focus.  For me right now, this is #Ulearn12.  The entire experience, connecting, networking, sharing, learning, really brought a clarity to my purpose and direction.  I always say I am a mash-up of everything I experience. This past week has added an incredible richness to my tapestry of learning and teaching.  Many of the changes I have made are outside my teaching and learning journey, they are personal, physical, relational and monumental.  Having just completed my second session at the gym this week I have a new vision and clarity for where I am travelling.  

I have always focused on the journey as opposed to the destination and I am on an incredible journey.  The richness of interacting with inspirational educators is so important to us all.  I liken it to being plugged in and charged up for a week - charged mentally, emotionally, spiritually and strategically.  The challenge is to return to the world we live and work in and 'keep the passion'.  I am frantically chunking my new learning to make everything count.  My class are buzzing, they are benefiting from the MAGIC I have experienced.  

Pre Ulearn12 MAGIC at Matarangi

Before heading into the most intensely inspiring week of the year Barbs, Allanah and I are chilling in and around the Coromandel.

I will attempt to share some of the MAGIC since I arrived and the pre Ulearn holiday began…

Barbs picked Allanah and I up from the airport and we headed off to Pizza Box where we had lunch with Rachel.  We then meandered our way towards Matarangi caching as we went.  Oh the adventures, the giggles, the fun!  Gorgeous New Zealand scenery, great company and a very relaxed timetable – what more could we ask for? 

Finally arriving at Matarangi the true MAGIC of my beach adventure became apparent – Barbs house is “ON THE BEACH’.  I really don’t know if I have every stayed this close to the water…  What an amazing time…

I just had to swim in the ocean.  Although it was cold to get in, once I was in it was MAGIC.  I just loved it. 

There really is nothing better than watching a sunrise over the water or swimming in the ocean at daybreak or dusk.  

I swam in the ocean many times.  I gathered treasures on the beach.  We cached and coffeed, talked and toured.  We had a wonderful shopping time in Whitianga where I bought a dress for Katie’s graduation, a top and gorgeous purple sandals.  We travelled to bays, and took photos too numerous to mention.  We even fitted in time for a visit to Lost Springs Day Spa!

We had pizza on the beach with ginger beer!  We saw horses galloping in the sand.  We saw the Pohutakawa bursting into flower.  New Zealand - you really are a beautiful place.  

The true MAGIC in the adventure though, undoubtedly, was the wonderful company.  I think back to a time before I knew either of these two and I count my blessings for the richness you add to my life.  

Ulearn12

MAGIC – on the way to Ulearn again…

Here I am in Seat 13C bound for Auckland.  I can hardly believe that it is 365 days since Ulearn in Rotorua.  There sure has been a lot of water under the bridge since then….

·         I graduated with my Master of educational leadership;

·         I completed my e-learning papers out of Tasmania;

·         I got awarded a Core-ed e-fellowship;

·         I got accepted for NAPP;

·         I continued to enjoy my study leave right til the end of 2011;

·         I printed my Twitter Tour blog off as a hardback book;

·         I celebrated Christmas with my amazing family;

·         And in February I returned to school after a truly MAGICAL year.

When I returned I likened the time in class with my learners as being the sheen on my bubble.  I really do love being back with our learners.

As 2012 dawned I set about creating MAGIC out of the amazing learning journey that was 2011.  One Sunday Jane came out to school and chatted with me as I talked about my dreams for a class that fitted the needs of my learners today.  I dreamt of possibilities and together we have worked to realise many of these possibilities and more…

The most significant change has been co-constructing the learning with the learners.  We have worked to create a modern, flexible learning environment that meets our needs.  We reflect on space, light, sound, feelings and which space works best for us at set times… We have amazing conversations about the art of learning. 

BYOB was a dream I had in 2011 and it is now a reality.  My biggest fear was issues of equity.  These fears have proved unfounded as all learners have SIGNIFICANTLY greater access to online learning than I imagined possible.  Key to the start of the BYOB journey was surveying the learners and the families and engaging them in discussion and planning for our journey.  I was amazing and delighted by the challenges issued from the families and the learners.  Together we are working our way towards a blended learning environment.  Reflection on the success of BYOB from the learners clearly place it as given greater access to online time for those without their own device and ubiquity of learning and access for those with their own device.  There are so many highlights to this journey but I would like to highlight a few:

·         ANZAC visit to the local RSA with learners photographing, recording, interviewing, blogging – but really taking the learning to their extended families in a way that really hadn’t been possible until now;

·         Significantly increased engagement in reading by struggling readers engaging with their device through e-books, wiki, blogging and discovering…

·         AMAZING improvement with basic facts and maths concepts – due to access to online support and engagement;

·         Being party to learners responding with wonderment and awe as they record moments to create from, blog about or share with others;

·         Celebrating the journey of discovery as we work out new ways of doing things;

·         Independence of learning and learners – as all are challenged to contribute to learning pathways;

·         Daily discovery with our digital footprint and citizenship;

·         Working with learners to learn from and tidy up online oops;

·         Seeing learners beginning to develop their e-portfolios;

·         Greater reflection on successes;

·         Although I am not app focused and do not see apps as ‘the way’ to learning, I delight in the sharing and discovery as learners collaborate at their ‘app fests’;

·         Learning, unlearning and relearning with our devices;

·         Increased family involvement in the learner’s online world;

·         Significantly increased blogging and distance collaboration;

·         Development of responsibility for own device, learning and collaboration;

·         Google docs and forms as accepted collaborative behaviour;

·         Responding to the work of others in unprecedented ways;

·         Truly BYOB with iPads, ipods, androids, tablets, laptops,

Woohoo – what a list!  I am delighted that I took the time to record some of the MAGIC of the journey that is BYOB.  I guess it is only fair that I record some of the main challenges.

·         Technicalities – thanks to Dave this has been completely doable;

·         Trail blazing – as the only class that is BYOB it has been very important to learn from the journey ready to roll out to senior school next year;

·         Remaining steadfast to my pedagogical beliefs – it is only a tool and it is only used if it is a better, creative or innovative way to enhance our learning;

·         Making the most of this amazing journey – I look back on my timeline and realise I am only about ¼ of the way into what I planned for my first year…

·         Moving to a fully blended learning environment;

·         Continuing to challenge the learner to go beyond the horizon….

Alongside the BYOB and the learning spaces, finally running student led conferences as opposed to parent/teacher interviews has been the realisation of a long held dream.  I would now really struggle to return to the interviews.  The journey of watching the learner identify their successes and challenges and openly discuss what they need to do to meet self-set goals and the support they need from family and teacher is inspirational.

I sometimes think I learn best when I am the silent observer. 

This is only really possible when a class is in sync!  When our guidelines are in place and as a team we work to these guidelines anything is possible.  What then are our guidelines? Two very simple words thanks to Andrew Churches – RESPECT AND PROTECT!  We respect and protect ourselves, others and property (including intellectual).  With this as our mantra anything really is possible. 

So, back to the flight, here I am winging my way to Ulearn12, with a MAGICAL holiday on Matarangi beach with two very special people for a few days. 

I am eternally grateful for the privilege of being a teacher in New Zealand. 

I am eternally grateful for the privilege of networking and collaborating with the most amazing educators around New Zealand thanks to the power of Twitter.

I am uber excited to be heading to my favourite place in the whole world – the beach.

I am uber excited to be able to share a little of the MAGIC of my journey in my presentation MAGICAL mash-up at Ulearn!

Life is GOOD, very, very good. 

I am also incredibly excited to have launched a new blog this morning AK-MAGIC dedicated to the moments of MAGIC everywhere and anywhere.  

Character...

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." 

- Phillips Brooks

Learning....

In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.

- Phil Collins

AKO - teacher, learner, leader,

We have realised that we need to do a lot of work on our maths strategies.  We need to see problems and maths in a context and we need to discuss and share our strategies, our understandings and our approaches to problem solving.  Check out the action in Room 6 today!  I loved watching the learners collaborate, network, share, discuss and challenge... then teach others and work through a real range of problems.  

Sometimes a teacher learns best when she is a silent observer...

I love learning.........

I really do love learning.  Tonight I took part in the Enabling e-learning BYOD webinar: How to use mobile technologies effectively!  After a full-on school day it is pure MAGIC to connect and network and learn with other incredibly passionate educators on a similar journey.  We were treated to a glimpse of the MAGIC of the Manaiakalani Project with Dorothy Burt and the Buy your own device; then Donna Smith from St Hilda's College in Dunedin shared their BYOD Macbook journey and ipad trial in Year 7/8; rounded off with a look at the Orewa BYOD programme with Mark Quigley.
What is the MAGIC in this type of webinar? For me there are so many MAGICal components to it but I would love to hear yours:

• Choice of participation;
• Free of cost
• Relaxed and welcoming
• Relevant 
• Personal, with stories shared and journeys traveled discussed and shared
• Inspirational

I love that I can connect, in class and engage in Professional Development right when, where and how I need it.  I love that we can listen, interact, engage, chat, and learn.  I love that I can multitask while participating in a webinar.  I was able to tweet, take notes for this blog post, reply to a couple of emails, update my google calendar and stay on task with my learning.  I was discussing this with a colleague tonight and I see the future of blended learning as imminent.  Our learners interact, engage, multi task, learn, create and share.  They network, and socialise while learning.  Are we becoming more like our learners?

My key take aways from today's webinar are:

• Engage your community and keep them informed
• Learn from research
• Allow the learner their personal voice
• Engage with an authentic audience
• Expect creation
• Cater for the needs of all learners with a blended learning environment
• Be aware of issues of equity, discuss and learn from opportunities for all
• Ubiquity is essential
• Collaboration is empowering
• BYOD is simply allowing another tool to enter the arena of learning
• WWW - whereever, whenever, whatever
• Robust wireless, stable network and affordable devices are uniting to make BYOD an incredible option...

As I approach the end of the third term with a BYOD class I am in awe of the journey we are on and in awe of the potential.  What a privilege it is to be travelling this journey!

Dreams...

"Dreams are the touchstones of our character"

Henry David Thoreau

Happy Dancing....

I seem to have done an incredible amount of happy dancing this week.  It all started when we looked at some fraction assessment, then topped it off with an IKAN assessment.  Not only have we made incredible progress, we have really sharpened our focus and we are able to identify gaps, fill them and celebrate.  And celebrate we do... there was a whole lot of happy dancing - even some on the chair (to music.... very interesting choice of music though class).
We have been preparing for our second round of student led conferences and the work that goes into preparing is AMAZING.  The learners are clearly able to identify their successes and challenges and verbalise what they need to do to help themselves and what support they need.  
I looked back on my blogpost after the first round and reflected on our journey. 
In line with feedback received from the first round families were offered three options for the student led conference:

1. Fully student led
2. Student led, then time for parent/teacher discussion
3. Parent/teacher discussion only.

Interestingly I had a range of these options, all for varying reasons.  

So, tonight the second round began...

If I thought the last sessions were MAGIC, I really don't have words for tonight.  The confidence of the learner to share their learning with their family amazes and inspires me.  The learners actually know how they learn, where they learn best, when they can share their learning and when they need support.  I am totally in awe of them all.  By no means were all the conferences easy, perfect or totally straight forward - but they were all firmly focussed on the learner and the needs of the learner.  

I love student led conferences! And I love the way the learners set up the class for the conferences...

P.S. check out the 'almost complete' bottle bivy in the background....

Up in the air again…

In more ways that one I am up in the air again.  I am flying home from a MAGICal weekend in Christchurch, so I am literally up in the air.  I am bursting with new possibilities and imaginings and innovations so I am also metaphorically up in the air.  I am up above the earth, above the fog, way above the clouds, cutting through the turbulence.  I am looking down at the fluffy clouds knowing the soft landing possible for ideas that don’t ‘fly’, and looking up, seeing the infinity of opportunity. I am looking out to the east as the sun is breaking through knowing the light possible with opportunities and looking west at the mountains on the horizon knowing the importance of acknowledging intrepid terrain and majesty of opportunity. 

As I fly I recall the AMAZING ignite talk by Stephanie (traintheteacher), recalling her expression FAIL = first attempt in learning… What a wonderful concept to keep at the front of our minds as we teach and learn, unlearn, re-learn and grow through the experience.

Saturday was an amazing experience, New Zealand’s first padcamp in Christchurch.  Using my metaphor of flying, I liken the journey of mobile learning devices into the education arena as a long haul flight… We are carrying a HUGE number of passengers, we are delivering to an immense client base in our schools, we are cutting through new territory, we are realising ubiquity!  All of these concepts are remarkable, admirable, innovative and somewhat MAGICAL given that I remember carrying the battery pack for the first cell phone we used in the field with the Customs Department many years ago. My challenge is this; are we seeing a comparable change in pedagogy to match the MAGIC of the learning tool?  Are we realising the potential of mobile learning devices?  How are we ensuring they are not digital worksheets or app based fillers?  Is their professional development available to facilitate the change in pedagogy required? Are we ready?  Are we coping?  Are creating and innovating with these mobile devices?

#padcampchch was all about creative use of the iPad.  It focussed on acknowledging and realising the potential of the device to enable learners to be creative musicians, storytellers, movie-makers and more… It was run by the people for the people and the MAGIC of the day, you guessed it, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata!  The passion and potential of the device was shared in and around the room as we journeyed to create a quilt of learning opportunities shared in the SMACKDOWN and in the shared notes.  Greater than either of these though, was the opportunity for networking, connecting and collaborating with passionate educators.  Conversations and connections lead to co-operation, collaboration and creativity.  The growing surge of passion for the use of the mobile device was overwhelming.

As I am now approaching my decent out of the clouds, I know that my head will remain up here with the passion and potential of the device.  Conversations and play – yes PLAY on the devices has allowed me to return to earth with an even greater passion for the power and creativity of the device.  I cannot wait to share my new learning with my amazing class who I just know will take this learning up to the greatest heights possible.

padcampchch

What an amazing experience to be in a room with 75 educators buzzing on the first day of spring 2012...

http://educampnz.wikispaces.com/PadCamp+%28Christchurch%29

Undoubtedly the MAGIC of educamp - he tangata, he tangata, he tangata...

So much sharing and collaborating on the Google Doc for you all to check out!

So much to add to this soon....

Winging my way to #padcampchch

Here I am up in the clouds again… winging my way to the inaugural #padcampchch.  

 Just loving the illusion of the mountains and the clouds separating the land and the sky....

Just what MAGIC is in store for us today? 

Soon after the inaugural educampchch, Carol Kendall initiated  #padcampchch and I immediately booked my airfares.  Having been in Christchurch for four days last week I knew I could not afford the time for a five hour drive each way.  I also knew that I could not miss this professional learning opportunity.

I have had an iPad for over a year now and I’m running a BYOB class with a large number of students bringing iPads or iPods to class.  I am constantly in awe of the creativity and learning potential of both the learners and the tool and I am very keen to realise more potential in our use of it.  Yesterday was our class assembly and three boys in class chose to share about their use of their devices.  I loved listening to them talk about the ubiquity and ownership; the power of the device and the way they share their learning with others in little app fests.  They really are controlling the learning journey. 

I had a blended learning vision early in 2012 where the learners would be able to access learning online at anytime and face to face and collaboratively in class.  We do the face to face and in class learning well but I am still only beginning the fully blended online learning capability.   Our blog is fabulous for sharing our learning journey.  Our wiki is an amazing site where each learner is co-creating our learning journey.  Our Google sites are beginning to share the potential of a blended environment. 

I am also only baby steps along the journey of digital citizenship but every day brings an opportunity to share and discuss ownership of learning and sharing and collaboration. 

I was away from class last week and came back to find that my lovely class had not really managed their learning selves in the way they do when I am there.  It was nothing major at all, just little things like not taking responsibility for learning tasks or their individual responsibilities.  I was really disappointed and discussed it with them and staff.  My very perceptive teacher who shares my class told me to relax.  She likens my expectations of independence to senior high school.  This was a very welcome comment, as I was really beating myself up.  I was also questioning whether the learners were ‘managing themselves’ “just for me”.  Lots of great discussions and learning later and we are on a wonderful path to extending our self management. 

Looking out the window I am comparing my learner's self management to the tributaries of this river or the mash up of the patchwork quilt of fields... Certain things just have to happen to realise full potential...

Anyway – back to #padcampchch.  I am really excited about the potential of networking with amazing educators from around New Zealand.  As Jo tweeted this morning – it is MAGIC when the twitter family meet up face to face.  I am really excited about the entire focus of the day – creative use of the iPad.  This is not about the apps!  It is about using the tool to enhance learning opportunities and to empower creativity.  I often reflect on the cover of the recent interface magazine signalling the death of the desktop…. I wonder how far away we are from the death of the laptop.  The power of the iPad as a learning tool continues to amaze and inspire.

So, here I am on 1 September 2012, the first day of spring, winging my way to Christchurch on “Random Act of Kindness Day”.  A day to really ensure MAGIC happens everywhere all the time. 

I have been really unwell and my ears and nose are really blocked, my throat is aching… The wonderful air host just stopped by for a chat and MAGIC happened.  He bought me a container of carvel to sniff to clear my nose and ears and it is amazing.  They really are clearing.  So there we go… 7.35am and the first Random Act of Kindness has come my way…  

I wonder how many I can sneak in today to really make this the most special day it can really be.  We are expected into Christchurch early – so not long now til I catch-up with Jo, Tara and Pauline and we head off to Wairairi for the MAGIC of the day…

e-fellowship review

What an amazing learning journey we are on! Last Friday we took time to reflect on the journey and give advice to anyone considering applying for an e-fellowship. I cannot believe what a tight five we are.

MAGIC magnified...

Today I felt all wrapped up in the MAGIC of teaching success...
We gathered together as a full staff to moderate written language across the school.  I always thoroughly enjoy these sessions.  Is is an opportunity to really reflect on learner's progress and carefully work in new goals and next steps.  It is an opportunity to show off your learner's work and discuss your judgement of where they are at.  It is a wonderful opportunity for professional discussion and development, sharing successes and challenges. 
Today, I got a number of surprises... I was too hard on my writers... almost all of my best fit leveling was judged to be a little too harsh, and I have re-assessed them up.  
Other staff were stunned by the imagery my writers were capable off.  The way in which my writers put words together to create phrases, and phrases layered to paint a stunning image was celebrated. 
Why are my writers so successful?  I have been thinking about this a lot tonight - hence the need to blog!

My writers:

• are highly motivated;
• love creating phrases that make me dance on my chair;
• write everyday;
• choose to write as choice activity when finished tasks;
• worked enthusiastically with buddies in an extensive paired writing block;
• have set realistic goals;
• share their written language extensively: with their peers; their families; and widely on the blog - through quadblogging, 100WC, through skyping with writing motivators, collaborating with other classes,
• really involve themselves in their writing,
• love motivation...

Looking back over the past term we have really maximised our writing opportunities, so thank yous are in order...

Thank you to:

• everyone who has read and commented on our blog;
• Jill and Gill for the training for paired writing;
• Mrs Skinner for skyping us from England to motivate us for the 100WC;
• Deputy Mitchell for imagining and involving us in quadblogging;
• Deputy Mitchell for imagining and involving us in Pass the Blog;
• Rob Smith for the MAGIC of the Literacy Shed;
• Maia Walczak for the inspiration of STRAY and more...
• Mr Webb and the Melville Intermediate students who have worked on editing our written narratives...
• The Room 6 writers for the incredible motivation and MAGIC of their words...