Techie Brekkie - Creating QR Codes using Google Sheets

This term I will be holding fortnightly 'Techie Brekkies' for staff. Each session will run on Wednesday's mornings for 15-20 minutes before school. They are completely optional and open to all staff.

This week we will be looking at using the QR Code Generator in Google Sheets

Digital Readiness Programme - Kia Takatū ā-Matihiko

This year I have been really slack with my blog. Actually, I've been pretty crap at posting to it. There is no point dwelling on the past and stalling in the present... onwards and upwards.

I have just finished a Pīkau (toolkit) on computational thinking. Here are a few examples of where I see CT and how it applies to my world.

In my world, computational thinking is evident in the way take my groceries inside. I take all of the groceries inside in one trip (even though it feels like my fingers are being torn off) so I can spend more time putting the groceries away and avoid wasting time on extra trips to the car. I also see some of the computational thinking behind my devices

• having an app called 'gallery' that takes me directly to my photos rather than trawling through files
• creating shortcuts on my old desktop computer to speed up access to programmes

With regards to teaching and learning

• classroom routines - students handing out books, lining up for class photos or position on the mat for a fast exit or quick access to something 
• maths/literacy - alphabetical order, patterns, effective peer-assessment, reading comprehension strategies

If you are interested in the Digital Readiness programme you can access it here. It's free to sign up, simple to navigate and loaded with amazing examples to help guide you along your journey towards Digital readiness.

Effective Mentoring with Phil Spriggs

I sat down to write a quick reflection on our workshop today but for some reason, my fingers had a mind of their own. They ended up writing an opening blog post for 2018 on oral language. Crazy.

So I've quickly recorded a couple take-aways from today's session, including my goal. Yes, if you listen to this you will see that I forgot my goal. However, I put that down to me not referring to my notes.

Opening Post 2018

Wow, we are 18 years into the 21st Century. The demand for innovation, creative thinking and student agency is at an all-time high. I believe opportunities for rich discussions underpin the ability to develop higher order thinking skills that enable the effective use of such a skill set.

The way we use oral language in the classroom is more than shared news or a timetabled block to answer questions from the teacher. In its early stages, it involves planned discussions where students have the opportunity to speak their mind, have their views respected, built upon and challenged. It's important to step back and let those silent moments shine in all their awkward glory, breaking the stigma 'silence' meaning you are dumb. Those 'brain fart' moments need to be embraced and seen as opportunities to connect and flesh out ideas.

Facilitating such discussions can be difficult. We need to let go of the reigns and allow the students to direct the discussion. How can we plan for something so broad? We can generate a big idea to be discussed or better still, co-construct it with our students. Provide a variety of resources (multi-modal) that can be easily accessed, be prepared to challenge views through effective questions and openly accept that we won't know all the answers.

I must acknowledge that my understanding of oral language continues to be disrupted and reshaped alongside Jacinta Oldehaver and her research into Effective Dialogic Practices in the classroom. So watch this space!

Connect Four - STOP.... sharing time!

Kia Orana. I am currently sitting amongst an amazing group of educators here at Waikowhai Primary School for our Ako Hiko Cluster meeting. Our task today is to connect four... yes, as in the game connect four but better!

Below you will see my 'Connect Four' game board. It's a simple, straightforward and easy way to collect evidence and build your presence online as a connected learning educator.

How to play
After participating in one of the tasks, you add a link to evidence of the task then shade in the box. Once you have 'connected four' you win, start your winning streak. By winning streak I mean that you 'connect four' and win. Then the OCD teacher in you makes you want to connect five, six... nine until you just want to complete the board.. or is that just me?

The world of 'sharing' 
Sharing online is like going for a swim at the beach. It's a place where you can easily sit back and admire the ocean of knowledge. Sometimes we get really comfortable and just sit there without getting in. Yet we are more than happy to help ourselves to the abundance of resources.

Personally, I walk into the ocean and go through stages of breathlessness and fear as the water rises. Prior to completely submerging I usually go through a split second of anger when people think splashing me will help me get in faster. In all honesty, the splashing works. Whether you're just the 'dip your toes in' kind of person or the 'fast walk and plunge' type, this game board is the splash you need to get yourself out there sharing your work.

It is a fantastic way share your learning online without that daunting feeling. Before you know it, sharing becomes second nature.

Thank you to Gerhard for sharing this with us today and thank you to Mark and the team for creating this board and giving me the splash I needed to get back into it.

Reflection sheet

Hello everyone. Haven't shared in a while.

This is a reflection sheet I have created to help students record evidence of any learning done using online learning tools eg Reading Eggspress, Prototec or Mathletics.

Feel free to use, ignore or give feedback

Have a happy week nine!

SPARK MIT's final hui

I cannot believe this is the final SPARK MIT16 hui. Wow time flies when you are riding the learning wave (cheesy I know).

This year has been amazing thanks to the support from SPARK and Manaiakalani. As a result of their funding I have grown as a professional, developed an inquiry that I can see building into a whole school focus and built some fantastic learning networks. I still remember feeling star-struck at our first hui because I was sitting amongst so many phenomenal educators and I could say that I knew teachers from Pt England School (had only seen their amazing work but never met any of the staff in person, until SPARK MIT16).

Today I created a ‘Thinglink’ to give you access to the different dimensions of my inquiry.

I would like to thank Lynne LeGros and the SPARK Foundation for their ongoing support this year. They are amazing people who have students at the heart of their intentions and are always willing to fund innovation and creativity to support our students. Their initiatives are based on the here and now to serve all communities...watch this space.

I would like to extend another thank you to Dorothy, Juanita and the Manaiakalani Education Trust for the opportunity to create a focussed inquiry with funded supports. As part of this programme I was funded to attend ULearn 16 and present my ignite talk which allowed me to gain recognition for my efforts and extend my personal learning networks. Thank you again.

So is SPARK MIT for you?
If you are innovative, committed to raising student achievement, open to feedback, willing to take risks and delve into the unknown… then yes this is for you. SPARK and Manaiakalani funded twelve release days so I could inquire into raising student achievement in reading. The allocation of these twelve days was flexible and allowed me to continue my inquiry whilst teaching full time. They gave me the opportunity to research the importance of oral language and gather data to drive my inquiry. Along with these funded release days I was lucky enough to meet once a term with the SPARK MIT16 group at SPARK HQ. Having the opportunity to meet with like-minded educators and bounce ideas off each other was fabulous. The feedback I received from Dorothy and Juanita was clear, constructive and well informed. I highly recommend applying for SPARK MIT17. If next year isn’t your year to inquire then keep this in mind for 2018!