DFI 9 Revision and the EXAM - 18/09/2020

 The big day has arrived. I was feeling nervous - mainly about the unknown really - how to get onto the exam platform - what the questions and scenarios would be like. The nerves were zipping around. 

I was blocked from entering the exam - more nerves!

15 minutes later, after a walk around, I tried again.  Success!

I felt like the multi choice questions went OK - There were a few that I second guessed myself on though?

I panicked during the initial stages of the 11 scenario questions - relaxing into these would have been a much smarter thing to do.  There were a few tasks and scenarios that I forgot to pushed the review later button for -and was not able to go back and fix these up unfotunately. 

When I got the chance to review questions - they suddenly looked clearer - so having that opportunity was great.

I submitted the exam at the end - however I'm not sure if that worked  - as it said that it crashed - then it started glitching, trying to redirect me to the exam - I really hope that submitting it actually sent it - or else I will feel robbed.

Done and dusted DFI - What a ride - 
I can definitely say I have learnt plenty - I have taken lots back to the classroom - feel more confident with Google - there is still much to learn -  to evolve with.

Thanks to Dorothy, Kelsey and the rest of the facilitaion team!!

DFI Session 8 - Computational Thinking - 11/09/2020

 Computional Thinking.

Using devices is not Empowering - Having Agency over your learning is using devices to create something after having learnt how to use the App.

Coding is a very important thing for our students to be using and Creating with - as these skills will be ones they need to have in the future and in the now.

I enjoyed the Kia Takatu programme - the lessons on this site are clear and interesting - not too long. I will continue to work through these lessons.

Coding practice was fun to play around with - I will work with my students next week on scratch to see where their skill levels are at.

I need to look at the videos on the Google Exam to gain insights and figure  out what  that entails for next weeks session. I have booked into an 8:30 pm session as this was the earliest. I need to figure out how to reschedule this to be on demand - When is the latest I am allowed to do this?  It seems like the end is nigh for DFI  - I have learnt plenty - but also realise there is lots I missed and need to keep working at.

Looking forward to the EXAM !!!

DFI Session 7 - DEVICES - 4th September 2020.

 Manaiakalani 1:1 Devices ideology - There needs to be equity for all with IPads and Chromebooks - This makes life better and easier. 

We learnt about the background of device use over the last 10+ years. Why  Cybersafety  is important - Smart and Secure. New students to Cybersafety need specific lessons around this to make sure they are consistently aware of the Kaupapa - Empower our learners with the Kawa of care.

The different shortcuts we learnt are helpful in quickly doing tasks and making thinhs happen.

Short cut keys guide =  Ctrl /  gives you a range of helpful tips

Screen Castify Recording = Cyber Smart Values  

Screen Castify Recording = Manaiakalani Cybersmart Components.

I enjoyed experimenting with Explain Everything   - It was a fun, fast way of creating and using ideas.

I did get a bit lost with the Blogger component at the end there Kelsey - Maybe you can walk me through that later on?

It was very interesting being in the shoes of our learners - seeing and feeling what it is like to be on these devices. The tips and shortcuts are something I will be sharing on Monday morning.

DFI Session 6 - Enabling Sites - 28th August 2020

 The  focus today was to look at Class/ Syndicate/ HUB/ School Sites - and analyse what looks great, works well as far as clicking and accessibility goes. We were also asked what wasn't so great - what could be worked on to make it better and easier to use. 

There were certain things that I took from this session to bring back to our HUB Site and make it better.

Big clear buttons for various aspects of the blog made it easy to click on the part you were wanting to go to. Not too much information on the page, as that would confuse the viewer. Planning for groups in various Curricula could be helpful when students are looking to find their Mahi.

It was good to get some critical feedback around how accessible our Kereru HUB Site looks and feels for other teachers. I was able to take this on board, and make or plan to change the Site with Tim  and Emma.

I realise the importance of having the Site as a living document that is used daily, and not referred back to on occassions. I will endeavour to add planning to this Site too - as I feel this will help the teachers and students organise their time and learning more efficiently.

Two thirds of the way through our programme now, and things continue to evolve fluidly. Looking towards the next few weeks, and the looming Test at the end - I'm wondering what that will entail, and how much heads up we'll recieve? The information we were given the other session around sheets made us all feel more aware.

I've just noticed that there are some hot tips for the exam - Yah!

DFI Session 5 August 21st 2020

 Today has been great - Learning a few tips and tricks about Google Sites. I enjoyed creating a new one from scratch to practice the skills necessary to make one. I feel like I can contribute way more confidently and effectively with our Kereru HUB Site from now on.

I thought the time we were given today to CREATE a Multimodal Database  that we will be able to use Deeper and Wider in T shaped literacy was very useful. I created a Database that centres around Changes that need to made at Makauri School -  that were identified by our students. They will be able to access this Sheet - and use it as a base for their Research in a Reading/Inquiry Context. 

I will make sure I go to the SHARING tab in HAPARA to check on Students work - making sure they are labelling them appropriately.

It is great to feel like it is beginning to all come together with these apps and their application. We are more than half way through this course now, and I am feeling more fluent with each session.  

Manaiakalani Create Session August 17th 2020

2020 -The year of the revised digital curriculum. Learn - CREATE - Share. We got together today with the Tairawhiti Cluster Schools for a create session. "What the Duck" - I used the Skills that Amie taught me in the last DFI Friday session. This was a fun afternoon that was helpful in making those skills more solid for me.

DFI Session 4 August 14th Dealing with Data.

What an interesting way to spend a birthday!! It was really good to have an intense look at Google Forms - I can see this being very beneficial to my Sports Co-ordination role when it comes to collecting different information that the different codes require each year. I will get my students to create Forms next week to practice this skill and see where we can go from there. I have looked at Google maps before - I must admit I got a bit lost along the way with this session, which was frustrating. I did manage to find my way back to some sort of understanding eventually - as with all Google Apps, you just need to try things out and you're generally OK - or you find your way to some different learning. We have been using Google Sheets in our HUB for a while - But I am not the one who has been creating and administering these. I can see now having used them today where the different functions are found. Latham was great at guiding me through some of the functions that will be most helpful for our HUB with data analysis. The exam support section of the day was great. I have heard lots of stories about the exam - it is good to know what the expectations of this will be - and how to tackle them - less scary maybe? It was good to create graphs with real information from my Blog. I can use this in an ongoing way. I am happy that I have been a part of this programme for the last month. We are again coming to a strange time in the history of our country and world - I feel like I am even more capable and confident in guiding my students through distance learning if that is what is going to happen. There are many resources and skills I can pass on in the coming weeks - however that needs to be delivered.

DFI Session 3 Friday 7th August 2020 -MEDIA.

Well - Another very intensive day today! I enjoyed the discussions and presentations. Something that stood out for me was the quote about students understanding 75% of what they see, hear, and DO! I picked up lots of tips and tricks around Google Slides, Drawings, and also YouTube. I will definitely utilise slides next week, taking students through these tips and tricks to give them the knowledge and learnings I picked up today. Polylines were tricky for me - They continue to frustrate me when I take lots of time to creat a shape around a picture, only to double click on them which means I have to start again. Shortcuts are great e.g Ctrl D when in a Google meet to mute/unmute, Ctrl D when in a slide to duplicate a shape, slides.new in the URL bar to quickly start a new slide ( doc.new for a new Doc? - I'll find out). Adding audio and video to slides is going to also be helpful - I will use this in next weeks lesson when we create characters that will be able to portray great relationship messages for other students. I feel like I am learning plenty - again, it's about applying it where it is going to be effective as well as permanent learning.

Slide ART From Amie's Lesson

DFI Session 2 31st July 2020

Digital Intensiveness - Another day that was jam packed full of focus and new learnings. I enjoyed hearing and being reminded of the R = Recognise A = Amplify T = Turbo Charge E = Effective practice I am reminded of things like coding and using interactive videos to help learners gain better understandings - Transforming the way we learn by offering new experiences. Google Meets - It was great to practice the skills of using these throughout the day - I must admit I was a bit flustered at times ( Kelsey was great in guiding me to the right place when necessary - Thanks!) Recording meetings was a helpful tool - Sharing screens in different ways was also helpful to know and practice. I enjoyed learning about Google KEEP - this was a new app for me - and definitely something to try at School, and in everyday life. Looking at Gmail was enlightening - learning new tricks like scheduling emails at different times as well as setting it up better was great. Google Calendar is something that I would like to use better after this session -again it is something that needs to be used regularly to be easy and effective. I fould ONE TAB a brilliant addition to my Chrome extensions - I am one of those people that sometimes finds 30 odd tabs open - so this will be a helpful addition to my organisation. It was great to get an easy explanation about embedding videos onto a Blog post - I have found this hard in the past. Generally, today was interesting, well paced, and beneficial to me as a learner, and as a teacher.

Day 1 DFI 2020

Day 1 DFI 24th July 2020

 I enjoyed the sessions today - They moved very quickly, but I thought the different presenters kep it interesting. I thought the small group sessions were valuable for me, as I could ask any questions that I had around the lessons from the larger group sessions. There were times also when I learnt from the other participants' questions in these smaller sessions, learning together.
 Professionally, there was learning, and relearning around Google Docs, and Google Drive. Lots of the special features are great - I will have to make sure I use these lots so they become easy to remember.
For the learners in our HUB, I will make sure I see where they are at Digitally - the Scavenger Hunt was a great idea, and I think this will show their understanding as well as provide learning in the Theme we are studying at the time.
We need to make sure our learners are getting the best teaching - so they can move on to Intermediate prepared for the challenges they will face there. This programme will help me provide better digital fluency for students.
The ideas and learnings from this programme will help me organise my planning better, give me ideas to use, and give me more time to use in my personal life - therefore relieving stress, and generally making me a happier, healthier person.