DFI Week 6 Computational Thinking@Mindlab, GIsborne.

Computational Thinking  - Mindlab Gisborne

What a day!

Today introduced me to a significant number of new skills and programmes that are available for our students to use. We were lucky to have David Winter from the Manaiakalani trust join us for the day at the Gisborne Mindlab. David spoke to us about the importance of having visible learning and teaching. How that, at times, digital technologies can  actually erect barriers and how import it is to ensure that access is easy for all involved. 

We need to add to this visual our community and whanau. I think engaging with community is one of the unsung components of the learn, create, share pedagogy.   It is exciting to think of how we can engage with our communities through this medium.

I had only once before done any kind of coding -  and it was pretty basic stuff! Today we wrote algorithms and code using pencil and paper, and moved onto the Light Bot app (which was great fun!). Both of these activities I could see being used in the Junior end of the primary school. Sometimes what we are shown doesn't 'fit' with the junior school students' abilities or needs so it was good to experience activities and apps that catered for our younger pupils. We quickly moved into more sophisticated coding and then into virtual reality. 

Playing with the co-space app and doing some basic coding (for the first time ever) was fun. My buddy Sharyn and I managed to input some basic coding into our virtual world. AND I do mean basic however they moved and clapped and cheered and had speech bubbles... it was enough for us!

From here I would like to investigate the scratch app.I haven't seen it in use but have heard that it can be used with the younger learners. So another thing to put onto my 'to-do' list.

I think what I am going to pursue is making some resources in the Explain Everything app for my students to use independently in the class. I am quite keen to make a bank of resources that link to the high frequency word focus and the beginning level spelling lists so that the students are working on learning that is relevant to their needs.

Day Three DFI - Creating and Collaborating

Day 3 DFI - Creating and Collaborating

Creativity empowers the learning and the learners. A key foundational goal of the Manaiakalani initiative is to 'motivate learners to engage with the curriculum' and one powerful way is to ignite their creativity. Creativity is not focused on the end product but on the PROCESS that the students engage in as they work, often collaboratively, on creating a vehicle through which they can share their learning.

                                                                                   

via GIPHY

Igniting the learning through audio, visual and movement (SISOMO) is a dynamic way to help teachers foster student engagement and promote the learning. Allowing students choice through which they create is also important. There are many varied mediums for the students to engage through.

Students learn through DOING (creating) - when you give the students something to do, learning occurs through the doing (creating).

My personal learning today was a series of roller coaster rides... at times I was all up in the air not knowing what I was supposed to be doing  -  hanging on for dear life and waiting for the plummet into confusion and angst! At other times it was smooth going with merciful bends and gentle hills and valleys and I was keeping up and understanding!

 However the best part of the day was when I persevered and managed to create a little something on a google site! Was so impressed with myself as I was feeling very challenged by the pace of the new learning today! I think, for me, I need to find the time (haha) to play with the tasks and see what I can do and what I need to ask for further help with.

The concept of using google sites as a co-operative and collaborative planning tool with the team at school is quite exciting. Having all the resources there at a clink of a link seems to me to be the way forward. I am hoping to use this tool at the end of the term when we have our team planning meeting for term 4's learning. I am sure my colleagues will love having almost everything in the one place. What I would also like to investigate further is using google slide as a tool for engaging our NE  students with the learning...using symbols to help them traverse the links and have simple activities for them to complete.