On line P.D, or face to face courses?
I have just looked at the online P.D. on digital citizenship. This is certainly a worthwhile option. No fees. no need to be away from the class. I feel the balanced approach is best. Some online and some face to face, or conferences.
http://ictpd-digital-citizenship-and-cybersafety.wikispaces.com/
take a look, what do you think
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
New school year, New Wiki
New school year at Woodville and a new class wiki. I Have bee using shuttlefly to store and share photos. Works well and very fast to upload.
http://room4woodvilleschool.shutterfly.com/
New Wiki for 2010.
http://woodville-room-four.wikispaces.com/
Also created a wiki for the teachers, as a place to access resorces.
https://woodville-teachers.wikispaces.com/comic+life
http://room4woodvilleschool.shutterfly.com/
New Wiki for 2010.
http://woodville-room-four.wikispaces.com/
Also created a wiki for the teachers, as a place to access resorces.
https://woodville-teachers.wikispaces.com/comic+life
Friday, October 2, 2009
Givealittle
Givealittle
Posted using ShareThis
Here is a quick way to donate to the people of Samoa.
I am sure a few dollars will help.
ICT Support
My position at Woodville School includes providing ICT support for the staff. The desired outcomes will be, greater use of ICT by students and teachers. Better engagement by students, staff will increase their skill in using ICT, staff will be made aware of resources.
Where to start?
I decided to start a Teachers' wiki. A place to put resources, and hopefully for the staff to add to.
Many thanks to Innes Kennard for adding things.
Take a look, I would love some feed back and ideas of stuff to add.
http://woodville-teachers.wikispaces.com/
Where to start?
I decided to start a Teachers' wiki. A place to put resources, and hopefully for the staff to add to.
Many thanks to Innes Kennard for adding things.
Take a look, I would love some feed back and ideas of stuff to add.
http://woodville-teachers.wikispaces.com/
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Bush District Education Plan
Moral is low at school. The Bush District Education plan proposals have really shocked us as a staff. The proposal to close Woodville School and establish a new school on the same sight seems to me to be so unfair.
This week a community member organised a community march to support the schools and show our feelings. It was great to see so many people out there to support the schools and community.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2732797/Community-goes-on-the-march-for-its-schools#share
This week a community member organised a community march to support the schools and show our feelings. It was great to see so many people out there to support the schools and community.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2732797/Community-goes-on-the-march-for-its-schools#share
Sunday, July 19, 2009
catching up
I have neglected google reader for a few weeks, only to find more than 100 new feeds. Taking a quick flick this caught my eye.
Is your classroom a quality learning environment where students are able to 'seek, use and create their own knowledge' as it states in the 'new' New Zealand Curriculum?
Here are some questions to focus on.
1 Are your students self managing able to set and achieve their own goals, or plans, and able to show continual quality improvement in all they do ( in Japan this incremental growth is called 'kaizen').
2 Do you 'negotiate' ( to ensure 'ownership') with the students what is expected in any learning task and demonstrate these expectations by 'focused teaching', 'scaffolding' ( giving temporary help), modelling, demonstrating or 'thinking aloud'?
3 Do you make use of literacy time to teach 'seeking , using and creating' skills needed to work independently when involved in inquiry learning. Some call this idea of developing prior understanding, or skills, 'front loading', or 're framing' literacy and numeracy, to service inquiry learning.)
4 Do students appreciate that creativity and quality are more important than quantity; to appreciate the need to 'do fewer things well' and where to improve on their 'personal best' is internalized?
5 A a teacher have you defined, with students, how to design and present their research and language work and does the students' book work show continual improvement ('kaizen'') both in presentation and quality of ideas? Some schools have 're-invented' students' books as a form of 'portfolio' to send home to demonstrate growth to parents during the year.
6 As a teacher to you see the need to cover fewer topics in depth so as to ensure depth understanding rather than trying cover too many things superficially?
7 Are you as a teacher, and are your students, aware of the strategies involved in any activity and are students able to articulate what it is they are doing and why?
8 Can you , and your students, articulate the basic inquiry model being used to underpin all learning in the class ( or school)?
9 Can you, and your students, articulate the 'key competencies' ( or future learning capabilities) that all students need to internalize to become 'confident life long learners'?
10 Do you 'negotiate with' your students the criteria for assessment of any task so they can self assess their own learning and are able to set new goals. ( It is important to ensure that individual creativity is one of the criteria to avoid standardization)
11 Is there evidence that classrooms are well organised ( by tasks for language, maths and inquiry tasks defined on whiteboards or blackboards) to allow both teacher interaction ( to provide guidance and feedback) and for students to be able to work and interact independently.
12 Do the room environment displays reflect creative quality achievement across the curriculum and do these displays both celebrate and inform students finished work by using: headings, key questions, processes and evaluations as necessary. Is there evidence of both student's 'prior' and 'post' ideas?
13 Is there any evidence of agreed school, class or school communal behavioural values?
14 Do you monitor your teaching against agreed school beliefs ( or such a set of questions as these) as an integral part of self appraisal and can you show new ideas you are trialling or that you have introduced to improve your teaching?
15 Are you able to articulate the school vision, values and teaching beliefs and can the students, and their parents, do so in their own words?.
If the answers are positive for most of the above then the class is true creative learning community?
If it applies to all classrooms the school is a learning community.
check out the blog
http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/
I have been following Bruce Hammonds for years.
Is your classroom a quality learning environment where students are able to 'seek, use and create their own knowledge' as it states in the 'new' New Zealand Curriculum?
Here are some questions to focus on.
1 Are your students self managing able to set and achieve their own goals, or plans, and able to show continual quality improvement in all they do ( in Japan this incremental growth is called 'kaizen').
2 Do you 'negotiate' ( to ensure 'ownership') with the students what is expected in any learning task and demonstrate these expectations by 'focused teaching', 'scaffolding' ( giving temporary help), modelling, demonstrating or 'thinking aloud'?
3 Do you make use of literacy time to teach 'seeking , using and creating' skills needed to work independently when involved in inquiry learning. Some call this idea of developing prior understanding, or skills, 'front loading', or 're framing' literacy and numeracy, to service inquiry learning.)
4 Do students appreciate that creativity and quality are more important than quantity; to appreciate the need to 'do fewer things well' and where to improve on their 'personal best' is internalized?
5 A a teacher have you defined, with students, how to design and present their research and language work and does the students' book work show continual improvement ('kaizen'') both in presentation and quality of ideas? Some schools have 're-invented' students' books as a form of 'portfolio' to send home to demonstrate growth to parents during the year.
6 As a teacher to you see the need to cover fewer topics in depth so as to ensure depth understanding rather than trying cover too many things superficially?
7 Are you as a teacher, and are your students, aware of the strategies involved in any activity and are students able to articulate what it is they are doing and why?
8 Can you , and your students, articulate the basic inquiry model being used to underpin all learning in the class ( or school)?
9 Can you, and your students, articulate the 'key competencies' ( or future learning capabilities) that all students need to internalize to become 'confident life long learners'?
10 Do you 'negotiate with' your students the criteria for assessment of any task so they can self assess their own learning and are able to set new goals. ( It is important to ensure that individual creativity is one of the criteria to avoid standardization)
11 Is there evidence that classrooms are well organised ( by tasks for language, maths and inquiry tasks defined on whiteboards or blackboards) to allow both teacher interaction ( to provide guidance and feedback) and for students to be able to work and interact independently.
12 Do the room environment displays reflect creative quality achievement across the curriculum and do these displays both celebrate and inform students finished work by using: headings, key questions, processes and evaluations as necessary. Is there evidence of both student's 'prior' and 'post' ideas?
13 Is there any evidence of agreed school, class or school communal behavioural values?
14 Do you monitor your teaching against agreed school beliefs ( or such a set of questions as these) as an integral part of self appraisal and can you show new ideas you are trialling or that you have introduced to improve your teaching?
15 Are you able to articulate the school vision, values and teaching beliefs and can the students, and their parents, do so in their own words?.
If the answers are positive for most of the above then the class is true creative learning community?
If it applies to all classrooms the school is a learning community.
check out the blog
http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/
I have been following Bruce Hammonds for years.
Monday, July 6, 2009
game
Thanks to Suzie, I found this game on her blog and wanted to introduce it to the class, but it wouldn't work on the school computer. Oh well I will just have to play it at home. Great find.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
class blog
This term we recieved a stuffed toy from our friends at MICDS in USA. We are going to take photos of the toy, and record what it is doing on a blog. I hope this will help our friends at MICDS learn more about life at Woodville School, and in New Zealand.
take a look
http://woodybunter.blogspot.com/
take a look
http://woodybunter.blogspot.com/
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Term 2 and the wiki
last term I started a wiki for the students in my class to post their work to. The have started to reflect, and assess their work and the work of others in the class. Some parents have looked at the wiki and made comments. I have reestablished contact with a class in the USA, and we will be sharing work with them.
This term I will also be using our wiki as a place for me to introduce topics, pose questions and direct the learning.
This term I will also be using our wiki as a place for me to introduce topics, pose questions and direct the learning.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
New Class New Wiki
Today I created a new wiki for my new class. It is intended to be a show case for our learning, and a way for the class to share their learning with other.
Take a look.
https://woodville-room-five.wikispaces.com/
Take a look.
https://woodville-room-five.wikispaces.com/
Friday, February 13, 2009
2009
This year I am teaching at Woodville School. So I am no longer blogging from the small school, but from the old school. This is the primary school I attended as a child, and both of my parents also attended Woodville School. I am in a classroom in a block of classes that are the oldest classrooms in use in New Zealand.
At this stage I am still getting to know the systems in my new school, but i do intend to use Web 2 tools with this class.
At this stage I am still getting to know the systems in my new school, but i do intend to use Web 2 tools with this class.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Building a Learning-focused relationship
In preparation for starting in a new school and with a new class I have been rereading ¨Clarity in the classroom¨ by Michael Absolum. This book is a must read for all teachers.
Michael clearly states how to build a learning-focused relationship. He has included some activities to try.
Michael clearly states how to build a learning-focused relationship. He has included some activities to try.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
End of year
Another school year over. For me it brings the end of my time as a sole charge principal. This year I have been on an incredible ICT journey. I have discovered Web 2 tools, not only for my class but for my own proffessional development. I have learned so much from blogs and wikis I have visited. I really encourage others to subscribe to some blogs, and take from them what you can.
Next year I am off to another school and my journey will take a different path. I will be still following blogs and wikis to give me ideas and inspriation to take my new class on an exciting learning journey.
Next year I am off to another school and my journey will take a different path. I will be still following blogs and wikis to give me ideas and inspriation to take my new class on an exciting learning journey.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
E Pals
In May I blogged about e pals. http://www.epals.com/
For the second half of the year, my class has been connecting with a school in the states through our wikis. This has been very exciting for the kids, and has created a great learning opportunity on many levels. We received a parcel from them, and then put together some things to send to them. The kids selected some art work and two books to send. They took great pride in selecting the things to send.
https://cheltenhamsch.wikispaces.com/MICDS
Have a look at our record of the parcels.
http://geo-squirts.wikispaces.com/
Have a look at our epals wikispace. This school has connected with several school around the world, and keep track through their wiki. I think this a great idea.
Give epals a go.
For the second half of the year, my class has been connecting with a school in the states through our wikis. This has been very exciting for the kids, and has created a great learning opportunity on many levels. We received a parcel from them, and then put together some things to send to them. The kids selected some art work and two books to send. They took great pride in selecting the things to send.
https://cheltenhamsch.wikispaces.com/MICDS
Have a look at our record of the parcels.
http://geo-squirts.wikispaces.com/
Have a look at our epals wikispace. This school has connected with several school around the world, and keep track through their wiki. I think this a great idea.
Give epals a go.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Leadteachers' Day
On Monday spent the day with lead teachers for the Feilding ICTPD Cluster. Had a great day with Suzie Vesper. She showed us her leadteachers wiki. "It's on the wiki"
http://leadingict.wikispaces.com/
Thanks Suzie for another great resource.
http://leadingict.wikispaces.com/
Thanks Suzie for another great resource.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
ULearn08
What great experince, I enjoyed the whole thing.
I have gained a greater respect for twitter, over the conference. I loved the way people posted links to great wikis and sites during the conference. One way of getting something from a break out you were not attending.
Why not try twitter.
To be informed educators we need to collaboate, and share with each other.
http://twitter.com/home
Twitter is one of the top 25 must have tools. Follow the link to read more.
http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Top100Tools/twitter.html
Create your own twitter account and start to follow. You never know what you will find.
I have gained a greater respect for twitter, over the conference. I loved the way people posted links to great wikis and sites during the conference. One way of getting something from a break out you were not attending.
Why not try twitter.
To be informed educators we need to collaboate, and share with each other.
http://twitter.com/home
Twitter is one of the top 25 must have tools. Follow the link to read more.
http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Top100Tools/twitter.html
Create your own twitter account and start to follow. You never know what you will find.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Video
After much problem solving, by both pupils and teacher, this group of children finished their video, and have embedded it on their blog, and on Aimee's page on our wiki. The kids used the digital camera and movie maker to put this together.
This inquiry learning project promoted the skills of team work and problem solving.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d9bf95ea0e85a90c125c
"Inquiry teaching needs to be cultivated if we are to develop students able to thrive a unpredictable, but potentially exciting, 21stC. " Canadian educator Sharon Friesen.
Bruce Hammond has recently blogged about Sharon Friesen's ideas on Inquiry teaching. An interesting read. "Leading and Learning"
This inquiry learning project promoted the skills of team work and problem solving.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d9bf95ea0e85a90c125c
"Inquiry teaching needs to be cultivated if we are to develop students able to thrive a unpredictable, but potentially exciting, 21stC. " Canadian educator Sharon Friesen.
Bruce Hammond has recently blogged about Sharon Friesen's ideas on Inquiry teaching. An interesting read. "Leading and Learning"
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Video
Sometimes things just don't work out as you expect, and you are forced into another direction. Is this problem solving?
I couldn't get the video camera to talk to the computer, even though I know I have done this in the past. So the group of children who were making a video had to be redirected onto plan b. I introduced them to PhotoStory3. I am sure this will do the trick.
One of the other members of the Feilding ICT Cluster had put a post on the cluster wiki about photostory. Thanks Jenny it is so easy to use.
Have a look at our cluster wiki. Under school showcase there are some interesting things being shared.
http://feildingictcluster.wetpaint.com/
I couldn't get the video camera to talk to the computer, even though I know I have done this in the past. So the group of children who were making a video had to be redirected onto plan b. I introduced them to PhotoStory3. I am sure this will do the trick.
One of the other members of the Feilding ICT Cluster had put a post on the cluster wiki about photostory. Thanks Jenny it is so easy to use.
Have a look at our cluster wiki. Under school showcase there are some interesting things being shared.
http://feildingictcluster.wetpaint.com/
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Conservation Week
This week is conservation week. To help the children refocus on the enviromental work we had done in the past, I introduced them to two great sites.
Tree People
http://treepeople.co.nz/Home.mvc/
The children had a lot of fun joining this site, inviting friends and family to join them. They each made a pledge that would help the enviroment.
My pledge is to recycle paper, and take reusable bags to the supermarket. I am getting there!
I really recommend this site to other classes.
The other site we used was the conservation site. There are great videos on there that were easy to watch. We found one about Turakina Beach, which we had visited a few weeks ago to plant Pingao.
Another site well worth a visit.
www.conservationweek.org.nz
Tree People
http://treepeople.co.nz/Home.mvc/
The children had a lot of fun joining this site, inviting friends and family to join them. They each made a pledge that would help the enviroment.
My pledge is to recycle paper, and take reusable bags to the supermarket. I am getting there!
I really recommend this site to other classes.
The other site we used was the conservation site. There are great videos on there that were easy to watch. We found one about Turakina Beach, which we had visited a few weeks ago to plant Pingao.
Another site well worth a visit.
www.conservationweek.org.nz
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