DFI 8 - 23 May 2019 - Devices

What have I learnt this week?

This week I had to problem solve a few things. I shared a form with my Year 7/8 class in Hapara and ended up giving them editing rights which meant that they couldn't submit the form. I then changed the way I shared it with them by using the link and they have been able to fill in the form. I also used sheets to help me make a table with the Kamar passwords for my new yr 7/8 class. I was also really pleased to be able to publish my site and share it with my senior class to have a look at. It has a few things that need to be changed but I have managed to get over the psychological hurdle of being visible.

Being Cybersmart

Learning to be at home in a digital world. This is very important with the world we are living in today. Many teenager's need to learn to ask - Do I keep it private or is it something I would share?
Having the Kawa of Care being developed with your community makes it more relevant and means the whanau have a connection to it. We have to train ourselves to use the language of the kawa of care so we are continually referring to it and normalising it. This also can help us make connections with the cyber smart community.  

Hapara 

Even though I use Hapara, I don't feel like I know how to use it very well. Today I learnt how the folders work and also what we as teachers can see on it. I was amazed to see that we can access the students blogs as well as their files. I will be using this in my Maths class. Now that I know that every student has a blog set up I can use this in my Maths class. I would also like my Junior Music classes to do a blog as well.

Devices - Partners, participation. Protection

Just a short look at how this fits in with the Learn, Create, Share kaupapa. It was a reminder that we need to keep our learning Ubiquitous, Visible, Connected so we can empower the students to be better learners.

Digital Dig 

I really enjoyed this and will go back and complete it. I need to make sure I know how to do everything so that I can make sure the students know how to do it. One thing I think would be good to know is what skills the students need to know. Maybe we should have a skills list which could be like a digital drivers licence for learners to complete. This could be something they need to be able to complete and give the skills they will need for the outside world when they leave. 

Explain everything 

This is an app on the iPad which is good for young learners and languages. Students are able to record into it. I would not use this in my classes at all but it was interesting to see what it could do.

Screencastify

Wow! This was not as difficult as it seemed. I was a bit nervous about doing this today and now think it could be something I could do with showing students how to use new software. Little video's like this could be used to explain concepts and how to navigate websites easier than writing instructions. I'm thinking I could use it for Mixcraft, Incredibox, Sibelius and maybe how to work the sound equipment. 

Today I did a screencastify on how to surf the net safely, using SMART tools.

I have realised this week that I have really found an increased zest for learning which is very exciting. I have spent the last 8 weeks improving my own digital skills and now really want to see how I can use them in my classes. I would like to be able to do more in my Maths class but know I am really pushed for time. This will take a bit of thinking and reflecting on how to do this.

I am looking forward to the last week and sitting the google test and I am sad that it will be finishing.