DFI 6 - 9 May 2019 - Dealing with Data

Connected - the Manaiakalani focus for the week.

The shared kaupapa has helped to create close connections with schools in ways other than just on a digital level.
A wide variety of schools now involved in Manaiakalani kaupapa. The connections across the clusters mean that we are always able to find others who can help. The shared language is very helpful.
Generally schools decide to collaborate in their teaching and learning. A trust is set up to support the schools and communities. It can't really be just a come and try situation.
Countrywide PD - Term 1 - Learn, Term 2 - Create, Term 3 - Share, Term 4 - bring all together
There is a Manaiakalani Cluster Twitter account. Illegal for students to be on Twitter but there is a way for students blog posts to be put on this account.
Tuhi Mai Tuhi Atu (write to me, write to others) - sign up to be involved, a way to look at different classes blogs, so that the audience can be extended. Good for kids to be able to connect with a different world. A good way to write thoughtful, helpful comments.
Online toolkits - a way to do some more PD - run by Manaikalani facilitators and teachers. The are video'd so you can watch them later. Using Hangouts.

If we are connected we need to share as well - we can't only take. Sharing is our way of giving.

This is my takeaway from today. I would like to be able to share more of my work and will be working on my site to get it up and running as soon as possible. I feel that this will actually make me be more accountable for my teaching and really think about the learning of my students. I would like my students to start to use blogger to reflect on their own learning journey in Music and also in Maths.

Google Forms

Can be used for surveys and assessments. The data is made into graphs and can then be exported into sheets. Can add Youtube clips, photos, etc Use checkboxes for multiple answers. Need to check the settings so that you get the data that you want. Email addresses are helpful so you know who has completed. Can embed it, send as a link or email.
Hover over a graph and you will see a doc in the top right corner which means you can copy it and save it in docs. Can turn off the responses when you don't want it closed.

Here is the google form I have made for my Year 7/8 classes. I have decided to change my program for my next option change so that they are able to assess themselves at the beginning and then again at the end of the time. I think that if I am able to make this change then they will not get into the downward spiral of only working towards an assessment.

Google MyMaps

Not the same as Google maps. Using recent in google is very helpful when finding docs you've been working on.
Not sure I would use this in class and I would need to have a real play with it. Although it would be good for measurement in Maths using real life situations. A watch this space area.

Google Sheets

Can freeze by dragging down the thick gray line.
Can change the width of the columns by highlighting the table and then dragging the final column back. All columns will change automatically.
Basic Sum and Average - =SUM(A2,L2) or =AVERAGE(B2, H2). You can drag and highlight the cells you want to have in the SUM or AVERAGE. This will carry on the formula automatically. Use the functions key to help with formulas. It is next to the functions icon.
Top Left empty cell is like a Select All on the sheet
To see filter view click on the filter icon - looks like an sieve.
Today I learnt how to crop a sheet so the data can be put onto a doc our included in a report without all the extra columns and rows. I also learnt how to move a chart onto a separate sheet. I was able to get a better understanding of how to use .csv data so that it can be upoaded into NZGrapher. I could have used this for the Census and School's data and may yet do this. Just need to work out how this is done.

DFI Day 5 - 2 May 2019

Enabling Access - Sites

Visible teaching and learning - can we see it, can anyone see it?
Often success is based on reading the mind of the teacher - I have found this especially in Music theory and Maths.

If learning is to be visible then what needs to be private? Some schools don't want students names on their sites. I have learnt that I need to have separate folders which are able to be viewed by anyone with the link so that my documents are visible if they are on the site. I have started to include an admin folder within my curriculum folders for my assessment schedules, tasks, etc.

Sites is a place for the whole learning journey. I think this is easier for Curriculum areas that do more structured learning. In music we are doing a lot of practical work and this is hard to show on the site. I am loathe to put up videos. However the students can share any videos on their own blog.

Have the work accessible, available and put it on in advance. There should be no surprises. Need to make sure that there are no barriers. When my site was shown to the class today there were documents that were needing to request access which isn't great. I have now fixed that problem

Google Class on Air the ultimate visibility in teaching and learning - I'm not sure I would be brave enough to do this but will have a look at the examples

Try to teach the students to not resolve the comments on docs so that the feedback is shown. This is a great thing to try and teach students - I have already had students in my Maths class resolving comments that I had put on their work and Learning Journals. I think this will be quite difficult because I know it is good to see a clean page.

Use png/jpeg image on drawing to create buttons. I have been trying to do this and have found that the text comes out a little fuzzy and that I need to be careful about how images are embedded so that I can add links to the other pages.

I have decided that I have a lot to do on my site and it will take a fair amount of time.

Some feedback that I got today about my site.

I am really enjoying this time to expand my digital skills and look forward to next week!