Things I learned about Browsers and the Web

I found this jewel via the Christchurch GAFE Summit. It is an interactive experience created by Google about things you've always wanted to know about the web, but were afraid to ask. Learn about the web and browsers in this book.

~ "Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets." 

- Leonardo da Vinci ~

I am still learning

The first term of 2014 has gone by very quickly, but it was one in which I've learned and experienced many things. 

I have started the beginning of this term with high hopes and with many things to accomplish.  I had to finalize my plan on the  purpose and process of my eFellow14 inquiry, setting up and managing our new iPad Air's & supporting colleagues in doing this, starting my training as a Reading Recovery Teacher, Maths PD, SOLO Inquiry PD, iPad apps PD, Co-organising @kidsedchatnz & #ConnectedRotorua as well as EduCampRotorua.  As if this was not enough, I put my hand up to organize our first EduIgnite evening in Rotorua.

I guess I can say it has been somewhat of a roller-coaster... and that there were days that I was exhausted, but I cherished every moment.

After our first eFellow master class, I was able to plan the purpose and process of my inquiry and I am now in the exciting stage of investigating it further.

I enjoyed the new teaching approach my Reading Recovery training is taking me into.  I can already see the value of this, and has even started using some of it within my own classroom.  One challenge though, is to keep on top of all the recordings and paperwork, but I am confident that this will get easier with time, as my skills as a Reading Recovery Teacher continues to develop.

This term also saw me as part of a 'shared teaching model' (due to my Reading Recovery responsibilities), which was very new to me.  To manage planning efficiently, I've decided to set up a Google Site.  Needless to say, that this was one of the best decisions I have made at the start of this year.  Everything is organised - just the way I like it!

With three terms to go, I am looking forward to other new opportunities that are coming my way.  I know I will have fun, because I love my job, I love to teach and I love to learn.

~ "If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you.  If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you! - Anonymous ~

Adjusting the pace and approach - connect to learners' interests & experiences

Ever since attending the It's a Learners' World: Mapping a New Landscape Conference in 2013, I have been interested in how I could adjust the pace and approach to connect to my learners' interests and experiences by using personalised learning.

As I felt that this was a concept worth looking into, I followed #azedchat (Arizona Educator Chat) on Student choice and Personalised learning with great excitement to see what other educators think and do. Visiting Stonefields School and Hobsonville Point Secondary School during our first #eFellow14 master class was of great significance. I also received fantastic help and insight from Sarah, the principal at Stonefields School.

Needless to say, that I am hooked now and when Annemarie asked me by the end of our EduIgnite Rotorua session if I am going to participate in our own New Zealand #edchatnz tonight - with the topic Personalised Learning - I was all for it. I did not hesitate to learn more and to share what I have learned so far.

Great ideas and learning are always evident in this chat and I have learned a lot from following/being involved in #edchatnz every fortnight.

~ "Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them." - Orison Swett Marden ~

The first EduIgnite Rotorua

It all started with a Tweet ....

I was fired up and ready to organize this fun and thought-provoking PD event and contacted my 'partner in crime' Annemarie, with whom I co-organize this twice a term #ConnectedRotorua and the yearly #EduCampRotovegas.

Planning started in all eagerness and attendance was looking good. At the end Annemarie did tweet that we were looking for some educators to present via GHO, to which the ever willing Sonya responded to.

This was also the first time that a GHO was used at an EduIgnite evening.

We had the privilege to listen to fantastic presentations by Sonya, Monika and Justine. Thank you all!

TeachMeetNZ - EduIgniteRotovegas 

Their reflections:

1. Sonya - TeachMeetReflection

2. Monika - EduIgnite Rotovegas: Building your online PLN

3. Justine - What are EduIgnite events and why are they so special and important?

Being MC was a fantastic learning curve and I am looking forward to planning the next EduIgnite in Rotorua.

~ "Why fit in when you were born to stand out!" - Dr Seuss ~

A different approach to learning

I enjoy introducing my learners to new & different learning opportunities in which they can also have fun.

Last year, my class was involved in the global classroom project called 'The Travelling Rhino's'
Learners were so engaged that I've extended this with having a class production called 'Save the Earth' with much success.

I love this different approach to learning, something that Project Based Learning (I found out) exactly is.

As an ongoing learner and always on the lookout for personal learning opportunities, I read this tweet with great excitement:

With so much learned, this was a twitter chat worthwhile to be involved in.

        ~ "Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears and never regrets." 
                                                                                                           - Leonardo da Vinci ~

"Out of the Cave" - Master Class #1 (#eFellows14)

I was looking forward to our first eFellows 2014 Master Class in Auckland with great excitement.  This by the way, did not disappoint! Our programme was stunning, well planned and well organised by John and Louise from CORE.

Meeting the other #eFellow14 (Anne-Louise @robeanne; Tim @TimGanderNZ; Vicki @hagrnz; Bec @Bec_Power; Rowan @RowanTaigel and Ben @mrbenbritton) at the CORE office was fantastic.  Some of us were already interacting on Twitter and I relished the opportunity to meeting them f2f ! We chatted through our first morning, sharing our Mihimihi and learnt what the eFellows is about.  At the end of this session, we were given three questions to ponder for the next day.

Then we had our first lunch together, with the complements of CORE Education.

We were fortunate to visit Stonefields School and listened to Sarah Martin, sharing the schools educative purpose and explaining the learning philosophy which rest on their Four Vision Principles - Building learning Capacity, Collaborating, Making Meaning and Break Through, by using a very informative presentation. A highlight for me was seeing junior students in action in their Learning Hub.

Back at our accommodation the seven of us talked, shared and chatted until late at night around our camp fire.

On day two we had inspirational conversations about bringing a transformative lens to inquiry, led by Louise Taylor.  We discussed key points for our project, critical pedagogical theory, things we notice, how we make sense of the world and positive transformation.

                           

Lunch at Catalina Cafe

After lunch, we toured the new Hobsonville Point Secondary School with Claire Amos, who enlightened us with her presentation about what excellence look like at HPSS.  We learnt about their Vision and Shared Values and the Hobsonville Habits which covered their four areas of personal development required for optimum success - strategic, cognitive, innovative and relational.

Back at the CORE office, Mark Osborne's passion for Modern Learning Environments was evidence during his session in which he further discussed ways to "Innovate, Engage and Inspire."

John Fenaughty organised a yum potluck to enable us to meet some CORE whanau and where we could connect with past eFellows.  I had the privilege of meeting my mentor, Sonya van Schaijik for the first time f2f!

       

                       
On our last day, we had another great session with Louise and we were reminded to "seeing the possibilities within the impossibilities".  We talked about some key points to 'throw together' and continued our discussion on how to bring a trans-formative lens to our inquiries.  We started on our projects with reflective tasks and left with a clear sense of where we want to go and what to look at.

What an amazing three days (with an awesome and enthusiastic group of people), filled with laughs and inspiration!

Slide created by Louise Taylor

Off to great places!

I am very excited about next week's first eFellowship meeting, as I have been looking forward to this for some time now. 

According to the latest information, a stunning programme has been created for us by our eFellow co-ordinators at CORE. 

I am looking forward to my inquiry/ learning this year, so watch this space, as I will surely be writing some reflective blog posts of my journey.