WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ????

Learning B Team met on Monday in an attempt to establish where we all were with our projects. Also to make some plans as to how and what it is about our projects that we expect to include in our presentations.

It was interesting to listen to everyone speak about their experiences with and their thoughts about student engagement. We are a small group of people and yet we see things so differently. It really makes you think twice about your own thoughts when you actually take the time to listen to those of others.

It was an enjoyable day for me –I spent some time with friends, enjoyed numerous cups of coffee, ate lots of gummy bears, and actually set my “school brain” back into action.

It wasn’t until later that evening that I realised my “school brain” had been hibernating. However it was woken by the others in the team – and now it’s ticking again. I am thinking about all the different ways in which I can provide year six with learning opportunities that they feel are worthwhile. I continue on my quest to find learning experiences that will engage the children – I want them to be involved in their learning not to please me or because they don’t want to get in trouble but because they WANT to.

I believe that many of the Web 2 tools that the children and I have learnt about and used during the last few months have helped all us develop valuable social and communication skills. The children liked the fact that they were being provided with the opportunity to have a say about their learning – that is what they wanted to learn, what they learnt, how they learnt effectively and simply asking them for and valuing their opinion? They have acquired valuable skills through a medium which has engaged them, allowed them to direct their own learning and exposed them to an audience that they actually care about. Many of them have become valuable teachers; they have passed on their knowledge and skills to parents, to each other, and to me. I can only hope that we are able to sustain this during term 4.

So thanks to you all for giving up your time to travel up the mountain, for sharing your thoughts – even if some of our thoughts weren’t exactly focussed on our projects, for being happy to talk about what’s been happening in your own classrooms and thanks for waking up that part of my brain that was “hibernating”. (It must be because I don’t have access to Coke everyday whilst I am at home.)

Frustration sets in!

I am absolutely struggling with my PD! I am providing my children with engaging, challenging activities in mathematics. Check.
I am assessing through inviting comments on the class blog. Check.
I am taking anecdotal records and photographic evidence of my class totally engaed in a maths task. Check.
The mathematical discussions that I am hearing are absolutely mind blowing. Check.
The students are telling me that maths is their new favourite subject. Check.

Why then are my results on the topic test so poor? Does anyone have any ideas? is there anyone that could take a look at my topic tests and tell me where I'm going wrong? I really need some help from my team mates here.

Another way of expressing ourselves

Found another Web2.0 tool which allows us to express thinking & learning. (It puts a face to a comment). Here is my first attemt at reflecting on the 'blog phenomena' at school. (sorry about the washing in the background)

Can the 'blog' sustain us?

This cartoon got me thinking about blogs. We really are looking to find 'meaning' . That is the first task. The blog then becomes the 'medium' to make it happen. It keeps in perspective that we are all lifelong learners and ICT provides the tools to enhance this journey!
I'm starting to understand that the medium & the message merge together when we use web2.0 tools. The thinking I use to create a post is just as valuable as the final product! When others comment that provides another opportunity to synthesise and evaluate my thinking.

MORE TOOLS FOR ENGAGEMENT

This is a great tool that could be used by the children to share what they know with others, present a timeline of events, reflect on the meaning of scripture through pictures, or to simply present a story they wish to tell using audio and video.
The site does everything for you all you have to do is upload the images and add some music
Type animoto into google its the first listing. HAVE A GO - this is so ADDICTIVE and engaging.

Janine

Improving student outcomes...what a team!

This arvo the mighty B team got together. What a wonderful 2 hours of sharing. We each shared our project and the strategies we are attempting to improve student outcomes. Teachers shared ideas, frustrations, questions, breakthroughs with certain children, technology tips, resources and passion for making a difference. We filled the staff room with 'talk on learning', of our students and our own. It was a privilege to be with such professional and passionate educators!! Maybe we have rediscovered on how we can work smarter rather than harder with the help of our colleagues.
My role is to continue to challenge people to keep their eye on the 'main game' .... improving student outcomes and to show to ourselves and each other that we are making a difference to the HFS students. I go to bed tonight a contented principal zzzzzzz

DISCOVERY

Robyn, Luke, Kate and Janine recently attended a Maths 300 cluster meeting. During this time we were introduced to an extremely useful link on staffnet. The site provides online tututorials that explain many of the Web2.0 programs that we are using in the classrooms with the students and also discovering ourselves. The tutorials are available in both Mac and PC formats.

http://www.atomiclearning.co.uk/tutorials