Workflow - Day 2 - DFI Online

The topic for this weeks agenda was Workflow. 

LEARN

• Connecting with each other - Hāpara: We began with a hot tip about organising folders in Hāpara. I am not yet familiar with Hāpara so this knowledge will be filed away until I have a chance to start working with it
• Connecting with Manaiakalani - The Manaiakalani Pedagogy: Learn Create Share: The power of digital technologies in the hands of effective teachers amplifies the acceleration of learning. We are not using digital technology to teach old things, the same old way, with a new tool; rather to transform our teaching to offer new experiences and opportunities to our learners
• Hot tips with Google Meet, Keep, Gmail, Calendar
• How to tame your tabs: There are many ways to go about organising your workspace. I think it is just a case of choosing what works best for you, what is most intuitive, having a go and seeing how it works out then being flexible enough to change if you find a better method

CREATE

• Using Google Meet to connect with a small group we looked at a student blog and recorded our discussion 

SHARE

• Post our recording of Mike and my kōrero regarding Fau's blog:

and answer the four FOCUS questions:

1. What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy? 

Effective practice is the key to accelerated learning. 

"Any teacher who can be replaced by technology... should be!" 

I imagine this is could be a challenge for teachers who have been in the education system for a while. Newer teachers are being trained as digital natives, with the skills we are learning through the DFI already embedded as part of their normal practice. What encourages me is the openness I have seen to learn 'the new ways' in my visiting schools, where experienced teachers (often of a more mature age!) are willing and open to learn alongside their students. 

2. What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow as a professional? 

I think one of my keys is beginning to gain the confidence to just go ahead and organise my workspace. I don't like clutter! I want to know I can find something to help someone quickly, without having to click random tabs. Being able to use tips like how to 'tame your tabs' is gold for this slightly OCD chrome user! Now it is just a case of making the time to plan how that workspace will flow.

3. What did I learn that could be used with my learners? 

Embedding a Google Meet into a blog post. Need to practice this a few more times... finding those darn 'three dots' is the key! Many thanks to Vicki, who's patience knows no limits!

4. What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life? 

I am starting to feel more confident that I can branch out to use some of the extensions suggested. Toby Mini sounds really helpful and appeals to my sense of order... but maybe I am just biased because it is the name of my oldest boy!

Core Business - Day 1 - DFI Online

Today around 60 school leaders, teachers and a new facilitator(!) began their Manaiakalani Outreach journey with the Digital Fluency Intensive Online course. Wonderfully led by Vicki Archer, Stef Parker and other experienced facilitators we began with Core Business and covered a range of topics under the pedagogy topics of Learn, Create and Share. 

This weeks topics included:

LEARN

• Connecting with each other
• Connecting with Manaiakalani
• The basics of Chrome, Google Groups and Drive

CREATE 

• Exploring the use of a Google Doc to create a newsletter, poster etc instead of Google Slides

SHARE

• Post my Google Doc creation here on my new blog:

and answer the four FOCUS questions:

1. What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy? Every time I hear Dorothy Burt tell the story of the background of the Manaiakalani Programme I pick up new things. Today it was the progress the Manaiakalani schools made with such limited technology to start with. Such courage.

2. What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow as a professional? Sooo much! Although I have a pretty good basic understanding of  Google Suite, all the tips that were shared today by our facilitators were noted down in my notebook (soon to be transferred to Google Keep) to share again with the teachers I will be supporting.

3. What did I learn that could be used with my learners? Name every doc, slide etc with your initials first.

4. What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life? Sooo much again! Loved the idea from Kerry to make your work account a different colour/theme to your private account so as not to mix them up.