DFI - Day 9 - External Recognition

Last day of DFI.

Going in to this on Day 1 was so nerve wracking........ The unknown, the lack of confidence and the uncertainty of whether I was capable of working along side these amazing teachers that we have here in Aotearoa and doing DFI with them, and then the 'what even is DFI?' 

All these concerns were well and truly squashed as the weeks went on. The facilitators were an awesome bunch of people and the teachers I have had the pleasure of meeting were pretty cool too. Shout out to our bubble coach and the group of ladies within our bubble! I'm so grateful to have done it with you all. You's rock!

I can see how I have progressed since the start through my blog. Blogging was very new to me. It reinforces what I learnt throughout this kaupapa and will be something I will continue to use as I take my next steps to becoming a teacher. It will be a great way to document the highs and lows throughout my journey.

DFI has been a great opportunity that I'm glad I had the chance to do. The whole learning experience has been so worthwhile. I can definitely walk away knowing that I achieved what I set out to do and will take all this new knowledge and store it for when the time arises to use it and be more confident when using it.

Learning about the background of Manaiakalani - how it all came about has been a great foundation for the last 9 weeks. Knowing where the idea of this all came from has been interesting, then adding the cybersmart side of things to it and the teaching of the google apps which all gel together so well. 

I still have a lot more practice to do with what we covered but the more I practice the more fluent I will become.

DFI - Day 8 - Computational Thinking

Today's kaupapa for DFI was Computational Thinking. The relationship and difference between digital fluency and the digital technology curriculum - Being digitally fluent in a Learn, Create, Share world.

A digitally fluent person can decide when and why to use specific digital technologies to achieve a specific task or solve problems. A digitally capable person can create their own digital technologies solution.

It was all very new to me so it was a very interesting day with a lot more information to take in, but very much worth it.

I made my first scratch, which was super cool to do. I haven't had any experience with scratch and have always wanted to give it a go. It is a application I would like to introduce to the young boy I work with so I'm really looking forward to giving it a go with him.

DFI - Day 7 - Devices

 

Today we created a screencastify to record a lesson based on a CYBERSMART area of our choice. I chose publishing a blog post as the young boy I work with really struggles with his blogging. Blogging is such a cool way for him to share his mahi.

DFI - Day 6 - Enabling Access - Sites

Already Day 6 of DFI!! Time has flown so fast and I have learnt so much. 

The pedagogy and kaupapa of Manaiakalani has such a deep and meaningful sense to it and is set up so well for learners, teachers, colleagues and whanau.

Today we learnt about another important floor joist to this kaupapa......... CONNECTING.

So this is about connecting everyone digitally and being able to share the learning's throughout NZ. There are multiple layers to give opportunities for everyone to connect.

All 4 floor joists makes for powerful learning. CONNECTED, UBIQUITOUS, VISIBLE, and EMPOWERED.

We also went deeper in to Google Sites and what makes a good site. The layout, font and accessibility for the learner or whanau. Visual appeal and user experience.

We had an opportunity to work on our own sites and use our learning's to improve what we had. We each chose 3 goals mine were:

I managed to accomplish 1 and that was to add some site buttons.

DFI - Day 5 - Create a multi modal site for learners.

 

Today I made a site using the multimodal design for learning.  

Seeds were the main text, with some complementary text and some challenging text added about seeds. I also added a youtube video. The layout was based on the learn, create, share kaupapa.

DFI - Day 4 - Google My Maps

 

Today we had the opportunity to learn about Google My Maps, another amazing tool to use. I thought it was neat to be able to make layers in order to mark different areas and places. I chose our local area to practice with.

DFI - Day 3 - Media

It was interesting learning about the create side of the Manaiakalani pedagogy. The mention of us all being a lifelong kindergarten group puts a different look on the the learning aspect and makes so much sense. What an awesome way to look at it!! How being hands on makes the mind work and empowers the learners, through exploring and discovering. Its about creating with purpose, giving the kids the right to be creative in their education space.

Something that also resonated was the mention of Elwyn Richardson. It was at the kura I work at that he actually began his innovative pedagogy. Our school follows his approach, we even follow his natural environmental philosophy he influenced. By following this our school has been fortunate enough to be finalists for a Prime Minister award - for Excellence in Environmental and Sustainability Education.

Overall today was amazing!! I feel a lot more confident within myself, by having a better understanding of what DFI is and what is expected of us. 

Again we touched on more interesting tools that can make not only ourselves but also our tamariki so much more enriched when it comes to teachings and learning's.

DFI - Day 3 - Working with Shapes, Texts and Images in Google Slide

DFI - Day 2 - Creating with Meet

DFI - Day 1 - Core Business

Well I must say today was awesome......I learnt so much!!

It was really interesting to hear how Manaiakalani came about. How and why it originated and all the mahi that was put in to make it such a successful kaupapa for our kids. I see the local Manaiakalani facilitator come in to the school I work at and to be honest I wasn't really sure what she did. Now that I have a better understanding of it all, it is an amazing concept!! The whole using digital devices as a learning tool is really cool, as most of the kids these days are so tech savvy so why not combine education and devices to make learning more interesting and to hook those kids in to wanting to do school mahi and in a cyber safe environment.

Everything we covered today will help me become more confident when using the device and when working with the kids at school. I learnt bits and pieces over lockdown from my daughter when we were homeschooling. I had only just started my job as a teacher aide prior to lockdown. I was given a device to use so I could help kids out while at home and I tutu'd around on the chromebook and figured out what I had to do and my daughter was a massive help also. I may even be able to give my kid some tips now. The school my kids attend are part of the northern Manaiakalani cluster so they are pretty fluent in it. They definitely outshone me in that area, but not for long........🙏

I can really integrate my learning's from this with the young man I work with as he is very much device orientated. I will definitely be changing up his weekly plan and will use this style of teaching to his advantage. Using documents for planning and adding links will be much easier for him to relate to and access. Also using the voice typing tool, that will be so beneficial for his fluency and accuracy and will give him the reading mileage. So many tools that can help prepare him for college next year. I feel he will be far more engaged.

Next year I am hoping to be accepted in to teachers training so doing DFI will give me some what of an advantage for both professional and personal life. Being able to separate the both but in a digital world, being able to keep things well organised, easily accessible while all just living in a device. Its a win, win for sure. Going in to today's session I was rather nervous but leaving it I thought ya know what I can do this. I've got this!!

Unfortunately I haven't finished my visual media doc but will get it down over the weekend. My kids are home from school so it's time to put my Mum hat on 🙋