Distance learning with LS2... Week 2

This week has been a very busy week for LS2 as far as distance learning is concerned. My amazing students have created a wide variety of DLOs that showcase their understanding of the tasks as they keep their learning going. Each day Linda (TA), myself and the students come together as a class to set ourselves up for the day, celebrate achievements and share work. Having Linda join us has been a real blessing as the students see both their teachers everyday, and whilst I have been kept really busy marking the work she has been kept equally as busy commenting on blogs. Teamwork at it's best!

In these sessions I have been asking my students to present their work as it helps us to continue to learn with and from each other. What's lovely to hear is the feedback they give each other after the presentations. LS2 has always been a collaborative learning environment, but what has impressed me is that despite being in their own family bubbles, many have kept this collaboration going. I'm enjoying reading the conversations taking part in the comments section of DLO's, and on many occasions I've joined in to give feedback. 

Florence presenting her timelapse movie showing the process she went through to make her poppy wreath. 

Have a look at her blogpost here

We have had to iron out a few areas and set very clear expectations as far as avoiding the temptation to simply click 'resolve' when I leave feedback. After talking everyone through this, especially my new learners, there has been some very rich learning conversations taking place and I now have a wealth of evidence to feed forward into my future planning. 

Another area we needed to revisit was the need to make sure all work was filed in the correct folders in our google drives. We also run a 'completed work' spreadsheet where links to completed work are posted. We've had a few hiccups here with work that isn't filed being linked as I can't access it correctly. However, when I think that these have been our only glitches so far, I can honestly say LS2 have been fully engaged in their distance learning.

When I think about my own learning this week I have definitely strengthened my skills when it comes to explaining things, with step by step snapshots of a process and emailing them to the person who needs this support being a great go-to if Google Meets are not an option. I have also noticed that my instructions are definitely a lot clearer and more succinct. My biggest success has been when Linda and I used a Google Meet to guide a student who had prior to lockdown, only been at our school 3 days, with how to post a variety of DLOs on her blog. This student came to us from overseas and had never used Google Docs before so each step of our distance learning has been new for her. What I have loved is that she asks questions and whether these have been answered in our Google Meets, by emails sent to me or to her friends, or by both of us working on her DLO at the same time her initiative has meant she has found a huge amount of success. 

Year 8 working with Mr Grundy

This morning we had our LS2 catch up then went off to Tech with Mr Grundy and Ms Ferguson at Tamaki College. After Tech we tuned in for our first Panmure Bridge School livestream assembly. This was such a great way to end our learning week as Mr Johnston was able to present virtual certificates to students who are making a huge effort to keep their learning going from home. Richard, Kiri and Anna this was a huge success and an extremely awesome way for all our PBS family to stay connected.

ISTE 2018 - Global Education Day Notes

The 5th C - cultural awareness

Bill Harrison

• Stdnts need to communicate and collaborate with Stdnts all over world
• Global immersion transforms schools
• Stdnts can talk about their global audience as learning happens through a global lens

Empatico Website

• Forming a COL (communities of practice) through online communication, collaboration and a shared u/st 
• Tchrs in different states used a shared lesson plan to connect classes through Skype-meant stdnt needed to come up wtith qu and be able to respond to qu in a stdnt led conversation - chn saw states through the eyes of the local chn so gained a deeper u/st as chn had a strong connection to the learning - not a T driven lesson

Virtual exchange and global citizenship

• Failures of QFI - Quatar Foundation International
• Virtual exchange - Arab stdnts connect with US stdnts to discuss issues (eg: women driving) - aim to grow peace and justice - diversity of ideas = diversity of solutions
• Connected classes undertook a shared project (eg: growing the same plant - reflect/on shared growth rates and possible reasons why eg- climate
• Stdnt opinion needs to be valued as it will -ref to pic of girl and quote about the importance of her voice being heard

Table 21: Enhancing 21st Century Literacies and Global Collaboration through Student-Exchange Program

• This is a discussion thread for those at Table 21 and will be facilitated by Nandita Gurjar. Ref to pic of handout
• Discussion with T from Haiti, USA
• The focus of this roundtable will be how student-exchange program builds students' communication, collaboration, creativity, inter-cultural understanding, and appreciation of one's humanity that is crucial in today's world. Through field trips, informal cultural events, and an immersive socio-cultural, linguistic experience with the host family, inter-cultural understanding is enhanced and respect for one another is generated. Social media communication following the program strengthens continued global connection and collaboration. 
• Important to connect T and Stdnts thru global collaboration and cross cultural bridges thru social media eg: twitter
• 21C literacies continue to evolve to allow access to social media
• Value cultural capital - connections can be made thru cultural storytelling - compare same/diff in stories that have a similar purpose
• Immersion allows for strengthened connections as builds intercultural u/st
• Zoom.us - for collaborative online discussionhat carried out online but monitored 

Sharing Time

Last week I shared the role of the CoL teachers with the staff at Panmure Bridge School during our staff meeting. It was a great opportunity to introduce the Manaiakalani CoL team and the links to all our inquiries. 

Christchurch Presentation

Today was a first for me. I was invited to Christchurch by Mark Maddren, Manaiakalani Outreach facilitator for the Hornby Cluster. I was asked to share my MIT journey with the lead teachers from the Hornby cluster. What an absolute privilege to be asked to do this and to have the opportunity to make new connections face to face. I felt confident speaking about something I am passionate about and was happy to share, and be asked to share our R5 Writing Toolbox. Thank you to Mark and to Manaiakalani for challenging me to do this.