My Journey #2

My Journey!

Digital and Collaborative Innovated Learning

It started with a bang in 2015 when our school decided to open two Modern Learning Environments. A new entrant and Senior class and as, a result the principal suggested I apply for the March 2015 intake for the postgraduate program, ‘Digital and Collaborative Learning’ at The Mind Lab by Unitec. After visiting The Mind Lab website, reading their pamphlet and a discussion with my principal, colleague and talking with a representative from The Mind Lab about what the course entailed, I decided to apply.  Since beginning and attending the workshops held at ‘The Mind Lab’, I have reflected on my current practice, tried new classroom practices and explored engaging ways to deliver the curriculum in a modern learning environment. 

I have learned many things about myself as a learner and made many changes to my practice...

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” ~Nelson Mandela~

Undertaking the Mind Lab Postgrad Cert. In Applied Practice, Digital and Collaborative Learning ignited my desire to make changes for best practice!

I have tried different instructional approaches to collaborative learning using digital tools e.g. GarageBand with small groups of Year 5 and 6 students.  Here students are creating a rap about respect. I learned I want students to be more in control of their learning and being the ako for their peers. Students became the ako for the new groups of students learning how to create a rap using GagrageBand.

Students had to program a Lego Mindstorm robot to move through a maze without banging into anything using an interactive board to collaborate. After many attempts, the students successfully entered the coordinates to manoeuvre the robot around the track they designed and set-up. For this to be successful required the students to be resilient and problem-solvers with minimal input from myself.

Here students have uploaded and shared evidence of their inquiry statement of what they wanted to find out and why, a roadmap (timeline) showing roles and responsibilities to achieve their goal, what they discovered and their reflections using Blendspace. This gives collaborators access to the group's inquiry in and outside of school to their learning and teachers data to target-teach specific skills needed and track students learning. This was a massive task as the two teachers I work with had no experience with Blendspace or the 6 D's Process from the 21st Century Skills I wanted the students to use to guide their inquiry learning. I learned with such a large group, next time it would be best to teach the skills within a mini inquiry on that particular skill. Using Blendspace for the students was simple for the students to learn quickly and also teach the teachers.

I have learned so much and I realise the importance to take the time to reflect on the learning to consolidate this new learning. If we wait too long who misses out?

If you wait for the right kids and the right teachers we are going to wait forever. You’ve got to work with what you’ve got!

(Alma Harris, 2012).


References

AITSL. (2012, Nov 13).  Schools performing beyond expectations -- Dr Alma Harris in conversation with Anthony Mackay [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKZV