Activity 2

Reflection on learning and practice.

Over the past 24 weeks I have learnt that I need to me more of a learner than my kids because of the understanding I have of the journey ahead.

What have I leant about myself as a learner?

I have learnt that i need to be more organised. I need to be more focused in class and I should of written notes on a blog from the start. I have learnt that I need to be more proactive leading up to assignments. 

I learnt that I am a lot further ahead in ICT education than I thought I was. I always though I was behind but NO NO NO I have a lot to  offer and some great future focused skills. I can adapt easily  and with a flick of a mouse can find anything. During this course I have designed and set up a website WOW! and written a literature review (coming from a dyslexic child who did not pass NCEA 3 ) this is AMAZING. I leant that I can do anything.

Collaboration !!!! is the way of the future.
I learnt that COLLABORATION is the best thing ever!!!! Your standards are higher and you work so much harder when you are held accountable to others. I enjoyed bouncing ideas of my partner and you can get a lot further with together.

What have I changed

1. Future skills focused for a every changing world. Where NZ kids are behind and 8 ball in terms of ICT and leader board for literacy and maths. It scares me as a teacher and future parent to think that our number 8 wire kids are not keeping up with the 21st century learners around the world such as India and Finland. I have changed my practice by teaching my class skills that allow them the be self learners and my 5 year olds know their way around google !!!!! Yay. Another 21st century skills I have implemented is Scratch- Coding and Hopscotch. Let just say parents are mighty impressed. Teaching is not just about core education topic but more about teaching the how to get there. Inquiry and design thinking. Creating problem solvers and researchers. Giving kids the tools to create their own career for a world they do not know.

2. Flipped Classrooms. I have implemented flipped learning into my programme. I have maths and reading videos that teach core skills or strategies for the kids to watch at home.  I have linked up with Bernard McCoy from Maths Buddy the online maths tutors to support this. It is like Kahn Acad but NZ based and teaches out of the NZ Maths document. This is working great and had involved home school partnership. 

3. Leadership
WOW, what a change I have made. I am currently a team leader and a new one at that. I instantly changed they way I approached all situations. I now have a transformational and participative leadership approach with peers and children. Transformational leadership is about inspiring the team through role modelling and leading through a time of change. This is HARD!!!! currently we have a change of management at school and change is always hard. As a leader it is important to be seen as that transformational leader and inspire others to achieve their best. But when life is just to hard I reflect of being a participative leader where all have a say and I simply action what I feel is best after listening to the whole team.