Modern Learning Practices

We continue to talk about, read about and observe good practice as we work on our journey towards 1 - 1. 

This week we just want to leave you with a video and an articles - some of our staff are in Auckland today and we know that they will have information to share with you next week.

This link is to a video from Myross Bush School - interesting viewing - talking about modern learning practices in traditional school buildings.

Using Chromebooks in the classroom - An interesting read of one persons view of observing in a 1-1 classroom where the children are using Google Apps for Education (GAFE) - our staff are currently training to use these tools.

The blog next week will have information about what we have learned from our Auckland trip. 

We are progressing...

Next week some representatives of both our schools are heading to Auckland to spend some time with schools that have had 1 - 1 devices for a long time. They will be looking to see how this works. Check out Pt England school.


At this stage we have got a number of devices in our classrooms and we can see that each child having their own device would be the ideal. Our kids love technology and are Digital Natives whereas teachers and parents are Digital Immigrants (check out the last post for the article that explains this), therefore we need to understand how this is all going to work. We are very lucky to have this opportunity to visit a school that has successfully introduced 1 - 1 and the achievement results and research back this up.

The Staff and Board have put together some questions for the team visiting Auckland and we invite you to email us your questions to be included.

Both schools have purchased a small number of Chromebooks as the thinking seems to be that these are the most cost effective device. We will be trailing using these over the next term. There has been no final decision on what device we will be using in our pilot classrooms next year. 

OLA and Hoon Hay Community Meeting
 21 October 2014 7.30pm 

We intend to run a community evening on this date to give you more information about why we have decided to implement this programme and also the nuts and bolts of how we will make it work. More information about this very soon.


Some more light reading and viewing for you…Keep the questions coming.

This is interesting viewing - while it is American and therefore not everything applies - it poses some interesting questions.

Give me one good reason...

One Good Reason 

A school's role is to prepare our students for their future. We are charged with this without a full comprehension of what the future will hold. We see this initiative as preparing students for a future where technology and creative thinking will be at the forefront of society. Our teachers are learning how to harness the power of technology to build creativity in our students, engaging them in self-regulated lifelong learning.

Research shows educational benefits of one to one devices are:

▪ They give students access to anywhere, anytime learning.

▪ They enable students to learn independently, collaborate with peers and communicate their understandings using rich media.

▪ They complement the existing school curriculum by providing digital learning tools that link with planned classroom activities.

▪ Their use in the classroom will evolve as students and teachers become familiar with the new tools.

▪ Improved student motivation and achievement

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants - 

Check out this link:

Students are the future, but what's the future for students? To arm them with the relevant, timeless skills for our rapidly changing world, we need to revolutionise what it means to learn. Education innovators like Dr. Sugata Mitra, visiting professor at MIT; Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy; and Dr. Catherine Lucey, Vice Dean of Education at UCSF, are redefining how we engage young minds for a creatively and technologically-advanced future. Which of these educators holds the key for unlocking the learning potential inside every student?

Questions

Thanks for sending in your questions – there are some common  themes – interestingly enough these are the ones raised by teachers as well. We will endeavour to answer them more fully over time.

• Cyber Safety
• Controls / Security particularly around learning vs gaming
• What happens to pen and paper?
• Parent Education
• What if you can't afford a digital device?

Pen and Paper

This is still important. Our children will be using a mixture of both technology and pen and paper to record their ideas and thinking. Rest assured we will not be throwing the baby out with the bath water! Our approach will be carefully thought through.

Cyber Safety

In the blog last week we posted a link to a booklet and website that provides us all with a common sense approach to this topic. We will be thinking about and developing procedures that will keep us all safe. We will continue to post relevant and interesting links for you.

Have a great weekend. Keep the questions coming…

Lee and Jo

Some light reading for you...

Kia ora

We have added some links this week for you to have a look at. We know that you will have lots of questions and we are keen to hear from you.

If you are thinking it, so are others - so please email your questions to us (Lee  principal@hoonhay.school.nz or Jo principal@ola.school.nz) or add a comment on the blog. Next week we will answer the questions for you.

First and foremost the best device your child can have is a good teacher. We know this. You can have all the devices you like however if the teacher is unsure of how they can be used to enhance learning - improvement won't happen. Therefore we intend to ensure that our teachers are prepared and confident.

Our focus will be readiness rather than devices. This first link focuses on good teacher practice. While it's written for teachers we believe it is a good article for you to see what is going on behind the scenes.


Enabling elearning


Did you see this?
Nigel Latta - School Report -What's going on?

Staying Safe online This is a great common sense resource. Share it with your children. Let us know if you find it helpful.

Have a great weekend!

Jo and Lee