Welcome Home

Picture: Tarawera Lake and Mountain

Welcome to my reflection blog as part of my learning journey for the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice & Digital and Collaborative course at "The Mindlab."

Whakatauki: (proverb)

Ko tãku rourou, ko ã koutou rourou, ka ora te tauira.

  (My basket, your basket, the child will thrive)

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that to become an effective, quality teacher, one must build good strong relationships between the student, whanau and the community.  Therefore, this  is  ‘empowering students to take control of their own behaviour and actions to make responsible decisions that benefit themselves and their school community.’                                           

 Glasser, William (1998)

Week 32-Changes in Practice

WEEK 32: Changes in my Practice

"Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi

With your basket and my basket the people will live"

Osterman & Kottkamp(1993) has contrasted traditional approach of professional development by outside experts delivering workshops for schools versus reflective practice model. They suggest that traditional approach results in knowledge acquisition while reflective practice can lead to change in behaviors via self-awareness.

Now I come to the end of my learning journey for The Mindlab!  I totally agree the Osterman & Kottkamp (1993) that,"reflective practice can lead to change in behaviours via self-awareness."

Initially I was abit hesitant taking on The Mindlab Programme...what really 'motivated' me to apply was because 'my besties' was applying too!  I'm so pleased I joined them and started The Mindlab Journey.  

The 32 week course has been 'busy' saying it mildly in addition with teaching demands.  So how has this changed my behavioiur via self-awareness...

Im so glad we were able to work collaboratively on assessments...it had been awhile since I had written essays so I believe that working with Lesa and Jeanette certainly helped in that area.

Meet and greet sessions in Rotorua, meeting like minded people on the course, travelling to Rotorua and reflecting on our learning for the night for me was 'fabulous;'  Lots of laughter, new knowledge, challenges and excitement on what we can take from The Mindlab will be exciting to use in the classroom.  I found the readings informative and even though I did have 'catnaps' in between I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to implement my learnt knowledge into our staff meetings and PD days.  

Overall, being part of The Mindlab postgrad I believe I have definitely seen growth in my personal teaching pedagogy.  Acquiring up to date research theories and how Digital Technology will and has impacted in Education is challenging and exciting and rewarding!

In New Zealand education context, Ministry of Education (nd.) has set criteria for Practising Teacher Criteria (PTC) in e-learning.

Professional relationships and professional values

Criteria 2: Demonstrate commitment to promoting the well-being of ākonga.

The well-being of ākonga is imperative in order for learning to take place.  E-learning needs to be a place where the learner is safe therefore 'digital citizen' will need to be the first point call to address.  

• How to be safe online for the student and parents
• Planning innovative ways to engage the learner to 'hook' them into learning
• Work alongside the student when involving technology...

Criteria 4: Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional learning and development of professional personal practice.

Demonstrating that I can commit to completing a 32 week post grad is an example of ongoing professional learning.  I have become aware of the growth of Digital Technology has impacted in Education along with how it can enhance future generation simply because we are in the age where digital devices is where the learner is. There are a variety of ways that I will be looking at integrating e-learning based on The Mindlab Postgrad...I will 

• continue using blogger to use as a reflective journey and for PTC purposes.
• Access PD online / continue seeking ICTPD 
• Participate in learning communities
• Integrate ICT into my teaching inquiry...

Then share your next dream regarding your future professional development...
I wish to continue pursuing ICTPD as I enjoy the challenge and of course 'keeping up' with where Digital Technology is going.  I enjoyed the hands on activities especially the Makey Makey, Mindset, and Robotics to name a few...these activities will be an excellent introduction to 'my kids.'

Secondly, learning Te Reo and integrating ICT is an area I will be looking at for future professional development.

References
Image 1: Create right Now with Marie. Retrieved on 2 July, 2016 from http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog/bid/79973/3-Journaling-Prompts-for-Self-Reflection

Ministry of Education (nd). Practising teacher Criteria and e-learning . Retrieved from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/Registered-Teacher-Criteria-and-e-learning

Osterman, K. & Kottkamp, R.(1993). Reflective Practice for Educators.California.Cornwin Press, Inc. Retrieved on 7th May, 2015 fromhttp://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/files/RefPract/Osterman_Kottkamp_extract.pdf

Week 33 APC - Assessment 2- Online Discussions

Applie Practice Context Assessment 2- Online Discussion

Image 1-Rich Farmers

Erika Blog - Te Whetu -APC 4 - Indigenous Response and Cultural responses

Erikas Blog - Te Whetu -APC 5 - Indigenous Response and Cultural responses

Siobhan's APC Blog Interdisciplinary Connections

Reference

Image 1: Rich Farmers retrieved on 2 July, 2016 from https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=comments&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBwvvkrtPNAhXDsJQKHepuC14Q_AUICCgB&biw=1280&bih=584#imgrc=vmJ1lPEzWNVjEM%3A

Siobhan's APC - Blog retrieved on 2 July from https://siobhanmindlabblog2.blogspot.co.nz/2016/07/interdisciplinary-connections.html?showComment=1467430315193#c844749189569263983 

Te Whetu blogger retrieved on 1 July, 2016 from http://tewhetu.blogspot.co.nz/2016/06/apc-5-personal-ethics.html

Te Whetu blogger retrieved on 1 July, 2016 from http://tewhetu.blogspot.co.nz/2016/06/apc-5-personal-ethics.html

Week 31-APC-Professional Context-Crossing Boundaries and...

Week 31: My interdisciplinary connection map 

Goal 1

Image 1:Forrest Hill School 

My next personal goal for me is to re-learn my first language that I was brought up in which is Te Reo Maori.  Both my parents were fluent speakers of what I would describe is the 'tipuna' language.  There are so many new words in Te Reo Maori these days that I will need attend Te Reo Maori courses or perhaps take a sabbatical time to achieve this or alternatively go home and live amongst it by paying it forward on what I can take home starting at Kohanga Reo level...I would thoroughly enjoy that!  

My level of Te Reo Maori is more than basic level, I can understand most of what is said but I want to get to a level where I can reply with confidence in Te Reo Maori.  

Goal 2: ICT Specialty

Specialising in the ICT field has been on my learning journey for awhile.  I'm in awe of how the digital world has evolved at a fast pace since I attended a ICT course in 1997.  There is a variety of areas I am contemplating pursuing that will encompass my Teaching Degree and experience. Perhaps an innovative idea could be for me to think about how I can integrate both Te Reo Maori, ICT and Teaching Pedogogy together will enable me to 'pay it forward' to my community, Iwi and schooling community.  Now thats a thought! - My Personal Interdisplinary Goal!

" The idea of combining two or more disciplines, pedagogical approaches, groups of people, or skills is not new."  (Mathison & Freeman,1997)

There are many benefits and challenges of working in a more interdisciplinary environment.  

As a teacher I found that to plan, access, prepare, implement, integrate (digital component), is time consuming but if it covers the the NZ curriculum...great! I always get excited about thinking about 'innovative' ideas that would interest my learners my class. However, a challenge is I have found is the 'disruptions' to my classroom programme (Years 5&6) as some of my learners either have extra support, sport representation, Kapa Haka, Chinese Mandarin, attending PD course, Reports can be 'frustrating' not having my 'whole' class present intermittently.

Many questions remain unanswered, though. These are questions about what is really happening in interdisciplinary/integrated/ integrative classes—about which of the three approaches works better and under what circumstances? about what the impact on teaching is? about whether the assumptions made about combining disciplines are good ones? We raise these questions not to be critical, but in the hope of moving the discourse and research on interdisciplinarity further along in the quest for truly educative experiences in schools.  (Mathison & Freeman,1997)

Reference:

Image 1: Forrest Hill School retrieved on 2 July, 2010 from http://forresthill.ultranet.school.nz/WebSpace/545/

Image 2: St John Fisher Highschool retrieved on 2 July, 2016 from http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupRenderCustomPage.asp?GroupID=14370&ResourceId=3054139

Mathison,S.. & Freeman, M.(1997). The logic of interdisciplinary studies. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, 1997. Retrieved from http://www.albany.edu/cela/reports/mathisonlogic12004.pdf: