#Oresome Challenge

Team Collaborative

1. This week has been an overwhelming cascade of information. 
2. We have learnt about the learning model and how they relate to the seven principles of learning.
3. We learnt about the importance of the space between and how we can utilise this space to create collective intelligence. 
4. This week half of us began the journey of learning NZSL. 
5. For us, this week's learning has had a real 'wow' factor because there has been so much learning about deaf culture, and we've collaborated a lot.
6. Today we have had the opportunity to go into our space and imagine how it might work with the furniture and the different areas of the room. 
7. We discovered that poo can go into a worm farm.
8. PB4L was interesting and we're excited to implement it in our habitat.
9. Over the week we have learnt to decipher the induction timetable and the many acronyms have become clear. 
10. As this space is rubbish free we will have to learn how to manage our rubbish as well as encouraging the learners to do the same. 

 

Induction - Day Four

Throughout the day I have gained a lot more confidence and the pieces have started to fall into place a lot more in terms of how things will work in LH3.  The discussion we had this morning with the LH1 learning coaches was very useful and clarified a few things for me, such has what our focus might be for the term/year and how hapu groups will work.  It also made me feel a lot more comfortable with the level of freedom we have with topics.  I still have a long way to go before we're ready for learners to come in next week but I now have a clearer direction for what things we'd like to cover and the ideas and opportunities that came out of the discussion seem endless.  

We also discussed provocations which is something I've thought about before but never done.  I love the idea of generating interest and motivation in this way and leaving the ball more in the learners' court, this seems like the start of real inquiry and real thinking.  I found an amazing video clip this morning for Hit Record (https://www.hitrecord.org/) which could be extremely motivating for some learners who are more creative or who want to be creative but aren't sure how. The Hit Record idea encompasses the four Cs and the key competencies while allowing learners to go in a number of different directions (or not if they're not into it). I think it would allow learners who aren't naturally creative to experiment with the support of their peers through group learning. It would be exciting to introduce Hit Record to the learners at some point and see where it takes them (I imagine it could lead to amazing iExplore topics!!).

I really enjoyed the session on NZSL this afternoon. I knew the fingerspelling alphabet from uni but it was useful to get a refresher and to learn some basic words and phrases. I feel a lot more confident meeting the deaf learners next week, now I can introduce myself! I'm really excited to have the opportunity to learn more throughout the year. It was also really useful to learn some things about deaf culture so that I can make sure I'm doing the right thing for the deaf learners in LH3. There were some things I hadn't thought of prior to today, such as appropriate attention getters, the clothing that I wear and not standing in the sun. I'm keen to talk with the deaf learners and make sure they know that they can tell me what they need and let me know what I'm doing right and what I need to change!

Induction - Day Three

My three feeling words from this morning's discussion of the 3rd space were frustrated (when I was thinking about 'cookie cutter' education), curious (when talking about connections I wondered how this relates to us as educators) and overwhelmed (when wondering how on Earth I will achieve it).

On reflection these feelings haven't changed all that much.  I still feel frustrated at the traditional sense of 'one size fits all' education (incl. standardised testing, reporting styles, curriculum and expectations in education).  On the other side of the coin it's very exciting to think that here at Ormiston Primary we are challenging traditions and reconstructing teaching and learning in an authentic and effective way and that I will become part of that journey. 

During the discussion I realised that the connections relate to me as an educator and a learner because I will be responsible for facilitating the learners' connections with each other and their world and I will also be forming my own connections with colleagues, ideas and information. I still feel curious about this as I'm keen to see how this will look and where it will take us.  

I feel overwhelmed by the ideas presented today as it seems like a long journey to take, and will possibly be difficult to measure and keep track of.  I feel like as an educator I need to fully prepare children for their today and for their future and I want them to be well rounded, collaborative, creative, forward thinking, innovative citizens.  This seems like a huge mountain to climb but I think it will be hugely satisfying and exciting. 

Update

This afternoon I came home feeling quite overwhelmed but after taking some time to digest the information presented I'm now really excited to get stuck in.  I feel very inspired by the general philosophy of the school and the ideas presented today and know that they will provide a much richer learning experience for myself and for the learners. 

Induction - Day Two

What?  

After the session on the model of learning this morning I feel like I have more of a handle on how to plan and which direction to take the learning in LH3.  I really like the framework of the four Cs (and the pairs of words that go with each one) and think it will give us some solid direction for us and our learners.  

I was also reminded of the key competencies as we learnt about learning stories as assessment.  It will be really good to keep these in mind as we learn, plan and reflect. 

Ref: NZCD

So what?

It's going to be important that I remember the four elements of the learning model to guide the learners in LH3 to build on their knowledge.  I'll also need to remember that different learners will start with different parts of the model depending on what they're doing, what their prior knowledge is and their learning style.  It was pointed out today that sometimes there will need to be more structure to a learning experience and Lisa and myself will have to guide this ourselves.  Some learning might go on too long or become too broad without our scaffolding so we'll need to keep that in mind. 

Now what?

My first step is to learn the four elements and the pairs of words that go with each one.  I'll also need to create some sort of display in the habitat to use as a guide.  It would be good to have something that the learners can interact with, the one we used today had velcro which allowed us to move the word pairs around depending on what we were talking about.  As LH3 has new learners, and new learning coaches, we'll need to go through it, discuss it and model it over the first few weeks (we'll need to figure out how to do that!).  

Induction - Day One

What?   

The need to challenge my own thinking, beliefs and assumptions from time to time to develop new ideas about how to meet the needs of the learners (developing a hunch: Spirals of Inquiry).  I think I'm going to have to put my current knowledge aside at times and really think outside the box which is something I'm not really used to but am excited to have the opportunity to do.  

I also learnt ways to document my learning through my Google site and my blog.  I'm excited to start doing this because I think it will help me to challenge my thinking and notice how it is changing.  

So What?  

This matters because in this environment (OrmPS) the learner is truly at the centre of everything we do. They are our focus, ahead of everything else, and I will need to make sure I am providing the best opportunities for learners to develop their skills and knowledge. 

Now What?  

My next steps are to set up my blog and Google site and have a think over the next few weeks about how I'm going to use them.