DFI Day 4 - Collaborate - Sites

Multi Modal Learning and Universal Design

Last year I found a good article about three types of engagement and their interconnections: behavioural engagement, cognitive engagement, relational engagement. Today we discussed behavioural and cognitive engagements and how it's important to think about all of these aspects to actually 'hook' our students into learning.

Multimodel lessons will provide multiple opportunities for increased student engagement. We looked at the different examples of multimodal lesson designs and some of them immediately made me, an adult, want to participate in these lessons. Imagine an impact on young learners! Universal design for learning is a powerful tool to engage students and cause authentic learning.

I'll definitely spend more time exploring examples of multi-modal lessons and use them to design my own tasks creating learning opportunities with lots of options.

I need to present a variety of texts, images, videos and audios, opportunities to provide learning opportunities for all students and their diverse needs because learners are going to perceive information in a different way. The same with how people express what they know, what works for one student isn't going to work for another. Navigation is also crucial for learners to be able to access the content.


Creating a new Google Site

It was my first experience of creating a Google Site. Elena's Sandpit site is here

1. Plan/ design/ map your new site's look using pen and paper (3 clicks navigation is the Golden Rule)
2. Give it a name
3. Greate your subpages (pages tab on your right)
4. Subpages (create a new page, drag and drop it into the page to create a subpage)
5. Create Dropdown subpages - select and hide from Navigation (3 dots to show more options)
6. Insert Tab - pictures et. Double clicks on the page to bring up the 'Insert' button on the page

Multi Text

T shaped Literacy Skills also known as 'Wide and deep with a narrow focus'

The learner is presented with a variety of texts to read (watch, view) including one each of: 

Complementary, 

• Scaffolding, 
• Challenging, 
• Learner 
• Selected 

MultiText Database designed for the teachers to learn from and contribute. 

My First Multi Text Site - Our Solar System 
(still to include the templates and links for the follow-up tasks)

Great learning today! Lots of relevant and practical material and ideas that I am very keen to use with my class. 
I believe that implementing Google Sites, Multi model pedagogy and use of the Multi Text literacy approach will increase my students' motivation and bring their learning and engagement to the next level up.

Day 3 - Media

What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy?

Today, we talked about creativity being an element of the Manaiakalani pedagogy and a core of the learning cycle.  The "Learn" part of the LCS model can be a comfortable starting place for new learning. However, I consider LCS more a spiral model where the starting point can be any part of the LCS process. Teachers cause learning - I, as a teacher, have to encourage my students to explore and trust their creativity and curiosity to make them learn based on their existing experiences and by creating new opportunities for them to extend their learning.

What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow as a professional?

Absolutely amazing Goggle Media Tools like Google Slides, Drawings, Google Earth will be definitely implemented into my programme to keep my students cognitively and intellectually engaged and connect them to the wider world.
For me as a professional, it is very important to stay up-to-date with the current NZC and modern technologies.

What did I learn that could be used with my learners?  

My Year 2 and 3 students learnt how to create stop-motion animation using the toys. They will be thrilled to extend their existing knowledge to the next level and use Google Slides to create a digital movie using the same stop motion principles.


What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life?

It's very hard to separate my personal and professional life. Everything that I've learnt during this DFI course finds its place in both areas. Becoming familiar with Goggle tools creates multiple opportunities for me to improve my teaching practice.

DFI Day 2

Today, I loved to explore and practise using new apps and consolidate my knowledge and existing skills around Gmail, Calendar, etc.

Reflecting on my practice using the RATE framework. It was interesting to reflect on what I personally do in my teaching and how can I improve it as well as how to share the good parts with others.

What did I learn that could be used with my learners?  

Google Keep. I'm thrilled to use this app with my class. I already have in mind some activities that I can use Keep for.

My first attempt to use Google Hangouts was a failure due to many reasons. However, it could be a good tool to use with my learners after I spend more time making myself familiar with this app.

Potentially, Hangouts/Meet can be used for distant collaborative team planning during the school holidays.

What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life?

Google Keep will definitely become one of my favourite apps. Learning about better ways of organising my emails (some Gmail functions). Setting up events in the Google Calendar and sharing them with my family members, colleagues or friends.