This week was our at home day where we met using Google Meet. I found this relatively easy as we did lots last year during lockdown. The first part was in our bubble groups dicussing what went well etc. It's great to hear what the others are up to. Ilisa mentioned how good Google Keep is for making notes etc, I'll have a good look at this.
Over the last week I have implemented quite a few things that have made my life easier. These include using tables in google docs to create interesting documents for the students. I have always found Docs a bit limiting and this was a simple solution. I've also started using remove.bg a lot more when creating documents. It makes the documents look really cool!
The second part looking at Hapara hot tips. This was a good refresher as we use this lots at school.
Todays session with Dorothy was about Create:
What is Creativity?
"Creativity empowers our learners"
Once again Dorothy emphasised that digital technology is a tool to use not the answer. Creativity has always occurred and is entirely possible without a chromebook. Digital technology enables students to: 'Capture ➢ Share ➢ Turbocharge'
Allowing for creativity in our students, not just everyone doing the same thing, enables all of them to learn in their own ways in relation to thinking and forming original ideas.
"HOOK THEM INTO LEARNING"
I have often said that school doesn't seem as fun as it used to be. Over my 17 years in teaching I have seen many changes in what the expectations of students and teachers are. I don't know if it is since the introduction (and demise) of National Standards, an overcrowded curriculum where things keep getting added but not much removed, expectations of parents/caregivers changing..... the list goes on, but we seem to have only worried about reporting on levels in maths and literacy not how much fun the children are having and what things they get to create using their own strengths and interests. Creativity was sidelined in the pursuit of raising standards by constant testing and reporting. The question I have is:
Is school fun?
I really liked it when Dorothy explained that being creative through the use of digital tools has allowed kids to share their thinking/creations around the world and not just the school community (or in a book or on the wall of a classroom where very few people can see them. This really gives purpose to what the students are creating. The more I listen to Dorothy the more I love her ideas on the road forward for our learners. My moto has always been:
"My job is to make them want to come to school, have fun and then they will learn"
From this discussion I feel the aim is to
'Bring creativity back into the classroom'
Things I'm happy about:
- Using Google Slides. I really liked the animation Solar Energy that a student had created at St Patrick's school. I will look at doing similar with my students. One thing I did learn was to use the little blue camera on the top of the slide to record a video and insert it straight away. Nice!
- Creating using Google Draw. I quickly had to whip up an example for the reliever taking my groups today using Draw. This only took 5 minutes. I find it very easy to use. I also looked at the tutorial about creating a cartoon of a photo using Draw. This was really informative and I will definitely give it a go with my students.
- Creating a basic animation on slides
Things to look at during this week that I'm not clear about:
- Creating animations on slides similar to Solar Energy
- Look at Wevideo and explore the features.
- How to utilise Youtube channels and save playlists that I can use in future rather than always searching for resources. Change the settings to unlisted video and turn the comments off for security reasons.
- Google Meet won't let me share my screen all of a sudden. I will look at this and check with our techy at school.
Overall reflection of the day.
Today was quite different in the fact it was completely online. I found it easy to work my way through the tutorials etc. I prefer the face to face sessions as I don't like being stuck alone all day looking at a screen. The main thing I took away from today was Dorothy's words about schools losing their creativity and fun. I have felt this for a few years now and it excites me to know that I am not the only one.
Once again this was a well run session and Sharon, Vicki and Emily were as always easy to follow and very helpful.
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