Week 31

Week 32

Task 8

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Been an interesting ride!! I think these two quotes pretty much um up my learning for the last 32 weeks. I have always been one of those people that had to do it the hard way - and true to form continue to learn and get more out of what frustrated me from the course, I have got a lot of valuable information adn tools I know will be beneficial

Reflective practice is viewed as a means by which practitioners can develop a greater level of self-awareness about the nature and impact of their performance, an awareness that creates opportunities for professional growth and development." (Osterman, K. & Kottkamp, R.,1993).

For me this has been about really sitting done adn practicing self awareness in relation to my class room practice. I now keep a reflective scribble book adn go through this regularly with two of my colleagues whom I trust adn know will give me honest critical feedback, this isn't always pleasant - but worthwhile. I also have a lot more input on how lessons went, the value of them and changes I could make from the students. 

After reading the Class Notes, create a blog post where you evaluate the impact of issues on your practice and plan for the future.

Firstly, reflect on your personal 32 week learning journey through the whole postgraduate programme and provide a critical discussion of two key changes in your own research informed practice in relation to the Practising Teacher Criteria (PTC) in e-learning.

Criteria 7: Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive learning environment

Through readings and working online collaboratively with other course participants  I have  been able to promote  students working collaboratively more effectively. they and I are using devices more as tools. After very deep critical evaluation adn reflection there may have been a tendency to use devices more as a flash word processor rather than a wealth of information. We are using devices only when what are are doing can be done in no other way. Students are working together on video diaries and logs, contacting and discussing possibilities with people they would not be able to without the use of devices.  I have slowed down on what students need to get through and more on what they have discovered, found, discussed, adn shared that is useful to them.We are working on equity in the classroom, we have many discussions about not what is fair, but what ensures each child has equitable time, resources, and support. It has completely changed the tone and the learning.

Criteria 3: Demonstrate commitment to bicultural partnership in Aotearoa / New Zealand

A greater and more real emphasis is placed on the knowledge, understanding and ways of seeing the world that Maori students and students from other cultures have. I am incorporating Maori stories, legends, and Tikanga in my programme which relates to morals and values, and also changes during adolescence. Some of my students are teaching Te Reo related to my learning area, they are really good teachers. 

The next dream regarding my future professional development.  am hoping I will have enough credits with the completion of Mindlab and the papers I have already done to get my masters. Although I know that I should finish it - I am probably at the point that I need a break from study for a while and focus on my students and embedding some of my know knowledge and understanding into my practice.. I have always wanted to be a much more effective art teacher. As I have read a great deal of research on the benefit of art for brain development and encouraging creativity and thinking skills - I am considering my next formal professional learning journey to be in art. Should be fantastic

References

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

Week 31

Task 7

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I love the quote " to solve an interesting problem, start by finding a problem that is interesting to you," Eric Raymond.

Identify two of the potential connections from your map as your near future goal(s). 

Obviously one of my goals was to complete the mindlab course, and nearly there. Once I have completed this then I can put more focus and effort into my my current teacher inquiry. I am trying to create global connections for my students to be able to contact adolescents in other areas of the world that they can interact with, email, skype, facebook message eg to be able to discuss issues relating to being a young adolescent, what struggles students have, how they spend their time, etc and see if it is the same or different. I am hoping this will also open their eyes to world issues that are similar and the same and give them an opportunity to find ways they can be connected and a part of a change vehicle.

My health and safety role/EOTC role/internet safety role. There are procedures and policies that really need to be updated and a few that are not there which I am in the process of developing. Finding time to get these done as well as the daily requirements adn needs to be on top of paperwork, new regulations, how they affect students, teachers and the community, risk analysis that is needed before students are taken on any excursion out side of the school.

A really rewarding part of having all these roles and working with students in all areas is finding how they connect together and complement each other, adn the students colleagues seeing this connection as well.

 Benefits and challenges of working in a more interdisciplinary environment.

I am never bored! I always have a pile of paper work to go through, investigations that need carrying out, reports to write, student work to respond to, feed back and feed forward to give. With such an interdisciplinary environment I am always learning new things and ideas that are surprising, interacting with an extremely wide range of students, staff, and the community.

A challenge to be honest is not running around in circles so often and so fast that nothing is accomplished. Finding the time to fit in everything that has to be done, least of all the stuff that should be done.

 I have also discovered the biggest challenge at the moment is having to let go - for now- of a lot of the research, study, and learning I wanted to do and that really interests and fascinates me, to be able to fit in the learning and professional development I have to do. Hopefully this is temporary and I will find a way of also being able to fit in the people adn activities I want to do before too much longer