Accessible Learning is Rewindable

On Monday afternoon Mark (MOP Facilitator) ran a staff meeting on Rewindable Learning - see Link
Rewindable Learning:

• technology enables teachers to make learning rewindable for all children.
• supports children who learn more slowly, who need more time exploring messages, who are absent or who forget.
• makes the 'smartest' learner the child who knows how to access teaching and learning, not the child who is on the teacher's 'wavelength'.

Examples of rewindable learning might look like

• instructions recorded on an iPad - children can go back and check
• video instructions using 'Show Me' or 'Explain Everything'
• picture of a maths strategy

Today I spoke with Shontelle and Wiremu in Ruma Toru, our senior bilingual class. I asked them how their chromebook supported their learning. Shontelle made a great comment about accessing last year's work - she was talking about rewindable learning. Up until then, I had not considered work from previous years. We then discussed how digital technology made this possible as it would be unlikely children would go back to books from previous years to rewind their learning. Thank you Shontelle for this thought - tumeke!

Manaiakalani Outreach Programme (MOP)

What is Manaiakalani Outreach Programme (MOP)?
"Manaiakalani Outreach is an opportunity for school clusters to partner with Manaiakalani Trust (MET) to embrace the 'Learn Create Share' pedagogy along with its digital infrastructures and affordances. Outreach focuses on New Zealand school children, their families and whanau in challenged, stressed and isolated communities, particularly but not exclusively, in decile 1 and 2 school areas."

On Thursday I attended MOP Convenors' Meeting at Edmund Hillary School in Papakura. I was immediately struck by the manaaki, firstly from Raina, the principal, then the wonderful children and staff at Edmund Hillary. The day started with a welcome in their lovely hall.
There are 5 clusters in the MOP; Ako Hiko, Kaikokohe, Toki Pounamu, Kootuitui ki Papakura and Hornby. It was a full on day with lots of information sharing from
Jenny Oxley - programme manager
Pat Snedden - convenor support
Lynne LeGros - General Manager Spark Foundation
Andrew Gurr - Fusion
Selena Meiklejohn-Whiu - Auckland University
Dorothy Burt - pedagogical programme design
Russell Burt - convenor support

Our Outreach facilitator Mark Maddren is working with 3 of our teachers this year in 1:1 digital classrooms. Mark is supporting teachers with visible teaching and learning using Google Sites. Teachers planning will be visible and accessible and children will be able to access this at anytime or anyplace - ubiquitous.

At this stage approximately 50% of our Year 4-6 families have purchased or financed a chromebook for their child's/children's learning.

1:1 Chromebooks

Our first week back at school has started well with many of our Year 4-6 children turning up with their own chromebook. Some children are waiting for the next Noel Leeming (NLG) shipment to arrive later this month.

This term children and teachers will be focusing on 'kawa of care' - looking after their device and keeping themselves safe in a digital environment.
It has been pleasing to see children using their devices before 9am. This means learning is not just a 9am-3pm experience, learning can take place anywhere at anytime - ubiquitous (present everywhere or in several places simultaneously).

One issue we have come across are devices that have been purchased outside of the GCSN or NLG student bundle deal. These devices do not have the Google management console which allows the school to manage devices effectively. We have to order the licenses through NLG which can take up to 2 weeks. Once we have the license we are able to configure the device to operate on our school system.