Tuesday 22 November 2016

Mindlab Session 4: APA Referencing

What?
One of the things that has scared me off further study is the thought of having to learn how to reference and deal with websites for research (and referencing them!) when I have never had to do that, because I was at University prior to the internet!


So What?
I have to move past that, and this list will really help me with that:


Reference / Citation Management Tools
These tools are very useful for managing your references and generating citations. There are many tools that you can use to access peer-reviewed literature: 
  • Go to Google Scholar
  • Click ‘settings’ -> ‘library links’, search for ‘unitec’, check the box and save
  • In Google Scholar, search for ‘digital collaborative learning’
  • Scroll down the results to find the article ‘Learning, teaching, and scholarship in a digital age Web 2.0 and classroom research’
  • Click on the link to the right - ‘full-text at Unitec’ then download the PDF from the library (if you don’t have library access, use the other link
MendeleyCreate an account and/or sign in at Mendeley This allows you to highlight and pin notes on your electronic pdfs. Share reading lists, references and full-text articles with your network, publicly or privately. Create groups to tackle research assignments, share feedback and write papers with your collaborators.
Zotero is designed to store, manage, and cite bibliographic references, such as books and articles. It allows you to share collections and work closely with colleagues on a project.
Citeulike has automated article recommendations and allows you to share references with your peers.
Docear This video explains how Docear is used. You are able to create categories, highlight and pin notes on your electronic pdfs as well as draft and write your own documents which can be exported to Word.
Citethisforme can be downloaded via google play app Scan book and journal barcodes using your phone’s camera to automatically generate a citation. Sync with your CiteThisForMe.com account to manage your bibliographies on the go
Unitec currently uses EndNote X7 which can be installed on all student PCs if you personally attend Unitec to get this installed due to licensing agreements. Copies of the programs for PCs and MACs can be borrowed from all 4 library branches for use with your own computers. Unitec staff computers must have a job logged with IT for installation.
Example of video referencing
You may also wish to view Dr David Parsons video on 'Citing and Referencing Sources in a Video Assignment'
Examples of APA referencing:
Reference List
Benseman, J. (2013). Research-Informed Teaching of Adults: A Worthy Alternative to Old Habits and Hearsay?. Unitec ePress. Number 2. Retrieved From http://www.unitec.ac.nz/epress/index.php/research-...
Freeman, R., Reiss, M. & MacDonald, J. (2013). Good Practice in Leading and Supporting a Research Team: A Guide for Research Staff and Project Managers. University of London Institute of Education. Retrieved from https://ioersa.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/good-pr...
Now What?
Just do it...and with the first assignment due next week, I will have to suck it up.


Mindlab Session 3: Reflection

This week our digital learning session was about Augmented Reality.

Our reflection questions were:
Consider ways that you may be able to use Virtual or Augmented Reality in your classroom or school? What would it add? How would it change the learning?

Last year, we were lucky enough to have the Google Cardboard tour through our school, and I led several classes through tours. I really enjoyed it and the students had fun. However, I haven't included it in my classroom programme for two reasons:

  • Devices and viewers - I would need to have at least 15 viewers and the equivalent number of phones. Some students have phones but would have to add the apps at home. Rhen I'd have to run the tour in a couple of sessions to get everyone through.
  • We have a seriously busy programme. Some weeks we only have 6 out of 24 blocks in the classroom to run the whole core classroom, so every second counts. I just don't see Google Cardboard tours as giving me enough bang for the buck.
I enjoyed the augmented reality we did in the last session. Several of the options were fun for my students (eg the colouring in Quiver), but the learning level is too low to extend my students (great entertainment on a wet lunchtime though).


The benefits are great for the more advanced apps, though. For example, in science we're going to be dissecting a heart soon, so we'll be able to put the Anatomy 4D augmented heart on our Promethean panels using Airplay.

An idea I will use - Aurasma:

  • With Aurasma you can take a photo of something and then when you scan it, it opens up a video you've linked to it. At the start of the year, I'm going to get the students to record an introduction to themselves and then link it to a photo. That means we can all get to know each other in a fun way at the start of the year.
  • This could also work in heaps of other areas. For example, in maths they could photograph a triangular prism, then record themselves explaining how to work out the volume of the shape. The pictures could then be up around the romm and the students click on them if they can't remember how to work something out. Very cool :)

Thursday 17 November 2016

2LL Teacher: Term 4 Reflection

What?
I am writing this from a point of frustration. This term, I have seen each group for  4 X 35-minute sessions. How am I supposed to run a programme where there is no continuity? I feel like it has been so hard to build on their knowledge. I had so many ideas of what I wanted to get through, yet I’ve gone nowhere.

So What?
Although I am frustrated, I need to look at the positives - most students can translate times from English into Japanese and vice versa. They understand the ways in which the Japanese people's’ attitude towards time itself can be the same and varied from their own.

Now What?
There are two ways to approach frustrations like this:
  1. Show evidence of how difficult it is, and see if there is another way 2LL teaching can be structured
  2. Make sure every lesson counts - checking that all of the lessons maximise time and learning activities with lots of repetition to help retain what is learned.
The reality is that two is the available option to me, so when I’m planning my lessons, I really need to think about what activities provide the most ‘bang for my buck’; the best use of time.


Sunday 13 November 2016

Midlab Session 2: Reflection

As a part of our preparation for Week 3, we've got to reflect on session 2.

We learned about the 21st Century Learning Activity Rubrics. We needed to take one of the skills (I chose 'Collaboration') and reflect on how one of our learning activities met the criteria of the associated skill rubric.  I chose to reflect on our PYP Exhibition.


My video is way too long. I have used this as a learning tool for myself for the first assignment. I have used iMovie, learned to add clips, picture-in-picture, transitions and add free music (attributed), the volume of which I change when I'm speaking. I then learned to generate an appropriate image to use as the thumbnail on Youtube (because I didn't like the place where it chose - I think the thumbnail should show what the video is about).




Tuesday 8 November 2016

Mindlab Session 2: Pre-session Readings

What:
As a part of our preparation for sessions, we need to do readings and view videos (a flipped classroom - front-loading first so we can discuss in class).  One of the readings for this week had a section that resonated with me.

The reading was entitled: 

Towards Reconceptualising Leadership: The Implications of the Revised New ZealandCurriculum for School Leaders

According to Wynne (2001), the literature on teacher leadership offers a profile that defines teacher leaders as those who:
  1. demonstrate expertise in their instruction and share that knowledge with other professionals
  2. are consistently on a professional learning curve
  3. frequently reflect on their work to stay on the cutting edge of what is best for children
  4. engage in continuous action research projects that examine their effectiveness
  5. collaborate with their peers, parents, and communities, engaging them in dialogues of open inquiry/action/assessment models of change
  6. become socially conscious and politically involved
  7. mentor new teachers
  8. become more involved at universities in the preparation of pre-service teachers
  9. are risk-takers who participate in school decisions. (Wynne, 2001, pp. 2–3)
So what:
I found myself wondering how I match up against each one:
  1. I feel that I have a good knowledge across the core subject areas (expertise). I regularly share my knowledge with my colleagues, sometimes formally (in a workshop or staff meeting) and sometimes informally in discussions, where people will come and ask questions.
  2. I am constantly wanting to upskill myself. I do this formally through workshops and conference (plus this Mindlab Post-grad diploma) and informally through internet searches and readings (Twitter is a good place to find links to research and blogs).
  3. I think this PLJ is a testament to my reflections and attempts to constantly better my practice.
  4. Number four continues from the previous point. I am involved with teacher inquiry into second language learning with Auckland University, who is contracted to complete this research by the Ministry of Education.
  5. For number five, I definitely do this with my peers, but I am not strong at collaborating with parents and the wider community to bring about models of change.
  6. I am socially and politically involved as y Twitter feed will demonstrate.
  7. I do this formally in my role as a tutor teacher for a first-year teacher, and informally in conversations where I share ideas and answer queries.
  8. Berkley is a 'Normal' school, meaning that we have a constant stream of pre-service teacher through our rooms. I have been an associate teacher to over 60 student teachers.
  9. I am a risk taker in my teaching, but as a Scale-A in a large school, I don't feel that I have the opportunity to partake in school decision making, although I endeavour to do so in my team.
What now:
I was pleased with the way I stacked up in this list with, 'collaborate with their peers, parents, and communities, engaging them in dialogues of /action/assessment models of change' being the only area where I felt a real deficit. Having said that, I'm not sure that this is an area where I am open to change yet. My experience with parents being involved in engaging in dialogue about models of change, has been with parents who are centred on their own children only and have often come from years of feeling that their child has been disadvantaged. The majority of parent interaction I engage in is from parents who are really happy with the current model and want things to continue in this way.

Tuesday 1 November 2016

Mindlab 1: Leading and Following

What?
Our collaborative task was to make a video demonstrating our belief of what knowledge is and the purpose of education:



How did I lead and follow during the collaborative task?



I found this session interesting because I often like to be the leader. This time I found myself wanting to be a follower.  reflecting on this, I'm not sure if it was because I didn't feel a need to get my thoughts over (maybe because I hadn't solidified my opinion) or maybe because I wanted to see how the other people felt it should be done; I was happy to do my part.

So What?
Being a (good) leader is important, but so is being a good follower.  But, what is a good follower? As the above video shows, it is someone who contributes in step with the leader, not being dragged along and not trying to take over.

Now What?
I will need to ensure that I take the opportunities to both be a leader and a follower, and in those rules, make sure that I carry out my role well, not hindering others from carrying out their roles successfully.  I will need to make sure that I step up t lead in situations where I am comfortable.