The Journey Continues - DFI Session 6 The Bubble group time today was such a delight. To be able to work on my own goals, at my own pace, with a great supportive guide on hand was a sheer pleasure. Knowing that I can use the DFI material to support my process also gave me an opportunity to step out on my own and explore the "rewindable" resources to problem solve by myself. Woohoo... if you know me at all, you will know that this is the greatest learning step for me... the sky is the limit, when you gain the confidence to know how to work through the process, and what resources are there to support you. Knowing the questions to ask to lead to the solutions you want is my area to develop further. This is what we want all our learners to be able to do. To feel the sense of achievement from self directed purposeful learning that meets their needs appropriately. To be excited by learning and see the opportunities available to apply this learning is a gift we give our students....
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DFI Session 5 Collaborative Sites
It is always so enlivening to be able to easily see the application of new learning, for my work with New Entrant children. The time to explore Google Sites and to spend time creating was very valuable and highlighted for me the importance of allowing learners in my class time to practise their developing skills without overloading new material and without imparting a sense of urgency. The calm and relaxed manner in the small bubble allowed ease of questioning and problem solving and my confidence to do this has greatly improved. There is a strong link for me between T shaped Literacy and how we introduce and expand learning opportunities in our learning space. Connecting with children's interests and springboarding from this to appropriate level text and extension through providing a broad base of complimentary material which children can follow in Discovery workshops or are invited to take part in, is the base for our Literacy / Inquiry plan. I am thankful for the exposure...
Day 4 Expanding Horizons
DFI Day 4 - A day of Expanding Horizons How heartening to observe today, so many experienced, confident and capable educators experience difficulties with technological factors, unexpected responses to inputs, confusing issues where other pathways for doing a task were needed and at times even loss of direction in thinking or processing. It was a master class in coping with and solving problems that all of us experience from time to time. To see modelled, people calmly back track steps, retry pathways, patiently pause, consider options and seek advice from others gave a process for me and perhaps others who sometimes become overwhelmed with issues. Before this DFI course, I lacked the problem solving skills and confidence to believe I could sort issues, therefore would give up or procrastinate rather than try to find a way through to solving and moving on with a task. My confidence and grasp of basic processes has developed exponentially and today, being able to work with ot...
DFI Session 3 Today's Reflections - Media
What a lot of valuable learning today that connects closely to where I am at as a learner on this journey. The biggest take away from today, for me, is the validation that creating, in all its forms, powerfully engages students in learning and connects them to authentic audiences through many channels. As a New Entrant teacher, I see children come to school with a wealth of enthusiasm for playful learning. Often the transition to school has seen children's curiosity, creativity and spontaneity diminish but the Manaiakalani pedagogy brings the focus back to creating as being key for engaging and deepening children's learning. I am keen to discus how others balance the expectations of management/ parents/ ourselves when designing environments that allow for the wide range in entry skills, language, independence and "readiness" while ensuring children can explore and engage in purposeful play to learn.