24 Feb DFI Bog

 DFI Day 3

Things that stood out to me: 

(1) The 'Hook'. 

A reminder of the importance of having a hook into learning for many of our students. The content is not enough - but need to develop the opportunity to have playful, creative, out-of-the-box opportunities. Then being able to engage the learner to the content through these activities. The 'hands-on' or 'real life' activities link learning to the memory/brain as it demands us to think and analyse what is going on.

(2) YouTube

Checking our playlists on my work YouTube channel. I found that extra videos had made it onto some playlists (either in a wrong playlist or not relevant to the playlist) - this reminded me to check playlists regularly. Especially as some playlists are my shared videos to the community. Good value to use playlists and embed into a student's workstream so potential distractions minimised. Found difficult to find the embedding link for a playlist. Eventually shared playlist to a new blog then took the code from this.

(3) Google Drawing

Used a template and designed an introduction slide for my blog. I noticed that when I amended my drawing, it automatically updated in my blog - helpful. 

(4) Google Slides

A reminder not to have a presentation where I am just repeating what the slide says (very boring). Slides can become an animation. Many features/applications seem similar to Google Drawings

17 Feb DFI Blog

DFI Day 2.

These are the takeaway learnings from today for me.

(1) Google Keep

I am already a user, but it was good to put the extension/shortcut for Google Keep onto the toolbar. I also saw the potential of using the shortcut to capture links or Photos or even translating screenshots of text into text. This function would be great for my NCEA L3 Statistics class for finding referencing research is sometimes in a PDF (or other) format. I have also now started labeling and organising/archiving my notes into folders. 

(2) Gmail

I am now looking at removing boomerang as the scheduler seems to have all the functions I require.

(3) Calendar

I have now set my work calendar to view over 5 days instead of 7. This is handy for school to show more on the screen. A good reminder was demonstrated in setting up online meetings. I have used this function before but not in 2021.

(4) Bookmarking Tabs

Another function I use regularly. The shortcuts to save pages were helpful to increase speed and ease of use.

(5) Recording meetings

We were asked to look at a blog Link to Blog. Then we paired up and shared a little about what we read in the blog, what was the intent of the teacher, and what did readers of the blogs say. In GoogleMeet, this conversation was recorded and is embedded below. Thanks to Kerry for her support. I have recorded meetings before but not embedded onto another document. So new learning here. 

10 Feb DFI Blog

 Kia ora 

I had the opportunity to revise some old and learn some new skills. Pace of DFI was just right. After using google for over a decade, some skills I regularly use. 

After starting the day with an ipad, I was kindly reminded to use a desktop computer. As I did not have one of these, I had to borrow a very slow computer for the remainder of day. I will see whether I can borrow a school CB for the remainder of DFI course.

New Learnings 

(1) groups.google.com. A great way to have emails and information kept over time so new people who join that group will have access to previous discussions. 

(2) Had the opportunity to work on my common Mathematics site (rather than have separate links to each level). HWD Mathematics

(3) Speech to Text function. I have seen this but not used it before 

RE: Manaiakalani - nothing new learned. But it is the putting into practice of things learned that is now happening. Learning, creating, and now .... sharing

Having the right equipment for the mahi would have helped with speed and fluency - but we have what we have.

Trying this blogging thing out

Thought I would give this blog thing a go before I showed everyone at DFI that I am not really a blogger. 

I have used (and as a school, we have used) Interlead Connect as a reflection database for a number of years - but we have recently stopped paying for this as a school. This could be my new way to share reflections of teaching/teaching practice with staff or students.