We don't know what we don't know!

'iPads in schools - are we missing the point?'

This is a great article that is well worth a read.  It examples the 'great divide' that can happen with the exponential shift in how some schools are 'doing' their curriculum and the community's understanding of how that change will benefit their children.  Some selected quotes are:


"Decisions about which tools to use – from school camps and calculators to iPads - become a lot easier to make when you understand the purpose and value of education, and the cost of not doing it well.  What this underlines is the inherent gap between educational research and practice on one hand and community conservatism on the other.
...Together, the Orewa debate and the NZ Institute paper highlight the disconnection between communities and the way schools implement New Zealand’s education policy...


A post from @markherring on his blog titled 'Line in the sand - it starts with purpose' looks at the different approaches schools are taking with their curriculum.  One example he gives is that of taking a more holistic approach - one that is trying to develop the whole child, not just the academic talent - by investigating different approaches and tools in enhancing the schools curriculum (this may even include iPads?!?)


This linked article also highlights the need for increased attention to maintaining and enhancing the partnership with parents.  A key part of this is communicating with our parent community just how school has changed and why it needs to keep changing to stay relevant to todays learners.  However at different times this communication and partnership can be approached differently depending on what outcome you are trying to achieve.  The illustration below from Lester Flockton's NZ Curriculum resource that he put out a couple of years ago with NZEI tells it well:

The iPad debate actually demonstrates that the idea of 'elearning' and its place in a child's schooling is still not understood by a major section of our population.  It is therefore essential to get the level of interaction right with out community so this 'disconnection' does not get worse.  Or is this a bigger issue of how the public perception of teacher and school professionalism has deteriorated over the years??  Some of this problem may be ours but it may also be those sound bites - 1 in 5??


"So when our teaching profession, working from the best research available and their intimate knowledge of the students they work with, asks what is needed to make sure all our learners can be successful, why is there such an emotional reaction against their advice? Do we not trust our teaching profession to know what is best for students’ learning? 

...If the community and the teaching profession were on the same page and had a common understanding and valuation of education, then the conversation would not focus on whether an exercise book or an iPad should be on next year’s stationery list at one school."

I Love Teaching Conference, July 2011

Over the first two days of our end of Term 2 break our whole teaching staff attended the I love teaching 2011 conference at the Ascot Hotel, Invercargill, New Zealand.  Usually we have to travel quite a distance (ie the North Island!) for any professional learning of this quality so it is a real credit to the Conference Convenor, (Marlene Campbell) and the committee (Kerry Hawkins, Alison Cook, Peter Forde, Allan Mitchell) that we have an opportunity of this calibre on our doorstep every two years!

There was a wide range of very high calibre speakers but right now I want to share just a few of my 'lightbulb' moments!

I really enjoyed James' presentation - both his keynote and his workshop.  One key point was:

Getting the balance right throughout the school day on introducing / discussing concepts that push the student into the pit or conflict or wobble zone (where new learning and understanding is constructed / takes place) and yet gives enough scaffolding so the learner gets the chance to reach that Eureka! moment.

An important part of this process is the use of effort centered praise for what a student is doing - not praise telling them how smart they are or what a good score they got!

As this image shows the problems solved on the third test after different types of praise was given shows the effect on the students results!

I believe the challenge for our school from this is that we have to carefully consider the balance that the structure of our day to day curriculum across our learning environments is giving to the process of Concept, Conflict/Wobble, Construct, Eureka!  Getting this right within a schools curriculum framework is a bit like walking a tightrope as we try to balance different teachers passions with learners needs and community wishes.  A good inquiry scaffold that is articulated and understood across our school gives our foundation learning areas an enriching concept on which our learners can 'hang their understanding on' along with the chance to 'wobble' before reaching that 'Construct' and 'Eureka!' moment.

 Wilson McCaskill

 

An inspiring and highly engaging speaker who is extremely passionate about helping all teachers and learners to chance to change the student, teacher relationship from one based on control and compliance to one based on guidance and self-determination.  In his keynote and workshops Wilson worked on introducing and demonstrating with us the words and strategies that empower students to manage their own behaviour, improve their emotional intelligence and increase their chances of success in life.  Perhaps the best way to appreciate this initiative is to watch an example of this learning in action!

As a school the potential for this to further enhance the positive culture of our school is huge and I look forward to discussing with staff where to next with this powerful initiative!

Allie Mooney is someone who you will always learn something from.  She gives you a reminder about knowing who you are, what you see your strengths as and what you need to understand about appreciating and understanding others!  

Our school is richer for the diversity we have around our staff team and it is something that I think is very important for everyone that we appreciate and value all types.  There is great strength in diversity and as staff changes happen in the life of the school I believe it is important to keep that balance right!

"Pressing The Right Buttons"