Session 3: Media

 Create create create!

Dorothy spoke about the importance of placing learners at the center of learning. Where tamariki are the creators of content, not merely consumers.  

We explored Google draw and Google Slides  as a creative tool. Tips and tricks that I am going to share with my tamariki are:

• Mask image to make an ‘app-like’ image. I know they will enjoy inserting an image and cropping it using a shape.  

• Downloading images as a png - image only no background.

Using Google Slides to create an animation. Very simple and would work nicely in my classroom as my tamariki already have well established skills in Google Slides so not too much new teaching that will need to be done first. I look forward to sharing my animation with them and working along side them as they create their own.

Session 2: Workflow

Another busy day covering lots of different ways we can use Google. Discovered my emails are out of control, but feel a bit better about it after making colorful folders and setting up filters. Recording a meet was something that I hadn't done before. Dorothy talked about rewindable learning this morning and I see how these recording would be useful for that, enabling tamariki to revist content and also share it with peers and whanau.

I really enjoyed looking into google keep more, currently I only use it for taking meeting notes.

I had never thought of using google keep when commenting on my children's work. I can see it being a good time saver. I look forward to using it.Maybe even trialing a classroom keep where I can have reminders for morning jobs to be done before school

• Put your drink bottle in the tray.

• Shoes placed outside neat and tidy.

• Homework folder out

My mind is now busy thinking of all the ways I can use google keep in my life!

Ways that i might use it in class.

Spelling Lists: tamariki can add words that they use frequently to a keep  list that they can have open next to them.

Reading Logs: might be a good place to trial keeping a reading log. We do keep a record in google slides, but sometimes tamariki have a hard time finding it. Could be more accessible and easier to

I have already started changing my lists to google keep. I enjoy making lists, it makes me feel organised! I have several lists already on my phone but really like how I can share the lists, use voice recordings and also link a location.  I've added the app on my phone, I feel more orgainsed already!!

Session 1: DFI Core Business

Today was our first DFI session: Core business. It was good to learn more about the Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy and the back story to how it all started.

I enjoyed hearing about Manaiakalani and their vision for all children to achieve their full potential in all aspects of life and how digital fluency can play a role in this.

Getting to know Google DOCs

After today's session I am excited to use Google Doc's more and not just as a word processing tool both for myself and my students. We very rarely use Google Docs to make any visual media or posters. After making a poster in todays session, I would actually use Google Docs to make visual media with my tamariki.

New Google Doc tricks that I will be using in class from next week are:

1. Introducing Voice Typing to our reading rotations. Where children can record your voice as they read aloud.

2. Use voice typing in writing especially for my reluctant writers.

3. Have a go with Google Explore. I can see how this will be easy to use in class. I like that you can get access to the internet without having to leave the document you are working on.

It is good to have session one done and am looking forward to our next session on Wednesday. I am intrigued to hear more about the Manaiakalani kaupapa and adding more tips and tricks to my digital kete to share with my tamariki.