After a 5.30am start this morning travelling "around" to get to Taihape due to the possible snow and ice on the Taihape Road. (According to Google maps the Taihape Rd. does not even exist!!) my energy levels are flagging now.
Sometimes I wish I could get right back into the classroom. Today was one of those days.
I had heard much about about TAS , third hand as you do. And in answer to the unanswered questions regarding the complex it IS all under one roof. The grounds are ample but the complex designed around a canteen in the centre allows access to all classrooms and admin areas under one roof. There is plenty of eating and socialising space in the main lunch eating areas, which are also undercover.
I can see why visiting folk in November or February would say "why bother?" But this neither being February nor some cloudless vista I for one have fully appreciated the design. I’m back tomorrow to deliver further training and hopefully I’ll be able to catch up with an ex-colleague of mine F2F.
Hmmmm….
Here’s a thought. I’ve just been sitting with someone in the staffroom. Workboots, torn t-shirt, paint splatted jeans and beanie. He’s sat in the staffroom eating pot noodle and I strike up a conversation.
He speaks very confidently about who he is and why he’s there. All I did was nod and smile and take his word for it. I didn’t check with anyone or ask around. I should of. We should. Shouldn’t we?
With a little bit of confidence and the attire to match you can get access to school grounds for as long as you like.
Allanahk introduced me to Dropbox. An online storeage area. As is usually my way you all probably have an account already and I’m the last to know.
It certainly has proved useful for me. A place to quickly backup or provide a file accessible online so I can find it on another computer. You can even create shared folders so others can grab you material…. I’ve found this very helpful for sharing presentation material with colleagues and delegates.
If you have not already got Dropbox just follow the link.
Over this term I am assisting two classes to begin their process of creating a class wiki. There are two classes involved. A 7/8 class and a year 5/6. I would like to that nzchrissy as her TISRm18 wiki really help the teachers to get a handle on what is possible and he “Wonderfulworldof” allowed teachers to explore and consider the building blocks of wikispaces.
When you go have a look be aware that they are only beginning. This seems to be quite a process. We have moved through the phase of everyone merely ‘chatting’ to anyone online through the internal email.
I’m kinda hoping they will build their own pages through the tasks presented to them. I am aware theat ‘collaboration’ is the name of the game here. However I feel it important to lay down some core, individual tasks to establish use.
It is all very exciting, for me, the staff as well as the kids.
The bright sunshine of 27th March meant the delegates on the school tours for the 3rd Annual Champion Schools’ Conference were met with a most typical of Hawkes Bay mornings. There was a real buzz about Flaxmere Primary School as delegates registered and began filing in to here Chris Betcher* deliver his keynote address.
The Champion Schools’ Programme began some three years ago as a school/business partnership. There are now over 40 ‘Champion Schools’ throughout the country who have access to discounted ICT hardware (Sitech Systems) and a comprehensive Professional Development package (Breathe Technolgy). Each year, these companies celebrate this partnership at the Champion Schools’ Conference** . Teachers from the participating schools have an opportunity to share their expertise and knowledge and encourage others with workshops on such aspects as embedding interactive whiteboards in classroom practise, Classroom Response Systems and how to maximise potential and Uses of Digital microscopes and movie creators.
This year however was a year of firsts. 2009 saw the expansion of the workshops to include E-portfolios and Edukite, as well as the invitation to the conference being extended to all schools throughout New Zealand. Over 400 delegates attended 50 workshops over the two day conference, a huge increase from the 100 attendees from 2008.
For the Flaxmere Cluster hosting the Champion Schools’ Conference this year has been the climax of a 3 year project. The Licensing Trust have invested $500,000 dollars over the past few years for the 5 schools in Flaxmere, Hastings to access Interactive whiteboards along with other hardware and be provided with the raft of Professional Development needed for a sustained programme of this magnitude. Many teachers from the cluster took the opportunity to share their learning and experience.
Although the workshops were a focal point for the conference the opportunity for teachers to network was not missed with many taking the chance to meet others from around the country, sharing their passion and interest in extending teaching and learning opportunities within and beyond the classroom.
With both Peter Kent and Chris Betcher making the trek across the ditch to share their experience and insight into the realm of IWBs the conference was left humming and most delegates asking for the date and location of next year’s conference.
Neila Thompson Profile
Neila Thompson (with a p) has been working with five and six year olds at Flaxmere Primary. She has had an iwb for 2 years and remains excited about using her board in the classroom.
"It’s amazing what you can do with five year olds and an iwb" she says.
The presence of an iwb in a classroom changes your perspective on teaching, challenges your pedagogy, motivates students and is a powerful tool in the school where formative practise and personalised learning are key.
Full interview found at http://dragon09.podomatic.com/player/web/2009-01-27T16_47_06-08_00
Chris Betcher Profile
Chris is a teacher. He is one which holds the use of the Interactive Whiteboard dear to his heart. But… as he is quick to point out it is teaching and learning which should be central in the minds of teacher and using technology should be driven by a desire to see curriculum, teaching and learning enriched and fulfilled by its presence and use. His keynote was recorded and can be found at : http://iwbrevolution.ning.com/forum/topics/teaching-is-not-a-dirty-word .
Useful Links:
Chris’ Quik vid
Twitter feed
Pictures
