Visit from the NZQA School Relationships Manager

Today our SCRM came in to see how we were going with the recommendations made in the MNA (Managing National Assessment) report from earlier in the year, so I took the opportunity to ask her how we would be able to create a Assessment Statement for students if we move towards PBL.  It was reassuring to hear that you can make statements that offer a range of standards that you may be offering in a course, and due dates can include information along the lines of 'the due date will be during term 3, with the final date being indicated 3 weeks prior'.

After school the curriculum committee started having a discussion about our future curriculum.  We have decided that we will plan to trial PBL with the junior classes at the end of the year. What form that takes will be decided as we progress.  I'd quite like to be quite bold with this as I believe the key to improving engagement is relevant and authentic learning.  Self review continues to highlight student literacy levels as a barrier for achievement. My hunch is reading information you have a real desire to read will increase the ability to draw inferences and to comprehend, I feel an inquiry coming on.

We're also pushing ahead the Building On Success initiative.  Today I've confirmed the shadow coaches to be in school next Thursday. They'll use the culturally responsive and relational pedagogy observation tool (check list) with the team who will in turn be observing the teachers who opt to be a part of the initial roll out. It's all go, but I like the sense of urgency this is creating.

To round out today I also met with with Muaupoko Tribal Authority this afternoon to talk about where we will head with Te Kupenga our collaboration between the tribe, CYFS, school and the Police which aims to reduce offending, and improve educational outcomes for the students involved. The trial has had some success and I'm feeling positive that all parties involved are keen to keep working together, awesome!

Project Based Learning?

The 3 adventurers have returned from their 3 days in Auckland.  They have come back brimming with new ideas and enthusiasm for what they've seen at both Albany Senior and Hobson Point Secondary School.  One of the things both schools were doing was project based learning.  I'm hoping to have a discussion about this at our curriculum meeting tomorrow after school.  Usually we're looking at the mix of subjects we're offering to the senior school, and how we can create a balance of academic subjects and skills based courses (Catering, Technology Jewellery etc).  In general we talk about how we can create courses to engage students who aren't interested in going onto University. This conversation concerns me, as I feel as though we are reducing the curriculum level to make it achievable by students.  I'm reminded that if we keep doing the same thing we're going to get the same result.  I believe it's the time to investigate other options like Project Based Learning.  I mentioned it to my professional learning group after school.  That group seemed keen to look at a possible trial with the juniors towards the end of the year.  It will be interesting to hear what the curriculum committee have to say.

I've just got back from a Whanau Advisory Group meeting. Only a few parents there but we did have some good discussion about improving the relationship between school and whanau.  We have career interviews for all Year 11's towards the end of term, these capture about 85% of families.  Other attempts at building the home school relationship aren't as successful and this an area of ongoing work.  I think the key may be having a clear purpose for the meeting and this may be an area for a future investigation.

How ready are we?

After school yesterday I attended the Social Sciences department meeting, even though it was only a Social Studies meeting  (I know, I'm a sucker for punishment).  After being accused of derailing (I thought that was quite a harsh judgement) the meeting I was allowed the make a contribution.  So I asked if they thought they'd be able to utilise Chromebooks with one of their current junior classes if I manage to convince the board to buy a trial class set. (I'm only asking the Board as it's not budgeted spending)  The answer was a resounding YES.  I'm really pleased about this as it will add weight to my argument.  It also means that when we do decide to make devices compulsory they will be used. I've heard stories of other schools where the students have been required to purchase devices, but they simply haven't been extensively used at school.  As we're a relatively low decile (two) school I'd hate to have that happen here.

Meanwhile I've been reading my twitter (@reichy) feed all day to keep up with the happenings at the inaugural #edchatnz conference.  Feeling left out not being there, but having had 2 days out already this week I'm consoling myself with the idea of attending the Ulearn conference in the next school holidays.

The test Chromebooks are here.

Using one of the new Chrome books to write today, verdict so far-positive.  I find using the keyboard easier than the touch screen on my surface, and it's definitely quicker than my now ancient netbook. It's working better from home as there seems to be an issue with connecting to the school WiFi and with using my @waiopehu.ac.nz email address with Google accounts (even though it is a Gmail account).  Something I've booked in for our network support company to explain to me tomorrow.  Huge thanks to the rest of the BeLT team for getting the teacher only day organised in my absence over the last two days. Tomorrow I'm putting the sheet up for the teachers to book their workshops on. Am I being ambitious hoping their enthusiasm will be shown by everyone rushing to make their choices?

The Moral Imperative and Blended eLearning

Today was the second day planning for implementing Building On Success for the schools in the first roll out of the initiative.  Awesome day being challenged and reflecting on how to create a more culturally responsive and relational pedagogy.  I'm looking forward to using the observation tool and learning how to shadow coach in the not too distant future.  As always the opportunity to network with teacher's from other schools means we'll also be visiting Rangitikei College in a couple of weeks time to see how they're using their chrome books.

I've also been reflecting on the moral imperative that lies behind taking the next steps towards blended eLearning. In my opinion we need to be doing this work as it is our job to prepare students for their future. I think we need to question whether the way we teach now is the best way to be  giving students the skills they'll require for a future economy, where knowledge is free. No doubt some assumptions being made now may yet prove to be untrue, but is this an excuse to not taking some steps towards challenging changing the way we approach our classroom practice? 
I also believe that using digital Technology improves student engagement which will improve achievement which remains at the heart of why we do what we do.

Building on Success and Blended eLearning

Had a great day today at a Building On Success hui at Whakarongotai marae in Waikanae.  Most of the day we shared and collaborated with other schools, working on discursive re-positioning.  We touched on some thinking behind transformative leadership, and the moral imperative that sits behind closing the gap between Maori and non Maori achievement.
There are parallels with the work we are doing to with blended elearning, in particular some of the shifts that have to be made in thinking.  Some of the ideas that relate to both initiatives include the notion of moving from deficit theorizing to having agency, the need to deprivatise classrooms and build communities of practice, shifting from passive transmission to interactive and discursive pedagogy, and the shift from being an expert to having and developing expertise. We're all busy at school and at times the feeling of initiative-itis can overwhelm, so the overlap between these two spheres of work is heartening.

Quick after school meeting- on a Friday!

Having been so enthused but exhausted by yesterdays meeting, the BeLT (Blended eLearning Team) met again after school today to think a little bit more about our upcoming teacher only day.  We're going to run a series of workshops on things like creating a twitter account, creating a blog, Pinterest, and Google docs.  At the end of the day what's been created will have to be shared.  I'm hoping this will plant the seeds of collaboration and start to build stronger communities of learning at school.

Nick from Noel Leeming also called in to school today, so while he was in the bosses office I ordered 5 Chrome books so the BeLT team will have one each to use so we can investigate how they work on the school network. They'll probably arrive early next week while I'm at the Building On Success hue, we've gone with the Samsung model, will blog about them when we've formed an opinion.