Reflection on 2023

 In 2023, I joined Ako Hiko as a Facilitator, under the guidance of the Manaiakalani Network. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge of digital affordances with other teachers. And yeah let's be honest, they only sometimes wanted to try new things, but with consistent support and a bit of a challenge set out for them, all the teachers I worked with went away with something.

I may have had to explain a few times the importance of the concepts that needed to be taught;

Smart Learner 

• Kawa of Care (Looking after devices)
• Right Place Right Time

Smart Footprint

• Digital Footprint and How It Lasts Forever 
• What we share and how to share 
• Blogging 
• Smart Images

Smart Relationships

• Commenting even if not using blogs, and how to reply
• What to do if something goes wrong (and it does)

These ideas are taught through camera apps, iMovie, Book Creator, Scratch (Jnr), but ideas are not limited to just these applications they can be used to enhance the curriculum and class learning.

After working with the teachers for 3 terms and using the Kaupapa and Pedagogy set out by Manaiakalani. There somethings I would love to try out - My Where to Next if I was Staying ...

• Updating the resources not only to reflect the facilitator but also to ensure students have the opportunity to reinforce their learning (if they have been doing it for more than 2 years) 
• 
  
• Helping the Community/Whanau understand what using a Chromebook looks like, feels like and sounds like. Allowing whanau to upskill and try using a device.

These would be my main offerings. However, that is not to be I am moving back to Papakura. If I were to ever facilitate again, I would continue to meet with the leads of the school as it is important to understand from the get-go what they expect from me collectively and as an individual school and how they see my role in their school. 

I am happy to be going away with some great connections in the education sector. 

Thank you from a Year 4/5 Class

Farewell from Manaiakalani:

Orientation Ako Hiko 2024

Kia Ora 

I have now had two wonderful groups of teachers who are new to digital immersion teaching or have changed levels and are either using Chromebooks for the first time or iPads.

The beginning of the day starts out explaining to new staff the who what how and why of the Ako Hiko story and the joining with Maniakalani.

The Middle Section was on how facilitation works in our Cluster.

As our parents get caught up in device time, we must know the purpose for which we are teaching students to use their devices. In the workforce, we don't work in isolation; we still talk, receive advice, and feedback on what we are doing or work collaboratively.

As a facilitator, I am teaching teachers by modelling with a class. The benefit of this is that students get to learn alongside their teachers, showing that learning never stops. So the importance of communication is key.

After lunch, we focused on creating our class site for learning. We looked at how to make our site most effective, so students can find their learning in less than 3 clicks. This helps them to stay on task and find their learning easier.

This session utilised my toolkit from Term 4 on creating buttons and headers.

 

Physical Restraint Training

 As a Facilitator, I noticed we are not always aware of what is expected of teachers in the classroom. I was invited to join the Physical Restraint Training the MoE has recommended all teachers complete before 7 February 2024. Thanks to one of the schools I was working in.

There are 3 steps:

1. Recognise the Distress / Mātaitia
2. Respond to the Distress / Atawhaitia
3. Restore after the Distress / Whakawhenuatia
   

Followed by the concept of Interlocking Branching, which comprises the collaboration of the community, whanau, and teachers coming together to safeguard the Akonga/Learners.

The rules explain the use of physical restraint in registered schools from February 2023. The school policy needs to be in place and updated regularly from May 2023. Kaiako/teachers must be familiar with the school policy and know where to find it. This policy is also to be shared with the community.

Teachers are authorized to use physical restraint (PR) following the Education Act and following the guidelines provided. In case of any such incident, a written record must be maintained and kept for 10 years from the last action taken. If a student (Akonga) is identified as high-needs, either due to multiple incidents occurring per term, concerns raised by the whānau (family), or if the previous school has indicated so, an action plan must be put in place in collaboration with all parties involved.

Caregivers must be notified as soon as possible after a learner has been restrained. This should be followed by a debrief within 3 days, allowing all parties to reflect. 

Who is in charge of implementing this step?

Monitoring is an important step in this process. Distress will affect all parties: teachers, learners, and the family. This step will also help identify any trends or stresses that may contribute to the incidents. This is then followed by reporting to the Ministry (every incident of Physical Restraint). As Teachers, we need to know where the form is online.

Orientation with Manaiakalani

 It was wonderful listening to Dorothy talking at the Orientation about how Manaiakalani started and then grew from a Cluster to a Network.

Teacher PLD Slides

The Manaiakalani Film Festival enables every student to see themselves on screen (or see the movie they helped to produce - screen write, camera person starting from 5 years old) - many students are actively involved and they end up in media 

Manaiakalani - WHO

Started in 2006 to change circumstances for learners, whanau. The old saying it takes a village to raise a child is what they based their model on. They need to make the Village with all schools communicating with other agencies.

The Network began in 2015

TMP - PLD Community Buildings are all hugely important

Relentless focus of Achievement

Need to weigh the pig and feed the pig - if you don’t measure can’t support learning. This saying is about assessment, if you don't assess how do you know what they know and what is next?

A wave of technology in 2006 created the need to ensure equality and equity for all students and schools.

However, the community said you can’t be the next wave that comes and goes with the next new thing.

Manaiakalani - WHAT

A is built in a House/Whare model because needs

a framework and strong foundation to strengthen each pillar and the schools.

Creativity is in the centre (heart of it)

Sharing - such as film festivals, blogs, but not limited to online.

Walls/Pillars - framing to support the roof = 

Roof Shout - Cybersmart/Digital Citizenship

enabling and supporting learners and schools in the digital age

Pedagogy - 

Ako, Hanga, Tohatoha for your school, so each school will be different

Learn - general statement, engagement, creativity  and collaboration - enquire 

If not part of Learn Create Share - intentionally design lesson this way = part of TMP otherwise just part of a Chromebook learning - effective teaching practise Slides

Kaupapa -

Connected/Rangitaamiro - Learners are connected across school no matter where from - Rangitaamiro

Connecting teachers as all teaching the family village

Empowered/Rangituu - People who are disempowered lack control over the actions imposed upon them, a reality evident not only in education but also in medical services and the workforce. What actions can we take? Advocate for students to possess their own devices; shared iPads do not offer the same level of ownership and accountability as having a device specifically assigned to each student, such as a Chromebook labelled with the student's name.

Ubiquitous networking ensures coverage for all families, capturing their learning needs regularly. Whether in audio or video format, materials should be easily rewindable. Teachers should take pride in their teaching and be unreserved about capturing it, akin to the planning posted on walls in the cloak bay during the 1970s. Teachers who make their teaching visible facilitate achieving outcomes more readily, as students can refer to exemplars and create their own assessments. Blogging aids in this process by allowing teachers to document their progress, which becomes even more impactful when supplemented by comments from others, though it remains potent even without external visibility.

Part 2

Whare Footing - Legal Document

Meet with boards and community - Parents said, would be wonderful for students to have their own computers, not the traditional dial-up computers.

Boards held a combined forum making the community consistent.

Professor Stuart McNaughton - wanted to empower Manaiakalani over their own data, so we now have our own Research Team that Woolf Fisher oversees.

 

Teachers should be aware of how what assessment data is used for… not just individual teachers or senior leaders but across the community

Power is knowledge

We don’t focus on writing, with using a device. Why write on paper, Learners who use a device are significantly better off. 

Looked BYOD but found it was more Bring Your Own Disasters as teachers had to prepare for a range of formats that each device could use. Trialled tablets and iPads, but iPads were more consistent.

Relentlessly focus on being positive therefore tapping into emotions

Smart Learner

Smart Footprint

Smart Relationship

By Year 9 learners are brainwashed with these terms and what goes alongside them. This doesn’t mean they won't push boundaries but they will be snapped.

Iceberg - only have to focus on the tip - being smart, underneath is the security for School Leadership

Part 3

First Orientation 2015 

So people can connect with Manaiakalani, In-class Facilitation

Toolkits (class teachers also)

In-class Facilitation - The main idea is In-class with the teacher consistent with a time that works with you

Cybersmart Challenge (Blog)

They have their Class Sites day on a different day as it is a full-day workshop where teachers can construct a Class Site. 

It was wonderful to be part of this day. Watch this space to see what I use in the Ako Hiko Orientation.

Definitely many of Dorothy Burt's points about how it all comes about. - Thank you Manaiakalani for this opportunity. E.g the Whare and how it is and was constructed, and the fact it is all about building successful communities together!