Post Grad: Session 8 - Learning Journeys

 Digital and Collaborative Learning Journeys

Whakataukī

Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamua
Look back and reflect, so you can move forward

Critical Reflection based on Learning Theories

Insights

As a class, we are looking at Class Companion, which students use to get instant feedback for their writing and can then modify it.

When I had another look at the diagram, it was interesting to see where I could improve 

Reflecting and Reflection:

Think about the past to help with the future this only works if you consider what has happened in the past.

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua - means I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.

It is important to describe the situation so there is context, however when reflecting it is very importing to look at Why? How? and So What? or SO What now?

So remember a little bit of description for context but for this assignment we need to be more reflective. It is not always easy to be reflective straight after an event, but record those what if and come back to them later as they will create learning and action to make the next step better or even easier. 

Most important thing to do with reflection is to write it down.

Then write a short reflection on an experience you have had in digital and/or collaborative learning using the suggested structure.

• Keep description (what, when, who, and where) to a minimum

• Write about your thoughts and feelings during the experience, after it, and since

• Focus on reflection - why did you do something in a particular way? How would you change in the future? So what does this learning help you with?

The Power of Collaboration - Video

Hold out your hand and imagine you receive a stone; close your hand around it. You are keeping control. Imagine the stone is so large you need others to help you move it; that is collaboration. 

Where are you and your school on the digital journey? Being part of the Manaiakalani Network, I think we have teachers on the journey between Emerge and Extend and senior school teachers trying to move into Extend.

This is an interesting explanation of Critical Reflection;

Remember when reflecting we are:

There is a difference between reflective and descriptive writing - so be careful!

Takeaways

Prompts for Reflection

These sentence stems could be useful, especially if stuck...

Reflection:

I am now looking forward to this reflective assessment. These questions will also help with general reflection for my classroom practice. 

Things to consider for the assignment:

• Write experiences in first person; be honest and meaningful about your practice.
• Keep the context (description) the "what, who and where" limited
• Use 3rd person when referencing and reinforcing using literature.
• Use student voice and feedback if you have it.
• You can reflect on different stages; however, don't forget the whole process needs to be achieved and reflected on.
• Remember to step back and take another look.
• Use Hindsight
• What now?
• What will I do differently?
• What will I keep the same?
• Consider the events going on around you at the same time that may influence the task/outcome.
• Examine your biases and positionality (my normal is different to someone elses normal)
• Ensure reflection flows from past, to present to speculative future.
• What happened → Why it mattered → What it revealed → What I will do differently

But this gave me the opportunity through group breakouts to reflect on how I could modify the tasks I set for writing. E.g. using Google Docs, write a collaborative story, put it into Class Companion, individually look at the feedback and modify your version to make your best copy. Then share orally with your partner, or the class; each version should sound slightly different.