Online Learning - teaching in the 21st century?!?

22/04/2020

For the past 5 years we have been putting in place for our students to be better self managers of their own learning and the last week has been the big test. Thankfully Hornby's sites are fairly well set up and run fairly smoothly. But this whole video conferencing and getting our students engagement online is a complete different kettle of fish.

I don't think i will ever take for granted the benefits of walking into the classroom and having the bodies there in front of me, we may not always capture them but at least they can be surround by the conversations and hear what the other students have to say.

Getting the students used to using Google Meets and actually talking to us has been the first obstacle and much amusement. Training them on the etiquette around the appropriate settings, how to use the mute button and the quick keys to turn your mic on and off. As well as the benefits of the chat function. It really is a different world, and one that many of us are not finding easy. Spending a day staring at yourself on the computer can get to you after a while, not to mention i think the headaches i am now getting due to so much digital time compared to normal.

Next week Jacinda has announced the all schools will open for Year 10s and below. It has raised a lot of questions and probably some anxiety for some. I myself am looking forward to being around people again even if it means keeping our distance still and limiting the number of people that i let into my bubble. I don't think we will have many kids back, but we shall see.

Concern is obviously there for our senior students, many are still struggling with engagement, whether its because of internet, lack of device or just lack of motivation, but the importance for some to gain their NCEA has now sunk in that this could be at risk or certainly a lot harder than they originally thought. But yet again i think it will take some ingenuity from the profession to ensure our kids get the best education we can offer them. I have recently signed up to this group on Facebook and have found it very interesting going through and reading some of the amazing things that other school have in place already.

Something that will come out of this pandemic will be that education in 2020 will certainly look and feel different to any other year that i have experienced in my 15 years, many try and link it back to the year of earthquakes where for months we were not teaching, however, i feel like its different again.

New Zealander of the Year....... Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield

21/4/2020

It is just under 4 weeks since our country moved into lockdown and in that time the world outside has changed drastically and the simplistic human behaviors that we took for granted like going to the beach, socializing with friends or getting our groceries, have all been altered. It has become a part of my daily routine to sit and watch the 1pm update with Jacinda and Ashley Bloomfield. Watching the numbers decline in NZ, while sadly seeing massive devastation in other countries around the world, especially in the USA and the UK.

Before we left school a key topic that was being covered in Yr7-9 either in Wānanga or Huramanu classes, was LEADERSHIP! When you ask students about people they see as leaders they will often automatically name sports stars, musicians and actors as the go too. However, I wonder if during this time our younger population, have taken on board the leadership which has been demonstrated daily by both Ashley and Jacinda. I have often watched in amazement as they both deliver the facts with such empathy and sincerity. They have lead from the front, making the tough decisions, knowing it would put pressure on our economy, raise unemployment and put our low income families and our most at risk, in an even more volatile position that what they currently are in. Doing it all with one goal in mind, to make our country safe again and to stomp out Covid-19.

Sitting back and watching other countries from around the world look upon our Prime Minister with envy, while Trump keeps telling people that he is not a doctor, but that people should just take a cold and flu tablet or that the media are all about making up fake news. Jacinda conducts herself with such poise and grace, not being rattled by the multitude or ridiculous questions asked daily and often repetitively, by our supposedly most qualified media journalists. I am often finding myself yelling at the tv during the press conference because of the barge of questions they yell at her and the unkind nature in which they treat her. I often wonder if she goes off stage and shakes her head at the stupidity of some of these people.  Jacinda Ardern I admire you and am grateful you are the one in charge of getting us through the other side of these crazy times and I hope that our young children will murmur your name from now one when asked who do you know that is a good leader.