Week 1Homework Digital & Collaborative Learning in Context (DCL)

CISC 8110

The purpose of education

Mind Lab overview:
On this week's session we are challenging you to think what is the purpose of education. Why do you do what you do? And why is there suddenly such a huge focus on education transformation? What is driving the evolution?

Developing Essential Digital and Innovation Skills for 21st Century Education Delivery

Education is being challenged by the impact of new technologies and unlimited online access to user driven content.Today’s student is increasingly in conflict with the traditional analogue education system and education delivery practices.

While the adoption of technological practice is core to the unprecedented transformation that is taking place, the shift has been further compounded by the need to prepare our students for careers that don’t yet exist. Educators have found themselves in needing new skills and knowledge that blends digital connectivity and collaboration with the converging world of learning innovation, digital pedagogy, online education and global networks. 

‘The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn’t need to be reformed- it needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardise education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions” (Robinson, 2009)

TASK:
Reflection: What is my understanding on the purpose of education?

TASK:
Reflection: How is your understanding of the purpose of education visible in your classroom.

In my learning environments I like to offer the students time to learn. I like to allow them to engage in practical and problem-solving tasks. Once set-up I try not to interfere. I encourage them trial and error different scenarios, relax about make mistakes and to think critically about what they are doing and why they are doing it. I try to offer variety so all learning styles are catered for and a blended learning environment. I find a circus of activities works very well for this, so students have a choice of the approach and learning activity which best suits them.

               Making beetroot choc cake using the beetroot
they grew in their gardens

I like to offer opportunities were the students successes are celebrated...this student grew all of these vegetables from seed, not only was she able to take the food home to her family, she also learnt that she could make money out of selling her excess produces.

Balle Bros Visit

Auckland Botanical Gardens

The students grew all of these plants from
seeds at the start of the year.

I like to connect the community to the students and the students to the community. Here we are out on a visit to learn about the Horticulture Industry in New Zealand. A interesting visit that allows them to gather the required information for their knowledge-based assignment, but also an opportunity to widen the students minds to career opportunities that are available and also how our country relies on the Agricultural income from NZ and oversea countries.

                                                 

'mmm I wonder'

Students teaching the class

Going 'off-task' . I love these moments when student become inquisitive about other ideas, Here the student should be measuring the temperature of the air..but starts measuring the puddle..this can lead to so many new ideas and students interest.

Change of plan...

I like to model flexibility and adaptability. I arrived to school one day and the Arborist was at school so I took the class out to watch. The 'boss' was kind enough to talk to the kids and the kids had a thousand and one questions to ask...mostly relating to gruesome injuries and how much they could earn

I try to find alternative ways of student recording data or working together. These boards were donated by a NZ paint shop and the kids love to work on them. Here they are learning about Native trees and using samples they collected from around the school during the early part of the lesson. I try to provide a selection of resources from books, worksheets, models, digital resources.