Monday 22 November 2010

My Edublog Award Nominations

My Edublog Award Nominations

It is always so hard to choose amongst some many fantastic people. However here are my nominations for 2010.


Best individual tweeter: @tombarrett
Best resource sharing blog: http://ilearntechnology.com
Best Educational Technology Support Blog: Speed of Creativity
Best school administrator blog Principals Page: The Blog
Best class blog: http://super7scoopers.edublogs.org

Saturday 13 November 2010

A Vision of 21st Century Learners

The race is on and already many schools are competing to offer laptops and e-learning at school to attract students. Many schools are already planning to move towards 1:1 laptop or iPad programs, and parents are sitting up and noticing. Now this tells me parents are very aware of what opportunities their child needs, but do they know what know what a 21st Century student is? More importantly, do they/we know what 21st Century teachers look like and what do they do?

Watch the two videos below; if you were a parent checking out the local schools, what you would expect 21st Century teaching to look like?

A Vision of 21st Century Students


A Vision of 21st Century Teachers

Sunday 7 November 2010

Day in a Sentence

Thank you all for participating in Day in a Sentence, I even got my principal to join us this week! I also discovered that DIAS is not only a great reflective tool but a fun literacy activity for your students too.
Day in a sentence
Three of my students are finalists in the TVNZ6 NetGuide Multimedia Challenge, and I am a proud teacher! - Shaun Wood

As I revamp some of my curriculum to focus more on literature and reading skills, I feel like some of my more interesting writing projects and activities may be slipping away from me; I need more balance. --Kevin

I'm excited on my 4th day of National Novel Writing Month and I just finished a digital piece that I'm feeling good about: http://vimeo.com/16273829 - Bonnie

After much indecision I have decided to do a PhD, it will be a good 3 or 4 years study but at the end I will become a Doctor :) - Jared

I was surprised to hear a chorus or requests when I reflected, "I wish we could write all day."- Eric

This last month of spring started well for me; its blue skies, days of sunshine and lengthening warm evenings are this year's promise of a wonderful summer.  - Blogger in Middle-earth

School has been hard, but the days are beginning and ending with spectacular sun performances, so I believe it'll all be okay. - Lynn Jacobs

More than half of what it takes to be an effective teacher is simply showing up everyday.  - Ben@TIC

This week was wonderfully successful, as our school partnered with the University of Ballarat and Country Education Project, to trial virtual teaching rounds with three student teachers - amazingly successful from all points of view with great teamship, student engagement, technology use,virtual classrooms - a glimpse into the classroom of the future. - Murcha

I was away from my class for 4 days this week and they kept blogging without me... very proud! - Ms B

Being apart of my students lives makes my heart sing, I love being a teacher. - @melaniem8

Over the past several weeks Bailey Road School has been recognised in the press for several outstanding achievements, I am proud to be leading such a hardworking and innovative staff. - Derek Linington

Our science topic in class inspired me to plant my own garden and what a buzz I get from it.  - MrsTorrey

Authentic Audience

Reading the online guardian.co.uk a few days back, a headline caught my attention "Class blogs: a better way to teach" by Judy Friedberg. I was amazed to find a reference and link to my own class blog here, "Here's a class in New Zealand making short films about how earthquakes happen."

Aside from being flattered, it made me realize a few things. Firstly if my class blog is an example then I must be using blogs in an appropriate 21st century way. This is thanks to all my PLN's class blogs that I follow who inspire and encourage me. Secondly, teachers also have a need for an authentic audience, we also get engaged and excited when our work is recognised and commented on.

Judy interviews a classroom teacher who blogs, he says, "It gives them pride in their work, acknowledgement of their worth, and some understanding that there is a big wide world out there and people are listening to them." It certainly does, and it applies to teachers too. While on the subject of empowering kids to blog by commenting on their blogs, visit http://comments4kids.blogspot.com and find out how you can make a difference.