One of our aims is to empower our learners to be smart and make smart decisions. This needs to be a whole school focus and this session has made me reflect on whether this is the case at our school.
In our first year of Manaiakalani Outreach it certainly wasn't - it seemed that the Manaiakalani pedagogy was only reflected in the work of those that were working with the Education Programme Facilitator.
This has definitely changed over the last year and a half - we can see and hear a growing common language around our Cybersmart practice. There is planned and deliberate teaching and learning that focuses on smart learners, smart footprint and smart relationships at most levels.
I think we still have work to do in this area however so that it becomes a shared language across all levels of our school and that it is reflected in the discussions we have and information we share with our whānau.
It wasn't really until this session that I realised the depth of the resources that have been created and shared with us as part of Manaiakalani Outreach. Moving ahead from this I am going to start to share the ideas and thinking around these resources with our whānau - a new section called cybersmart snippets in our newsletter. We want to empower our whānau to connect with their children's learning as best we can.New Learning
While learning about the kaupapa "cybersmart" at our DFI session we were challenged with using different devices this week.
I didn't think this would be too much of a bother until I had to find all the shortcuts on a Chromebook - so good learning for me.
Our students are so adept at using Chromebooks which is fantastic but I certainly had some learning to do! Digital Fluency is about being able to use any device - it is really important that we understand the learning experience our learners are having so I am glad that I was able to experience this.
Are you digitally fluent?
Kia ora Jo,
ReplyDeleteYes I think I am digitally fluent, I do not know everything, who could as there is so much, however I do know how to find most answers to questions created through my use of digital tools.
It seems to be a regular theme across Manaiakalani Outreach of the value of Cybersmart slowly being recognised as time goes by.
The common language is so important across the school and why I keep reinforcing "Are you in the right place at the right time" and "Are our comments positive, thoughtful and helpful". I would love if this also was happening in the home. Maybe I should be thinking about using it in our house for how we talk to each other especially with the added complexities of learning from home.
Nga mihi,
Mark
Hi Jo. What a great idea to share the learning that comes out DFI and Manaiakalani PD, with our school community. I think that our parents will enjoy the cyber smart snippets - one way to keep up with their children who may soon outstrip them!
ReplyDeleteI think that compared with you and other members of our staff, I am not particularly digitally fluent - until I am in other school environments and I realise that compared to other schools and other people, I actually know quite a lot! It amuses and surprises me that in some forums (personally and professionally; I become the trouble shooter! Go figure! and thanks Jo.