ibpossum

Why do we still have cracks?

It is an easy answer isn’t it – a kid falling through the cracks. They didn’t fit that criteria, or that criteria, and they somehow got missed. Or they refused this help, or this consequence, or they moved to a new school (or a new home…) and didn’t get followed up on. There is insufficientContinue reading “Why do we still have cracks?”

Reflections from the April PPTA ICT meeting

(Please note – these musings are my own thoughts, and while I have done my best to accurately portray what was said, they are my interpretations and I have possibly misheard or misrepresented. Please get in touch if I have. I am happy to provide any more info, or put you in touch with peopleContinue reading “Reflections from the April PPTA ICT meeting”

New Onenote Addins (stickers, forms and immersive reader) are making me smile

I am already a big fan of Microsoft OneNote. My school uses OneNote with most of our classes, and our Science department in particular has shared Onenote resources stored on our share point site. We are using Microsoft Classroom, which makes the classnotebook really easy (as long as you go to the manage tab inContinue reading “New Onenote Addins (stickers, forms and immersive reader) are making me smile”

Reflections from the #E2 Global educator exchange

I was fortunate enough to attend the Microsoft E2 global educator exchange held in Toronto, Canada last week (March 21-13). It was a truly global event with over 250 educators from over 80 countries in attendance, as well as product developers, Microsoft partners, school leaders and some representative students!!! E2 had so many highlights andContinue reading “Reflections from the #E2 Global educator exchange”

When do we start?

I found this post in my drafts….. thought I had hit published, but the thoughts are still relevant I think. There has been a lot of discussion in New Zealand recently around the age our children start school. As a parent of a nearly 4 year old, I have been following with interest and anxiety.Continue reading “When do we start?”

Why share?

Life is just a bit hectic right now. Mostly by choice – I have kicked started organising a #teachmeetNZ in term 2 which takes a bit of planning, I has a Microsoft catch up session, and I applied and got selected to present at a conference in Toronto (squueeeeeee!!!!!!!) in a couple of weeks time.Continue reading “Why share?”

Getting Schooled

This year, I have a student who made the Olympiad training group. He sat the next round of selection exams last week. I have to say I am really proud of him, he has worked hard and independently, and has enjoyed the challenge. But it has reminded my just how much I have forgotten. TheContinue reading “Getting Schooled”

Saving time with collaborative planning on Sharepoint and Onenote

(I need to acknowledge the significant amounts of work done by the Science department of my school in getting this set up, especially Kevin for his work on Sharepoint and Ryan for his work with OneNote and the unit plans, and EVERYONE for being willing to go along with this and make it AWESOME) AtContinue reading “Saving time with collaborative planning on Sharepoint and Onenote”

Week one of a Minecraft MOOC (& getting to experience Microsoft Classroom as a student)

I have been playing around with Minecraft in my classroom for over a year now without ever really getting fully into it myself. I have mostly allowed students to use it as a tool for their learning if they chose, and some students did amazing things like build a chem lab or a heart, or some electricalContinue reading “Week one of a Minecraft MOOC (& getting to experience Microsoft Classroom as a student)”

Hands on at Hands on at Otago

My favourite (professional) week of the year is Hands on at Otago. This camp used to be Hands on Science, and 19 years ago I went along as a nerdy nearly 6th former. Fast forward a few years and I was running the project in my department. A few more years and I am theContinue reading “Hands on at Hands on at Otago”