This year I have been tasked with teaching Yr 9 digitech. Which has been a real challenge, but hopefully I’ve now got a handle on what we are doing. I have leaned really heavily on the AMAZING Gamefroot resource at https://takaro.gamefroot.com/ that Dan Milward and Gerard Macmanus put together, it was a real life saverContinue reading “Giving Yr 9 digitech a go”
Category Archives: Digital Technologies
Microbit ‘Monsters’
This is the second year that Kevin and I have co-taught a yr 7 digital technology course, which runs for about 24 lessons on a rotation. (You can find previous reflections on this course (the first one is from this year when we introduced a greater focus on the technology curriculum here, here and here). WeContinue reading “Microbit ‘Monsters’”
Making a Chemistry App with Thunkable
Half way last term, I got to accompany some students to a digigirlz event that was hosted by the fabulous Phillipa Dick At Balmacewen Intermediate. The girls where given a ‘challenge’ and then quickly showcased a variety of digital tools they could use to make a solution. One that grabbed my eye was Thunkable, aContinue reading “Making a Chemistry App with Thunkable”
Introducing forces and making mazes
This term I have picked up a Year 7 Science class (mostly due to timetabling changes) and we have started the term with a ‘Bikes and Trikes’ topic, which is essentially aiming to cover levers, simple machines and forces. I had this class once, which was mostly a let’s get to know each other aContinue reading “Introducing forces and making mazes”
Putting some technology into our digital technologies module
Last year, Kevin and I taught a yr 7 digital technology module based around the digital technology curriculum. (If you like, you can read about our efforts here and here). Part way through last year we got a new Technology HoD, who has ‘encouraged’ us to include more from the technology curriculum, and we areContinue reading “Putting some technology into our digital technologies module”
Reflections from the PPTA ICT committee meeting November
Edit – since I first published this blog, the friendly folk at NZQA got in touch with some answers and responses to my ponderings below. I’ve put their responses in italics and separated it out from the general round robin info. At the end of last term I attended the PPTA ICT committee meeting inContinue reading “Reflections from the PPTA ICT committee meeting November”
Integrating digital technologies – computational thinking, designing digital outcomes, and Dichotomous keys
As my inquiry this year, I have been trying to explore ways to incorporate aspects on the digital technologies curriculum strand into ‘my’ classes in a meaningful way. I have had a play with my Level 2 chemistry class by focussing on pattern recognition and algorithms we were exploring solubility rules, and then also withContinue reading “Integrating digital technologies – computational thinking, designing digital outcomes, and Dichotomous keys”
Integrating computational thinking – Mystery Skype.
When I first did a mystery skype with Kyle Calderwood, I remember thinking this is a great way to encourage students questioning skills as well as for them to learn about other people and places. The premise is that during a Mystery Skype, students will ask questions to locate where the other class or person is. YouContinue reading “Integrating computational thinking – Mystery Skype.”
Re thinking Chemistry (identifying ions) with Computational Thinking
When I first ‘meet’ computational thinking about 18 months ago at a presentation by Lisa Anne Floyd, I was hooked!! I wanted to dive straight in, and as such my first few attempts at using computational thinking frameworks kind of fizzled with my classes. (you can see my earlier post on computational thinking HERE) ItContinue reading “Re thinking Chemistry (identifying ions) with Computational Thinking”
Finishing off digital technologies… till we start again next week :)
It is almost a month (where does time go) since I posted about the start of our digital technologies module, and as it finished tomorrow I thought I should remind myself and share how it has gone. It certainly has been a bit of a wobbly path the last couple of weeks, not helped byContinue reading “Finishing off digital technologies… till we start again next week :)”
ibpossum takes on tech 