As part of my contracting work this year, I have been upskilling myself in the google suite of apps for education. It still feels like I am speaking in a second language at times, as I am so much more familiar with the Office 365/Microsoft softwares. One of my biggest challenges was working across differentContinue reading “Two very little organisation tips that made my life WAY easier”
Category Archives: Professional learning
Reflections from the PPTA ACT committee meeting November 2020
Today I was in Wellington for the PPTA ICT committee meeting. It was the first in person event for the year, after a couple of zoom sessions earlier on due to covid restrictions. Because of this, we had a rather full program with a few specific speakers, as well as a bit more admin typeContinue reading “Reflections from the PPTA ACT committee meeting November 2020”
Making GIFs in Microsoft PowerPoint
A quick little post about something I did for the #teachingwithsurface competition NZ was running – a ridiculous simple was to use Microsoft PowerPoint to make customisable GIFS for revision or for using in presentations to get key ideas across quickly. For some key ideas, a GIF is a really efficient way to get theContinue reading “Making GIFs in Microsoft PowerPoint”
Feedback is like echolocation, and I’m a little bit lost without it
My ‘inquiry’ focus for this year ‘is’ around making sure I’m giving the best feedback to students I can. I had made a start in this post around how I could use the data collected from Microsoft forms better, and make sure it was usable to the students. I have some draft posts about insightsContinue reading “Feedback is like echolocation, and I’m a little bit lost without it”
I can’t find it…… how can we support students AND teachers to navigate online environments??
Like many, I’ve been thrown in the deep end of distance learning as NZ has been in various stages of lockdown. Because of interest, and a good skill set, and a bank of digital resources, I was ok about the shift. (Really missing practicals though). Most of my classes have used the platform (we areContinue reading “I can’t find it…… how can we support students AND teachers to navigate online environments??”
Giving feedback/feedforward: Upping my game with Microsoft forms
A focus for me this year (and really every year!!) is around getting useful information on where my students are at, and making sure the feedback is useable, useful AND not lost. I have tried various methods for this in the past, and one of the best methods I have found is taking an imageContinue reading “Giving feedback/feedforward: Upping my game with Microsoft forms”
Flow charts using smart art in Microsoft Word – or you don’t know what you don’t know.
I recently asked for some help (boy do I need it) on how to scaffold planning for practice and outcome design and development for the digitech course I am teaching this year. It is a massive learning curve. I was hoping to get a ‘generic’ plan, which was not forth coming. (although I did getContinue reading “Flow charts using smart art in Microsoft Word – or you don’t know what you don’t know.”
Reflections from ICT PPTA meeting November 2019.
Last week I was up in Wellington for the PPTA ICT committee meeting. It was quite a busy meeting, with a LOT of discussion around equity, in terms of access to devices, access to support, some issue with PLD, and digital assessment. There was then a run down of the progress being made by theContinue reading “Reflections from ICT PPTA meeting November 2019.”
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”
ibpossum takes on tech 