Category Archives: random ramblings

Two very little organisation tips that made my life WAY easier

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”

Celebrating ‘success’

I have been thinking a fair bit recently about what success in Education looks like. The annual season of prize givings and prize lists, external exams and last minute assessments is in full swing. Marks must be entered, checked, entered again in case they are needed to derived grades. Students are tired and ratty andContinue reading “Celebrating ‘success’”

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??”

Reflections from PPTA ICT committee meeting May 1

The PPTA ICT committee had an extra meeting in May, to review how online learning is working for different regions, and to offer some opinions and ideas to exec who are continuing to meet with various official parties such as NZQA and the ministry. As usual, these are my thoughts and interpretations, I’m happy toContinue reading “Reflections from PPTA ICT committee meeting May 1”

Reflection from PPTA ICT meeting April 2

We are sure living through interesting time. I hope everyone is as safe and as happy as they can be in their various bubbles around the place. And you are enjoying school holidays – what ever that looks like for you. This morning I attended via zoom the PPTA ICT committee meeting. These are moreContinue reading “Reflection from PPTA ICT meeting April 2”

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”