Post Grad Certificate in Applied Practice - Weeks 3-5

I continue my reflections as the course progresses and am writing about some of the highlights as my journey continues. Week 3 - Collaborative Learning and Research - Creating a music instrument using Scratch. A great way for students to learn about coding and being creative in this activity where we created a musical instrument using play-doh and wires with a circuit board. Scratch was a simple tool to use and it was fun. I worked in a group of 3 and we had to work together to create a simple composition. In the second part in LDC we looked at research and practice as a link to teaching. Plagiarism was discussed and referencing styles/software like APA and Mendeley. Week 4 - Augmented Reality (AR) and the Tech Debate - Another great week to reflect on as we played with gadgets around AR - or applying technology to everyday objects to help with teaching and learning. I liked Google Cardboard and Aurasma. I can see how these tools can be used to enhance content with students. I particularly enjoyed Human Body 4D where the body came to life through this app on my phone. In the tech debate we argued whether the use of technology in the classroom is good or not necessary. Week 5 - Stop Motion and Growth Mindsets - These topics may seem unrelated but they are both different ways of looking at education and forward focus learning. I enjoyed using Monkey Jam to create a stop motion animation of a Learning Theory to display it in a different way. We completed a Simon Says animation of Social Learning Theory. It was fun to work as part of a group and create a little movie like Ray Harry Hausen did with some of the movie classics and the pain staking work that goes into making it. We then discussed these theories and forward focussed attitudes with a mindsets in mind. I definitely want a growth mindset with my work with students and my professional practice but it can be difficult at times with other pressures around you. Next week we are looking at Leadership theories and networks - prep for the next 2 LDC assignment.

Post Grad. Certificate in Applied Practice (Digital and Collaborative Learning) - Reflections

I have started a new course with Unitac at a place called "The MindLab". Over the next 32 weeks I will be integrating what I do at school/work with this course at it is about 'Applied Practice" with a focus on Digital and Collaborative Learning. It is structure with materials to read and go over during the week and a 4 hour session at The MindLab" with lectures and activities with other participants in the course. I will be adding to this on a regular basis as each week progresses. Week 1 - (away sick) An introduction to the course and Knowledge video viewed - I like the use of play-doh to model ideas in a mind map to illustrate the concept of knowledge. I also discovered about Epistemology - the concept of knowledge and the philosophy around it. A great start to the course. Week 2 - 21st Century Online Learning and Skills - what is considered a 21st Century Skill? and The Key Competencies. I enjoyed the readings/video material this week and the fact we had to do some filming around these two topics. We worked in groups using a "3 act model" to produce a video using Windows Movie maker around a specific topic - Real Life Problems. I found that students and teachers are going to need to embrace 21st Century (we are 15 years in now) skills in terms of learning. Our video shows traditional teaching methods need to be reviewed as students are capable of great ideas to forward their learning in tasks and teachers are more facilitators.