Leading the learning of ICT

Progress over the past year in developing ICT in the school has been pleasing. Having time over the recent holiday to reflect on the changes has identified several key aspects to bringing about change. Below are some tips from my own experience.
1. Do your homework. Assess where the need is in your school.
2. Talk to your staff. Assess their readiness to embrace and learn new technologies.
3. Research the hardware available. Keep an open mind about the best solutions.
4. Visit schools that are further down the track. Ask to see their best users of ICT technology in action and then see their beginners too.
5. Write an action plan. Cost it.
6. Share the vision with as many people as possible - teachers, BOT, parents
7. Take teachers and BOT to see the technology in action.
8. Buy two pieces of the same kit. Have your teachers learn together.
9. Model some IT learning yourself, a G & T group for example. Present the learning to staff and other children.
10.Once embedded use the technology to present at Board meeting, staff meetings, parents meetings, assemblies etc. Make other people want to use it.

Sitech Champions School Conference 2010

This years Sitech Champions School Conference held in Wellington was excellent value for money and provided a huge variety of learning opportunities for teachers and leaders looking to develop and maximise their use of Interactive Whiteboard technology.
Breathe Technology (the educational training arm of Sitech Systems - follow the link) provided a range of workshops that catered for all levels of experience but it was the atmosphere of sharing and learning from each other that helped to underline the fact that we are all learners when it comes to ICT. The workshops were full of practical tips and not too large to enable questions, conversations and discussions. Hands on experiences were given to all delegates where possible.
Two teachers from school presented at the conference and the experience has certainly proved positive for them both. Being asked to present after only 6 months of IWB usage was a testament to their hard work and skills as teachers. However the gains in learning from the other delegates has also proved very worthwhile and has already impacted on their classroom practice.

Shannon's Photo Story

Shannon gave this project a lot of careful thought. In selecting and framing her photos she showed not only considerable flair for visual liteacy but also a depth of thinking that we can all aspire to.

Laticia's Photos of the KC's in action

The subject that Laticia has chosen for her study is another member of her class. There is clear evidence of 'Participating and contributing' in these great images.

Ms O. Images by Kimberley

This is the outcome of Kimberley's photo assignment. What I like about this is the way in which Kimberley has played with the images to make a variety of styled photos. Kimberley quickly grasped the power of Picasa to help her take some risks with her editing.

Great images to display our school values

Scott has used the subject of an oak tree to demonstrate our Key Competencies. The oak tree has iconic status at our school. Planted in 1964 as a memorial to it is in a dominant position outside the school office. Often used as a meeting point for the children, the tree acts as a witness to the day to day happenings at Puketapu School.

Key Competencies and Digital Photography

I am a great advocate of the New Zealnd revised curriculum. The key competencies are the foundation for preparing our 21st century children for a 21st century where the rate of change is exponential. At Puketapu School I believe that the key competencies are visible in the classroom, in relationships and at playtime. What I was a little unsure of was how explicit we were in teaching and talking about these competencies. Always looking for a way to do things smarter, I wanted to integrate the promotion of ICT and a natural forum to promote class blog sites. To do this I promoted a scheme of work where a group of gifted and talented children worked with me for one afternoon per week to develop a blog which we could use as a platform to exhibit the key competencies through the use of digital photograpy. I was ably assisted by a parent who works as a professional photographer and I think the results speak for themselves. Check out these outstanding pieces of work.