Adapting to virtual learning & teaching in 2020!

Name of Course/Programme/Seminar:
Home Learning 101.
Provider/Presenter:
Fiona Grant (Manaiakalani), Chris, Johanna & GTS Staff
If I was to summarise the key things I took away from this Professional Development what would they be and why?

1. Establishing a new network of online/digital connections.
2. Implementing whole class instructional teaching via Google Meets
3. Initiating change to improve virtual teaching/learning.
4. Ensuring practices from in-class teaching are applied ie: Differentiation, Student Engagement & Motivation, Creativity

How has this professional development challenged my thinking?

• Due to the unprecedented event of the pandemic, teachers were challenged to familiarise and implement the pedagogy of distance learning. The implications of living in a technological environment are now heavily in focus.
• The absence of being able to physically teach the students was a huge challenge. I had to ensure that the resources and activities were manageable for the students to complete, digitally. 
• Making sure we weren't just setting up the students with time consuming "busy work". We still needed to take into consideration our school curriculum overview, inquiry focus, LPF learning and implementing it into our planning.
• Taking into consideration the students well-being, I was constantly thinking of ways to make the learning fun. Making sure I can eliminate the 'fear' from the situation the whole country was encountering, and manipulating it into a source of learning. For example: for maths, students were to investigate, compare & contrast numbers of confirmed cases between New Zealand and 10 other countries in the world. 

What aspects of my practice would I consider changing as a result of this professional development and why?

• Learn-Create-Share pedagogy and the integrated curriculum is utilised to keep my learners engaged, motivated and feel successful during these uncertain times.
• Informed learning. Setting up learning tasks that enable the students' to explore this lockdown experience in depth. One day they will look back at the current situation and be able to share, reflect & talanoa to others' about it. #Historical
• Use a cross-curricular approach and a range of deliberate acts of teaching in flexible and integrated ways that lead to the success of understanding what they're learning. Increasing my learners' cognitive and intellectual engagement.