What impact has involvement in the Te Apiti ICT Cluster had on your teaching practice?
Please comment on any new skills, ideas, practices and pedagogy which you attribute to
cluster involvement during 2010.
You just need to read my reflective log. I do have
one thing to say, at one stage we were bombarded
with ICT course after ICT course and we did not
have enough breathing space to actually try these
new applications in the classroom. I also think that
some of us jumped into creating a classroom blog
and some of them appear to be unprofessional and
some of us (including myself) are guilty of not
keeping our blogs updated as it can be so time
consuming. Thank you Lyn, my literacy session is
awesome now with all of the ICT tools you have
taught me!
~North Street School teacher
I have gained a lot of knowledge in regards to
different programmes I can use in my classroom to
enhance student learning eg: the use of
photostory3, comic life, audacity etc. I have
integrated my blog into my classroom greatly this
year, with great part involvement. This has allowed
for some great discussions and questioning by both
parents, other teachers, and the students.
~Roslyn School teacher
It has made me think about my practices and how I
can include ICT to impact student learning. With my
planning, I am now more inclined to think about how
to include ICT. I am more aware of the various web
2.0 apps available and more confident in my use of
and teaching of them.
~Halcombe School teacher
Our involvement in this cluster has been a real
journey so far. My levels of confidence have
improved and I am more aware of the tools
available. I have learnt a LOT, mainly about
different ICT tools to use with my class. I believe
that some of these enhance achievement. I
acknowledge that learning more about using ICT in
class requires a commitment from me in terms of
taking the time to learn what to do myself first.
There is no doubt that the kids love using all kinds
of ICT - it is a great motivator.
~Halcombe School teacher
This year having the cluster has had a huge
influence on my teaching. Lyn helped me start up a
class blog which started off as a product of what we
have learned in class and is now a real learning
tool. Just about every week I have learned how to
do something new in relation to the running of a
blog and how to make it interesting, fun, reflective,
thinking, questioning, informative, sharing etc.
~Russell Street School teacher
I have learnt many new skills - using WEB 2,0
tools, my students have benefited from the use of
ICT, great for motivation and sharing learning.
There is a lot I wouldn't be doing now if I hadn't
been a member of the cluster. I am enjoying using
WEB 2.0 tools to share student learning - with the
students and the wider community.
~Halcombe School teacher
It has taught me how to engage students by using
and integrating ICT into my planning - they love it!
~North Street School teacher
The biggest impact for me has been on my
understanding around student inquiry and thinking
tools. My students are more engaged in their
learning and they feel as though they have more
ownership of their learning. Also the use of
thinking tools has had remarkable spinoffs in
behaviour management as students are more
metacognitive and reflective about their
behaviour. It's been great and I look forward to
more development in these areas.
~Ashhurst School teacher
I have enjoyed seeing what others are doing and
gaining insight into the integration of ICTs within
classroom programmes. I value the support I have
had from Deb as eCoach as well as the teacher
only day and call back day. It has been neat
getting new ideas and implementing these in my
classroom. Following blogs has been a useful way
of improving the way I integrate ICTs in my
classroom.
~Russell Street School teacher
I have gained new ideas and resources to use, as
well as new skills to teach in the classroom with
ICT and inquiry. This has helped to motivate
students and engage them in learning. The inquiry
process has been a learning curve and this is
continuing on through the year. The website is a
valuable tool in learning new ideas and seeing
what other teachers have been doing with ICT
and inquiry.
~Ashhurst School teacher
By being part of the lead teacher group I have had
the opportunity to see so many great resources
and how they are being successfully used in real
classrooms. Having to justify the impact of these
resources and share these ideas with others has
helped clarify my understanding of the impact and
usefulness of these tools. Te Apiti cluster is full of
forward thinking and creative teachers and
leaders.
~ Russell Street School teacher
Awareness of what is happening in other schools
(gets you out of the 4 walls mentality).
Sharing and reflecting on own practice.
New ideas/new resources/new resource people
Collaboration with others
Next steps
Russell Street School teacher
Observing other peoples learning blogs and
learning journeys. Sharing hints and tips on what
makes a classroom tick through different teaching
styles. Basically stepping outside your own teaching
philosophy and techniques and opening yourself up
to other ways of teaching and interacting with both
teachers and students. This is beneficial to me by
keeping it fresh for both myself and the different
learning styles of my children. Sharing and
manipulating other peoples good ideas is where
unique and often special things come from.
~Riverdale School teacher
It has provided the impetus to move forwards in
terms of the ICT skills. Fits in neatly with my own
pedagogy but has been exciting being able to put it
in practice
~Russell Street School teacher
It has provided me with a range of tools that I was
unaware of. Has provided scaffolding where I feel
confident in delivering ICT lessons at a level
relevant to my class. Being part of the cluster has
meant that I have been able to discuss akonga with
colleagues from other schools.
~Roslyn School teacher
I've learnt to use comic life, Photo Story and
effective use of the digital camera from attending
workshops. I got also a lot from workshops on call
back days, conferences and talking with others from
other schools on these days. I am now spending
more time searching for appropriate activities and
games that can be integrated into the classroom
programme. As well I have given a lot more
ownership to children who teach others what they
have found out and how to use the computer
activities. Some children do daily notices etc. I learn
and work best with explicit teaching of skills and
find when this is done I use what I have been
taught. The class have enjoyed working with the
Inquiry process and have gained more effective
questioning skills etc. from being totally involved in
each step of the process.
~Roslyn School teacher
The building of confidence in integrating ICT in the
classroom program. Improved skills confidence in
the use of web 2.0 technology. A greater
understanding in the value of creating and
synthesizing knowledge and understandings. That
is the value of sharing learning digitally etc.
~Ashhurst School teacher
As a beginning teacher i have been exposed to a
whole new approach to teaching and am
comfortable to try new ICT tools as i establish and
develop my programs. Having the support and
modeling of other teachers in the school i have
started to use the same ideas and tools. Seeing it
used first hand in the classroom is what gives me
the confidents to then use it in my own teaching.
~Ashhurst School teacher
It has enlightened me to different ways of
communicating with community and ways of
engaging and enriching the learning in my class
through adding to my ICT toolbox
~Riverdale School teacher
My confidence has grown with the use of ICT. I
now know that I need to include it in my planning
consistently to ensure that I follow through with
my ideas.
~Roslyn School teacher
I loved Tony Ryan - has given me a great basis
with the thinking keys and I have developed an
effective oral language programme through it. I
can now talk some of the kids IT language and
have actually been able to teach them new things.
~North Street School Teacher
I joined Roslyn School last year, and prior to that
had only used my one classroom computer for
publishing writing. This year I have learnt how to
use Audacity,Photostory 3, Picasa, Voice Thread
and more. Since I have upskilled myself, I have
been able to use these programmes to assist my
teaching. I have begun to use ICTs and their tools
to enhance my teaching of all curriculum areas,
but particularly literacy. I have learnt not to see
and teach ICT learning as a separate subject, but
instead to use it to enhance my teaching and
delivery of the curriculum.
~Roslyn School teacher