Stunning Queenstown

You couldn't have asked for a more stunning day to land in Queenstown. It's been 18 years since I last visited this picturesque piece of New Zealand. We landed on a run way laced with snow as the grand Remarkables saluted our decent.
This picture was taken by the edge of Lake Wakatipu, a gorgeous light for taking photos. Looking forward to visiting two schools tomorrow as the New Zealand Principal Federation (NZPF) conference begins. Looking forward to this weeks learning.

The Power of Picking the Right Ap

I was delighted this evening to get a call from my 7 year nephew asking me the name of the x table ap I had downloaded for him a few weeks prior. I said why do you want to know that? He responded by saying that all the aps on Mums iphone were boring and that one was helping him learn. I had a wee giggle to myself when I mentioned Mum would need $1.29 to buy it. Here he was 6.00pm requesting to play an educational game to get better at the times tables he was wanting to get better at. This phone call reminded me just how capable our young learners are at self regulating what they need to work on. Just had to share that wee pearl!

What Motivates Us?

Enlightening - well worth taking 10 minutes out of your day to reflect on what motivates people. How do we actively maximise opportunities for learners to experience Challenge, Mastery and Making a Contribution. Very cleverly illustrated in Dan Pinks 'The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us'.

Thank goodness for the video camera on the iphone!

Having the phone in the back pocket has been incredibly handy on more than one occasion today. Would you believe it Nan and Aunty were in charge of one family of three today and boy number 2 scores his first goal of the session. Mum and Dad weren't there but we have the evidence! Am sure his arms were in the air for more than a minute in shear glory he had scored. Captured first hand on the iphone!
I set the 5 year old up on the mac to write his own book. Dragged a few movies and pictures of him into keynote and away he went. He was hooked for the next hour sounding out words and writing his own story and stopping to read it to anyone interested in listening.
Had a blast tonight when all 6 cousins came together at Nans for dinner. The music was turned up after dinner for all to reveal their best moves! Must admit we have some real groovers amongst us. Out came the iphone to capture the moment. The interesting thing was when I showed the 3 year old just how groovy she was she was mesmerized watching herself as the movie was played back. I wonder what she was really thinking?
Loving trying out how different technologies might be used on my nieces and nephews. One thing I am learning is it's in them, intuitive and you don't need to show them much before they start teaching you!

Personalising Learning - Selecting Aps

What fun I have had recently selecting the most appropriate aps for each of my nieces and nephews. The ease in which an application can be searched for, downloaded and instantly tried out to see if it is pitched at the right level is instantaneous. I am intrigued by what hooks each individual. The aps that give immediate gratification as to whether the individual has been successful or not seem to be a hit and played over and over again. A priceless moment was when my 3 year old niece whilst playing a counting game on my iphone beams ear to ear and looks up for a brief moment and says 'See Aunty it claps me'. On reflection it was so obvious she was hooked by the frequent feedback and gratification of achieving success, when she wasn't successful she tried again. The engagement levels I continue to observe are intense and sustained over long periods of time. The learning that is taking place is significant. Why is it significant I keep asking myself, I am coming to realise that the i pod touch/iphone uses all sensory modes at once, kinesthetic, auditory and visual, which we know is more likely to lead to long term memory. Loving this informal research!

ipod Touch- Engagement Continues

You may recall that I got an ipod touch for my nephews to share as payment for building my deck! but more importantly as an experiment for myself to see what types of activities would sustain their engagement and if the time they spent on it was of educational benefit. I managed to pop round this week at story time. As I entered the 5 year old was keen to show me a lego city movie he had just about recited. This is relevant at the moment as the house hold challenge is to build a city out of all the lego they have. The movie adds to their creative imaginations as to what is possible. It was then story time, as I read to the 5 year old the 7 year old timed how long it took me to read the story and had great joy in reading the number decimals in all. After the story the 7 year old then proceeded to tell me that his school reader the night before was about Mr Windsor. He said it wasn't that interesting, he continued to share how he went onto you tube and looked up Windsor, this is when it started to get interesting. He told me all about how to tie a windsor knot (tie) and that he had toured the Windsor castle and explained what he saw. Dull book turned interesting as the learning then was unlocked.
I asked the 7 year old how the sharing was going as one of the rules was that if there are problems with sharing I might have to have it back. With a big grin on his face he replied none. His Dad backed that up and said I haven't taught the boys anything. I can't believe what's starting to happen.
In summary the engagement increases - no interest is lost at this point. Will keep you posted.

Mobile Technology

I have returned from a fun afternoon setting my two nephews (one 5 and the other 7) up with their first ipod. After downloading itunes and setting up an account we were away searching for free aps. After several minutes there were at least ten aps that the boys took to without any tuition. I watched with interest for the next hour or so as they took turns to explore the chosen educational and recreational aps.
As they had e books read to them and touched individual words for the word to be repeated, I witnessed just how powerful this tool could be for learning both inside and outside the classroom.
I will continue to watch with interest over the next few weeks to see if this engagement sustains. How long will their interest in certain aps last? When will they be hungry for more or different? Will it develop interests otherwise not discovered?

A considerable amount of money can be spent on having the desired e learning tools, what amazes me that we continue to spend without researching the tools impact on student outcomes. There is a need to research and gather evidence to measure the impact such tools have on student learning. Interested to capture some during this wee trial with my nephews. What this space!

ITSC 2010 - 2 Day Conference

Flexible display technology
Mobile devices

6 design Principles of 21st Century

"The predominant technology determines the predominant learning task in the classroom" Alan Kay

Engagement, Learning, iphone

Take a look at this as an example of engagement. How does one harness this in the classroom?

Engagement, Learning, iphone from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Powerful Professional Learning

I experienced an incredibly powerful professional learning session today facilitated by John Edwards. He shared a new model he has been developing on Productive Feedback. The session was facilitated in such a way that there was considerable input (new information) however chunks of time were taken in between each input, to dialogue, question and role play to make meaning of what had been presented with colleagues.
The connections to the hub of the powerful learning model became obvious as I reflected about the day. I am convinced less in more and going deep through utilising the hub is paramount in cementing new learning.
A great day!