32 Weeks of learning over or is it ?

                          32 Weeks of learning over or is it ?

32 weeks ago, I started this journey of learning with MIndlab. Apart from PD at school over the past 20 plus years, I have not studied since I was at training college. Yes, it has been mind blowing! 

I have learnt so much and without the support of my colleague, I may not have made it!

 I have learnt so much, where do I start.

Throughout the course, I was continually reflecting on my own practice as well as thinking about our school systems and culture. I have read researched educational theories and used many websites and web tools that I have not used before. 

Two key changes:

Criteria 5: Show leadership that contributes to effective teaching and learning. Professional knowledge in practice

• I hope to help other colleagues understand the difference between  gamification and game based learning. Together we can explore the benefits to use in our classroom programme.

Criteria 12: Use critical inquiry and problem-solving effectively in their professional practice.” (p.1)

• Although we have been doing Teaching as inquiry in my school already, researching my own in depth inquiry has been extremely useful. It has reinforced the benefits and why we do them. I would like to focus  on improving my inquiries focusing on maths, reading and writing with a e-learning focus to them.

e“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, 

                involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

References:

Ministry of Education (nd). Practising teacher Criteria and e-learning . Retrieved from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/

Osterman, K. & Kottkamp, R.(1993). Reflective Practice for Educators. California: Cornwin Press, Inc. Retrieved on 7th May, 2015 from http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/files.

Professional Context - Crossing Boundaries

Week 31:   Professional Context - Crossing Boundaries
                        


Andrews (1990) defines interdisciplinary collaboration as occurring “when different professionals, possessing unique knowledge, skills, organisational perspectives, and personal attributes, engage in coordinated problem solving for a common purpose” (cited in Berg-Weger &. Schneider, 1998).

My potential interdisciplinary connection from my map that I have choosen for my future goal is is our Whakcol (COL)- community of learning.

I have chosen this because this is our focus in the our area. This includes all of the primary schools in our town, intermediate school and both high schools. We have had a Maths focus so far , all of our major PD is COL based. 

It's been great to meet with other colleagues and moderate children's learning sharing and discussing  as a COL. I can see the benefits some are pooling resources ,money,expertise within our professional community. Pooling money for professional development allows schools to assess educational professionals that we would not necessarily have done in the past. 

Having a community focus provides a  wealth of knowledge and benefits all students.

“The  interdisciplinary approach has become an important and challenging technique in the in the modern curriculum.  The interdisciplinary approach synthesizes more than one discipline and creates teams of teachers and students that enrich the overall educational experience” (Casey Jones, 2010)

Being a primary school teacher I think that most classrooms run an interdisciplinary programme .

As mentioned in the video "Interdisciplinary Learning" the " Tip Curriculum"  is what we are trying to teach in our classroom, engaging ,meaningful learning, real world, using children's strengths and interests. These are some of our school's core values and is the basis of our mission statement. The benefits of Interdisciplinary learning  such as authentic learning is very important for our students to be able to face real day problems. 

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References:

Berg-Weger, M., &. Schneider, F. D. (1998). Interdisciplinary collaboration in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 34, 97-10

Casey Jones (2010) Interdisciplinary Approach - Advantages,Disadvantages, and the Future Benefits of Interdisciplinary Studies. Education 1100.

Video"Interdisciplinary Learning"sourced from :  Lacoe Edu (2014, Oct 24) Interdisciplinary Learning [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA564RIlhME