Teaching as Inquiry - Reflection
Focus for Learning
I work in the MacLean Centre a unit for ORRS funded special needs students. We have 53 students and I am responsible for the transition of the students who are leaving school at the end of the year from school; "on the road to an ordinary life". I have a class of 9 students and I teach work skills, consumer mathematics, computing, Life Skills and SPEC. I also teach workskills to a Y13 group of students still working at NCEA curriculum level one. I want to use Web 2.0 tools to enhance and support the learning of the students I work with using the TPACK model as my framework of reference for choosing the right tools. I also want to see if using these tools do make a difference to the students acquisition of knowledge and skills as the students I work with are firstly visual, kinasthetic learners.
Teaching Inquiry
Using the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge)model as a framework for technology integration, is understanding and negotiating the relationships between these three components of knowledge when considering using e-learning in my current practice.
Professional Learning Goals:
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To use Web 2.0 tools to enhance and support the learning of the students I work with using the TPACK model as my framework of reference for choosing the right tools.
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I will use narrative assessment as my tool to record any changes I and the families observe in the students as a direct result of the use of web 2.0 tools in the classroom.
Teaching / Learning. Learning Inquiry
Below you will find links to my blog where I have reflected on my professional learning goals.
How to choose the right web 2.0 tool?
How technology does enhance the learning for special needs students.
Technology supports students to apply learning beyond the classroom.
Next Steps
Where to next for me?
I feel that I use Web 2.0 tools to enhance and support the learning of the students I work with. I looked at my strengths and what I liked to do. Three things came up for me:
1. I like making e-learning resources. Having spent time in the holidays making ibooks on ilearn (moodle) and the Nearpod app to run PD for the staff I work with.
2. I like up-skilling and supporting staff
3. I would like to support the school to move towards integrating handheld technology into the classrooms to enhance student learning.
The next steps:
1. To initiate a professional development pilot project to work with other staff as a group on a joint or individual project looking at the impact of technology to enhance and support the learning of students with special needs. The technology could be the use of the iPads or web 2.0 online tools or both. Having been part of the Virtual Professional Learning & Development I have found it both rewarding and supportive and not onerous on my time. I see this as a way to make a difference for the students we work with and maybe coming up with a model for others to use. My role is to mentor and support the staff and collect and collate the evidence.
The underpinning principals.
● The group will have flexibility of choice of focus / topic / goals (with a strong focus on pedagogy and how humans learn); in other words the group can choose to work on their own projects, or on a joint project as a team
● The group will have the freedom to work whenever and however, with a few 'requirements' (e.g. contributing to the online VPLD community, and attending a minimum of 1 monthly meeting with the co-mentor in the school, as a group or individually
● The group will have awareness of priority focii such as helping Maori and Pasifika students lift their achievement, cultural responsiveness designed into all interactions (especially for students with English as a second / additional language), and assisting students with Special Education Needs.
● The group will be collecting examples of student voice, engagement and ongoing achievement / teaching as inquiry
