Virtual Learning Network

Nayland Primary School

Cluster Goals

• Promote student engagement in elearning and learning processes

Develop a cluster-wide awareness of the responsibilities associated in being a successful digital citizen

Nayland Primary Progress

• · Nayland Primary has had a Our Cybersafety agreement was revisited again this year especially our enrollment package information. This led to a revamp of our policy which is based on the Netsafe AUP which was adapted to include web 2.0 tools by Emma Watts at Tahunanui.
• · Most classrooms are effectively using their classroom blogs effectively to showcase the teaching and learning in the classroom. We invited Emma Watts at Tahunanui School to present her work around developing an understanding between ‘social’ and ‘academic’ commenting to our staff in a PD session.
• · Increasing number of students using Learning journals and forums in (KnowledgeNET) and Google docs to work collaboratively -this requires a level of digi-citizenship to become effective learning opportunities rather than social opportunities.
• · Teachers are setting up and sharing sub-pages in KnowledgeNET.
• · Loptop ‘pods’ (4 x 4 laptops) are booked in ‘staff area’ of KnowledgeNET.
• · A subpage in ‘staff area’ of KnowledgeNET has been set up with links for teachers to use under each syndicate level as well as topic eg. Digital Citizenship.
• · Some student leaders (Tech-stars) supporting teachers in the classroom assisting with the high demand of junior/ middle syndicate classrooms. -eLearning is becoming more naturally integrated into the classroom programme than an add on.
• · Keeping Ourselves Safe unit –activities have been developed to link with eAwareness (Digital Citizenship) aspect of eCompetencies to support the existing resources. This has been included in the Senior Syndicate’s Term 4 integrated unit ‘Mission Impossible’ which has been planned using the eCompetencies.
• · Some staff have joined the VLN and are developing their own Personal Learning Networks.
• · 3 staff members were involved in the Whakatu  ICTPD Cluster Film Festival project. This project took them out of school for 3 days for a an intensive Film Festival where students from 9 schools aged yr1-yr8 join together to work collaboratively to produce a digital story in only 72hours! When the students arrive they learn the concept that all films must be created around and from then on there is brainstorming, storyboarding, negotiating, collaborating, decision making, creating, refining... and in that time students authentically use all the Key Competencies and eCompetencies (Media Literacy, Digital Literacy and Technological literacy) as well as conceptual inquiry learning, problem solving, visual language and so much more.
• · At the end of the learning and creation students are then returned to their home schools where the 'Flick it on' process begins. This is based on the concept of 'Rock our World' (worldwide Garageband collaborative phenomenon) and requires students to create parts of a movie and pass it on to another team in a different school to add backgrounds, sound, music, edit... and ends in a Film Premiere evening.
• Jamie Power who was involved in the Film Festival and Flick it on! has taken these skills to the next level entering MADE awards where the movie was awarded 2nd place in the advertisment section.
• Film was a  large component in the 2011 Rock Our World project "Peas to the world' led by Rebecca Power. Rebecca was involved in the Kids Can Film Festival and Flick it on! project as were 4 students in the class which made the process easier. Links to the Handball movie and Rock Our World song.

Growth of teachers and school data

• · Teachers at Nayland Primary School are using digital sources for data. They access use of NZCER Marking site to examine student results and plan programmes of work. We are using eAsTTle iin the senior syndicate for Mathematics Strand testing and also trialling eAsTTle reading testing with out STAR stanine 7+ students with a view to use eAsTTle across the syndicate for standardized testing in 2012.
• · Leadership Forum (team leaders and school management) are using google docs to set agendas and to circulate meeting minutes. This has become efficient and effective.
• · Janice Gulbransen, the principal, has used Survey Monkey on several occasions for staff feedback and most recently Google Survey has been used by Rebecca Power (DP) to gather triannual data on our Literacy programme.

Developing eLearning and the impact it has on leadership and growth.

 Kellie McRobert –eLearning lead teacher

• · In my role as lead Teacher of eLearning I have spent .7 of each Friday in classrooms around the school. Most recently there has been a renewed focus on Voicethread. This has been used to showcase class projects and ‘training’ students in these classes to create their own Voicethread projects..
• · Classroom teachers are using eLearning more consistently especially with the introduction of ‘presentation screens’ (55” TV) in classrooms.
• · The Leadership Forum have developed a ‘Thinking Grid’ to ensure coverage of critical, creative and problem solving thinking. The eCompetencies are in this ‘Grid’ to be introduced to classrooms in 2012.
• · I have presented eCompetencies at L@S’11 and uLearn’11.
• · Trustee Elizabeth Moyer from Toronto, Canada, attended my breakout at L@S’11 and has blogged her findings and linked to my eCompetencies wikispace http://trusteeelizabethmoyer.blogspot.com
• · Kaikoura Suburban School saw the uLearn’10 Curriculum Story on TKI and the whole staff visited Nayland Primary to discuss this as a planning format, and then visited Tahunanui and Enner Glynn schools. and am in contact with the principal, sharing ideas and support. I have also presented this information to the EBE ICT PD Cluster which is led by Jacqui Sharp.
• · In term 4 2011 the senior syndicate have adopted a unit plan that encompasses the eCompetencies in a collaborative and interactive unit of learning based around the concept of ‘Challenge’. The unit has a technology and health curriculum focus and utilizes eSkills learnt throughout the year. This trial will be the basis of introducing planning which insures the 5 areas of eCompetence are met within all classroom programmes in 2012.
• · I have joined Jacqui Sharp’s elearningclassroom project and have changed the way I think about running a digital classroom or an eLearning classroom. This has led to sharing Ewan McIntosh’s 7 digital spaces and opening dialogue about effective classroom physical and digital spaces.
• · I have developed contacts within the eLearning communitiy and have been involved in the development of the eLearning Planning Framework.
• · I have been accepted at L@S’12 to present eCompetencies and co-present the Whakatu School Film Festival project.
• · I have been invited to present eCompetenceis to the Whakatu ICT PD Cluster in January as part of the final Cluster launch.

Next steps for Nayland Primary School

• · eLearning is still often independent activities that are added on to existing planning to support knowledge rather than as a tool to uncover knowledge. Introduction and support of trialing eCompetencies in planning is seen as a way to develop active integraton of eSkills and eTools to create eLearning.
• · A new KnowledgeNET support person in Marlborough is being accessed to develop more effective ways of using our LMS in the classroom to support effective teaching and learning for the students. The information gained recently regarding ease of sharing files etc in KnowledgeNET will mean the LMS can be utilized more effectively in 2012
• · KnowledgeNET is the basis of our plan to build parent/whanau communication so the upgrades and PD in the new year are likely to be a focus for this.
• · In 2012 the eLearning Planning Framework is likely to be rolled out and information gathered at uLearn’11 in regards to this document as well as eLearning and the Registered Teachers Criteria will be shared with staff. Staff at Nayland Primary School are well placed to be supported through this process which will develop ‘eAuthenicity’.
• · eCompetencies are part of our ‘Thinking Grid’ and are to be introduced in 2012. This will require staff professional Learning and some changes in planning.