Professional Learning Term Three

Quality Teaching~Authentic Learning~E-Learning

E-Learning is one of our professional learning topics this term. Many teachers will have the opportunity to visit those schools where e-learning supports excellent pedagogy; where e-learning meets the needs of our students as 21st century learners.

At the RELLCo Cluster Conference on July 4th, we were privileged to listen to Dorothy Burt, e-learning advisor for Pt England School in Auckland. Teachers, she said, are often referred to as 'lead learners'. This is a powerful phrase; at KMS we excel at teaching because we love to learn ourselves. We understand that learning begins with 'not knowing'. We model 'lead learning' to each other and our students by embracing it in all aspects of professional development. The professional development meetings we hold bi-weekly embrace this kaupapa.

For your professional learning and motivation look at Room 18, Pt England's blog. These children recently advertised on-line for their own new teacher. The successful applicant was the one who replied in kind; on line!

Classrooms that embrace 21st Century have many 'cool tools' at their fingertips. Take a look at the selection of Web 2.o tools listed on our-pl-wiki. Many of these allow our students to publish their work in ways that are meaningful to them; in keeping with the world they are comfortably part of. Our primary means of engaging with our students is by understanding their world and all that is exciting to them from that world. It is on the world wide web that these children feel at home; their work can be published and comments invited.

The u-tube clip attached outlines three steps for creating a 21st Century classroom. In addition, we would emphasize the continuation our excellent teaching practices; the learners are at the centre, next steps in their learning are determined by formative assessment. All planning meets their explicit needs.