Week 8 - Computational Thinking

Empowering children and whanau to change their circumstances is important. The devices are not "just to tool." It is about overcoming barriers of distance and time (NCZ)

Empowerment is about voice, ownership, and choice. If they didn't like what the teacher was offering they simply don't engage. This is also true about face-to-face learning. This is when you are dealing with behaviours and other actions that students display when they didn't like what the teacher was offering - how do we change that? We have to look at ourselves as teachers as that is the only thing that we can change and then in turn empower and change our students.

It is important to think of the things that disempower families and then in turn our students? Some include ... money, renting or owning, health, education etc. All these things are out of our control as teachers, so we need to look at the things we can control to make the difference!

Becoming digital was a potential game-changer for people to be able to take control and be empowered.

Ping-pong - if we teach our children 5+ a day challenge - that is children to have 5 interactions during a conversation. Training the children to do this is important - it improves oral language. Blogging is a wonderful way to practice this.

Computational Thinking within the new Digital Technologies Curriculum 

For students to tell their story, have their voice and be creators and directors of their own learning.

If we have digitally fluent teachers we will have digitally fluent students and being agile, able to collaborate with others working side by side working together.

The Future of Tech and what that means for our tamariki ... so interesting seeing all the massive leaps that are being made right now. I was particularly disturbed by the treatment of the dog robot (obviously to show what it can do) but am unsure why it evoked such a strong feeling. This led into the moral machine activity - another equally disturbing position to be in! Not only do we need to have digitally fluent students, but ones with good character!

Getting creative with coding!

First I tried coding with Minecraft. I thought I needed to get my head around this, as this is what my students are so into at the moment. It was much easier than I thought and I can see why they love it so much. In our Digital Bubble we talked about how the students get into that flow and now I can see why some find it so difficult to stop when it is time. I will take that more into account from now on.

Next, I had a go at Flappy Bird - that was great. I think that I will be trying that as a Choice and Challenge (opt in activities) session next week.

Flappy Bird in action!