Cultivating Digital Producers

Kia ora tātou! Welcome back to curriculum connections and the next instalment of my digital learning journey. Term 3 has brought a diverse landscape of digital fluency projects, and a whirlwind of innovation and creativity using some of my favourite platforms and digital mediums. From acrostic name poetry, to engineering and programming solutions for the New Zealand Junior Robocop 2023 competition, ākonga have dived into a vast array of projects, pushing the boundaries of their digital capabilities. Strap yourself in, this term was BIG!

Published Poets with Book Creator

In the world of words, my ākonga became artists crafting poetry that not only expressed their identities but also embraced digital publishing through the dynamic platform of Book Creator. With each letter of their names, they created a beautiful and unique acrostic name poem full of emotion, aspiration and entertainment for their readers. The classroom buzzed with creativity as ākonga transformed letters into eye-catching pages, fostering a love for language in the digital age. To build their digital capability, we explored examples of acrostic poems, a massive bank of wow words, and I explicitly taught them how to use the many tools and features that Book Creator had to offer. It has been extremely rewarding to support the growth of their capabilities in digital formatting and design, and equally as rewarding seeing them proud of their work!

Resources: Book Creator App

Mathematicians with Draw & Tell

With my Digital Learning Facilitator hat on, I witnessed collaboration, creativity and student voice at its finest during a series of visits with a new entrant class. Their amazing and motivated teacher reached out to me to support her to better use their class iPads. Together we gained student agency through a brainstorming session and then selected several purposeful educational apps that would meet a range of student needs.

 

Of the apps selected, Draw & Tell provided a fun and engaging digital platform for young learners to express themselves. During a follow up visit I demonstrated key features of the app and worked alongside ākonga to explore and create a repeating AB pattern using the stickers in the app, as well as their very own drawing to express their individuality. 

Resources: Draw & Tell iOS App

Engineering Marvels with Robotics

Through the lens of the engineering design process, ākonga embarked on an extraordinary journey, building and programming entries for the New Zealand Junior Robocop 2023 competition. With determination and innovation, they not only created unique robotic solutions (using LEGO Spike Prime and Essential kits) but also honed their design, presentation and speaking skills (Google Slides and Flip), addressing authentic audiences while presenting at the in-person regional competition and creating video entries for the online national competition. Each week the classroom not only echoed with engagement and excitement, but also the hum of machines and enthusiasm of our young engineers, leaving no doubt that the future of technology is in capable hands.

Another opportunity for my ākonga to build their capacity in engineering, design and problem solving through coding included building an amusement park ride powered by electricity and programmed to move, light up with sound effects. They worked collaboratively to create a 'fit for purpose' design. This hands-on digital learning activity was certainly a hit with my little learners!

Resources: LEGO Spike Essential & Spike Prime Kits, Spike iPad app, Google Slides, Engineering Design Process Flipbook (TPT store), Flip

Virtual Explorers with CoSpaces

Inquiry came alive as an intermediate class delved into the intricate world of human body systems. Armed with research and a thirst for knowledge, they curated their findings into a mesmerizing virtual world using CoSpaces. Animated objects danced with information, and programmed quizzes tested the depths of understanding. Through this engaging medium of virtual reality, they not only assessed their learning but also shared their newfound wisdom with the world, bridging the gap between imagination and reality. It was fabulous to see the engagement, including ākonga who previously found it difficult to engage, taking the driver's seat in their learning. The possibilities with CoSpaces in the classroom really are endless!

Resources:  CoSpaces app

Artists, Designers and Architects with Minecraft Education

Collaboration and creativity took centre stage as ākonga partnered with myself and my colleague Nathan Scott (from Cyclone Computer Company Ltd) to create and furnish a castle within the digital realms of Minecraft Education, using a floor plan. From the grand halls to secret passages, each block was meticulously placed, giving life to historical architecture in the virtual world. Welcome additions included a working toilet and shower, media rooms and powered doors. Ākonga screen recorded a tour using Flip as evidence of their learning. This project not only sparked creativity and collaboration but also instilled a deep appreciation for design and history, proving once again the educational wonders of digital sandbox environments for our learners.

Resources: Minecraft Education and Flip

Another bite sized design project included creating a collaborative class pixel art project in Minecraft Education. Each student chose a square and created a unique piece of pixel art with a view to print copies and frame as an end of year keepsake. I started by creating a flat grass world and used the agent to create 25 squares, then shared the join code with the class - displaying real time creation on the class screen. Such a fun, collaborative and simple activity!

Apple Kaiako Workshops: Magic of Music with iOS GarageBand and Accessibility Features of iPads

Empowering educators was my mission as I facilitated a series of Apple workshops, unraveling the world of accessibility features and the myriad possibilities within the classroom. From iPad settings (think guided access, hearing and vision affordances) to GarageBand, teachers learned to create inclusive digital spaces, ensuring no learner was left behind. The magic of music composition with GarageBand became a tool not only for artistic expression but also for enhancing learning experiences across subjects, transforming ordinary lessons into extraordinary adventures.

Resources: Garageband app, Link to accessibility features (and guided access instructions)

I’ve absolutely loved the variety this term. Ākonga have become poets, engineers, virtual architects, and my fellow educators - musicians and accessibility champions, all within the realm of digital fluency. The projects undertaken have not merely been assignments; they have been gateways to a world where learning knows no bounds. As we step into the next term, we carry with us the lessons learned, the creativity unleashed, and the digital fluency that has become an integral part of our educational journey. Here’s to a future where every click, code, and creation leads us toward a brighter, more digitally fluent tomorrow. Stay tuned for more adventures in my day to day world of digital learning wonders!