Navigating my 2023 Adventures and Setting Sail for 2024

 

Kia ora tātou. Ahoy, fellow digital explorers! As I sit here reviewing and wrapping up my final teaching term of 2023, it’s time to cast an eye over the digital landscapes we’ve conquered together, reflect on the learnings and set our course for 2024. 

This year has been another exhilarating journey filled with opportunities to empower and support educators on their digital fluency quest. I’ve been privileged to collaborate with some amazing educators on projects that transformed classrooms into innovation hubs, as well as make many new connections with some truly digital leaders in tech. I am full of gratitude!

In Term 4, the spotlight shone on supporting teachers with Book Creator, a tool that not only elevated literacy programs but also became the canvas for my regular students' technological escapades (I’ll share more on that further down). The level of enthusiasm from teachers to enhance their literacy program was out of this world, with many follow ups ending in the engagement of learners who had previously disengaged during this important learning time. Some used it to publish poetry, some used it as an accompanying activity to a book study (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), while others used it as an evidence gathering tool.

Resources: Book Creator App

Picture this: Wearable technology galore! Bracelets, necklaces, brooches, bag tags, and key rings - my young engineers dived into the realm of technology, documenting their creative odyssey through the engineering design process. The grand finale? A Market where their ingenious products stole the show. Design journals became digital portals. Connecting families to the creative magic unfolding in our classroom. Thanks to my awesome teaching colleague Tessa Pearce for always bringing the positive vibes and collaborating with me on this wild adventure!

Venturing beyond the classroom, I chartered new territories at the Canterbury Regional Apple Teacher meetup hosted by Cyclone Computers NZ and Paula Jamieson from Apple. Networking with like-minded enthusiasts opened doors to fresh insights and exciting possibilities, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and shared learning. I’ve got some BIG Apple professional learning goals for next year so watch this space!

📷 Credit: Mark Herring, Apple Specialist, Cyclone Computers NZ

Back in the classroom trenches with my dynamic crew, we delved into robotics, coding and digital citizenship. We traveled through various platforms, used a range of robots, devices and themes on our journey, while assessing digital fluency along the way. Christmas coding brought festive cheer, as little fingers danced across iPads, turning algorithms into holiday magic. We also embarked on a Digital Citizenship quest, following the trail mapped out by Common Sense Education. The culmination? A digital passport crafted using the versatile Book Creator. I highly recommend this digital citizenship curriculum, particularly for very young learners.

As I reflect on these digital escapades, gratitude fills my sails. Every opportunity, every challenge, and every shared moment has been a treasure. Looking ahead to 2024, my mission remains clear: to continue empowering and supporting educators on their digital fluency journey. Together, let’s uncover new possibilities, chart unexplored territories, and make waves in the vast ocean of digital learning. The adventures continue! On a final note, I would like to wish you and your whānau a Meri Kirihimete (Merry Christmas) and hope the new year brings new opportunities, new connections and new learning. Thank you for reading my blog, take care of yourself, and I look forward to connecting with you again in 2024.