Session 4 - Digital Fluency Intensive

Today's session focussed on devices.  Unfortunately we couldn't connect with Dorothy for a hangout session this morning, so Maria took us through the 'Being Cybersmart' component.  It was good to get an insight into the thought behind this - being Cybersmart, empowering student voice through digital citizenship, celebrating being internet awesome - all positive messages for our learners.  It is about empowering "confident, connected and actively involved, lifelong learners".  It was also remembering that learning that we share online always being visible.  Also blog comments need to be positive, helpful and thoughtful.

I like the graphic below and would like to share this on our class site, as a reminder for the children when commenting on other learners' blogs.



Next we looked at Hapara - which allows us to 'focus on the teaching not the technology' by giving us greater visibility and access to learners' work and what they are currently working on and the ability to keep learners organised and focussed online.  I am already using Hapara in my classroom.  Less as a sharing platform now, as we are using our class site as the go-to for everything learning related.  I find it really effective for being able to track what the students are working on and for having access to their learning.  I wasn't sure how to enable focussed browsing sessions, so this was new learning for me and I am keen to try this next week with my learners.

It was interesting using a chromebook so that I had the experience of my learners.  I enjoyed the 'digital dig' and found the shortcuts in it especially useful.  I may need to go back to it to remember them all!  The iPad session was less successful for me, as the iPad I was using was stubbornly refusing to let me into the activities, no matter what I did!  I enjoyed looking at the class site and blog though and hope we are able to do more of this in the next few sesssions (please!!!).

Then it was time to get creative with Screencastify!  Check out my clip on digital footprints...



Lastly, Ubby and I had a Hangout with Monique from Glen Innes, who had just sat the Google Educators Level 1 exam.  She passed!!!!  And reassured us that we could too!!!!

Phew!  Raquel out!