tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.comments2022-04-16T21:28:37.994+12:00Webb-ed feetCraig McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-8665959831849040372013-04-09T15:31:55.755+12:002013-04-09T15:31:55.755+12:00We provide tutoring for students in Auckland and W...We provide tutoring for students in Auckland and Wellington, and I've found that laying out text or numbers or ideas on paper can be really important. Some students don't have this skill, and I actually think it makes it harder for them to think through some ideas and problems. <br /><br />Computers can provide a lot of benefits, but sometimes when collaborating with others around a table, or thinking for yourself, handwriting, and laying out ideas on paper is still a fantastic tool! <br /><br />There's a bit more info about what we do at <a href="www.pencilcase.co.nz" rel="nofollow">www.pencilcase.co.nz</a>Jesse Pirinihttp://www.pencilcase.co.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-51942446109666263922012-03-28T05:37:32.742+13:002012-03-28T05:37:32.742+13:00Thanks Malcolm, that's a great collection of r...Thanks Malcolm, that's a great collection of resources, thanks for sharing it, and thanks also for adding a link back here.Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-90851515863920459982012-03-28T00:42:48.530+13:002012-03-28T00:42:48.530+13:00Thanks for this post Craig, in particular with the...Thanks for this post Craig, in particular with the reference to the research on the impact of learning handwriting on wider learning. I have added a link to your post to the blog post I collated on tech tools to support the teaching of handwriting: http://glo.li/wTpCMhMalcolm Wilsonhttps://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/fa/ICTFalkirkPrimaries/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-5014125272806738132011-11-06T20:46:17.844+13:002011-11-06T20:46:17.844+13:00Thanks for your comment - this is becoming an incr...Thanks for your comment - this is becoming an increasingly important issue, and involves a pretty complex skill set for children learning to manage themselves and their relationships. Also the awareness of creating a digital footprint which may follow them later in life. I'ma bit of a Facebook fan, but like you, tend to keep my photos off it! Which police programme are you referring to?Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-33869982079603680742011-11-06T20:14:55.114+13:002011-11-06T20:14:55.114+13:00Cybersafety is being introduced in schools now wit...Cybersafety is being introduced in schools now with parents also receiving a talk about it. I now know what POS means lol. Plus, have deleted almost all my facebook photos. The biggest thing is children realizing that the person they think they are speaking to may be someone totally different. Anyway, It's a great program. Contact the NZ police to find out more.Whaea bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05096502474380031352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-59019722499179473252011-05-20T06:50:50.842+12:002011-05-20T06:50:50.842+12:00Love it! Very inspiring. I admire how you're r...Love it! Very inspiring. I admire how you're ready to break away, on a whim, from what you typically do even though it works fine. It's about stepping out of the comfort zone!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06723305782940296604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-63945350250266737432011-05-07T14:18:30.667+12:002011-05-07T14:18:30.667+12:00Craig...we are immensely proud of you & your a...Craig...we are immensely proud of you & your achievements...what a lucky bunch of children you have in your class :) Great article!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-15988076705493903632011-05-01T14:38:01.337+12:002011-05-01T14:38:01.337+12:00Thanks Nathaniel. It's a good point and I thin...Thanks Nathaniel. It's a good point and I think the technology is moving faster than the curriculum is responding to the times. I suppose it can be covered under the Health curriculum, keeping ourselves safe etc, but there is no requirement to teach it, as far as as I'm aware. Actually, a lot of it would come under the Key Competencies (Managing Self, Communicating etc). I think digital citizenship is multi-faceted, and needs to integrated through all of our uses of online tools, and not divorced from how we manage our face-to-face relationships as well. Cheers.Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-4911701706991136522011-05-01T14:23:50.538+12:002011-05-01T14:23:50.538+12:00Hi Craig
I agree with what you've said. I was ...Hi Craig<br />I agree with what you've said. I was wondering just this morning if Cybersafety and similar issues should be a set part of the curriculum. The values that we are modelling/teaching as expected in the curriculum flow over to online.<br />Cheers<br />NathanielAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-49500250816083519672011-04-30T09:16:33.847+12:002011-04-30T09:16:33.847+12:00Cheers, Dorothy. I have been thinking the same thi...Cheers, Dorothy. I have been thinking the same thing myself, about studying full-time. I had a go at a Study Leave grant for this year but unfortunately was unsuccessful. I'll try again! Interestingly, taking the break from study has made me re-think what I want to research - definitely something with a focus on learning, as opposed to just investigating young people's practices. So the break is good for taking step back and developing clarity. Thanks for commenting!Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-24831807533438380992011-04-30T09:03:37.236+12:002011-04-30T09:03:37.236+12:00Great article Craig. What I like most in this is t...Great article Craig. What I like most in this is the sense that this year the 30 odd kids in your class are going to benefit most from your activity - and that's what we went into teaching for, isn't it? Maybe your next round of academic study should be full time so you don't have a split focus :). There are a few scholarships out there for this. Keep sharing, I am enjoying your thinking.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16486794203463798461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-4245481763543904342011-04-28T16:27:17.616+12:002011-04-28T16:27:17.616+12:00Thanks for the comment Nathaniel. I wonder what cu...Thanks for the comment Nathaniel. I wonder what cultural norms have to do with it as well. I've tweeted about this post three times now, and already think I'll leave it at that. Do I feel uncomfortable multiple-tweeting because NZers generally don't like putting themselves out there?<br /><br />Anyway, glad I'm not alone in my ponderings!Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-38038381625927428462011-04-28T09:00:00.989+12:002011-04-28T09:00:00.989+12:00I've had similar questions, yet in this age of...I've had similar questions, yet in this age of technology I didn't even think of turning to my friend Google. So it was nice to read that I'm not the only one that wonders these things. Well done on asking the important questions :D.<br />Cheers<br />NathanielAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-66655106145104048802011-04-23T14:49:36.345+12:002011-04-23T14:49:36.345+12:00Great - found it, thanks for that - looks like a r...Great - found it, thanks for that - looks like a real interesting resource.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756806747817619059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-58602565238772753212011-04-23T14:43:21.137+12:002011-04-23T14:43:21.137+12:00Cheers, Dave. Kathy Schrock has some great resourc...Cheers, Dave. Kathy Schrock has some great resources for helping students learn to approach web pages critically. Try setting your class a task about the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus for a laugh! That will establish where they are at, for sure!Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-10620098685701330692011-04-23T13:19:09.302+12:002011-04-23T13:19:09.302+12:00Thanks for sharing, Craig. Media literacy and res...Thanks for sharing, Craig. Media literacy and research skills in particular, are crucial skills for young 21st century learners to develop. I have to admit, I haven't explored all the features of the almighty google, so thanks for the heads up with google instant - I need to take a look at this further and reflect on how it will impact my own teaching for next term in regards to digital literacy:-)Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756806747817619059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-71628717943151597352011-04-22T08:22:59.378+12:002011-04-22T08:22:59.378+12:00Thanks for your comment, Graham. I've been fol...Thanks for your comment, Graham. I've been following your updates over the past year or so about your building design, as our school is about to start a massive rebuild die to leaks. It's so true that the learning space design says a lot about how we view the process of learning, and does involve a letting go. Since discarding my desk I've caught myself thinking "Where's my little island gone?!", but it's a good change that puts me out there in the room actually teaching and giving feedback etc.Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-1576779941250226072011-04-20T22:45:53.575+12:002011-04-20T22:45:53.575+12:00Craig, our new library hosts a lot of the furnitur...Craig, our new library hosts a lot of the furniture options that you suggest in your post, and I saw a lot of similar ideas in action in the classrooms at Silverton Primary School, Melbourne, when I was there as part of the Microsoft Innovative Schools program. I teach in a building with upper primary classes (Year 6/7) and we have round tables in the main classrooms with stools, cushions and low tables in our shared central learning space. The kids have warmed to the concept very well, as they have the options to choose the place that suits the task or learning at hand. For me, as teacher, it means letting go of traditional ideas like fixed seating arrangements. We have used IKEA furniture with the mindset that it isn't built to last and can be updated as the needs of our students change. We have also used a small minimalist desks for our teachers - as you have said, a place to dump our laptops and essentials. It will be cool to see how you go about transforming your classroom.Graham Wegnerhttp://gwegner.edublogs.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-36236887243719376342011-04-13T22:17:23.082+12:002011-04-13T22:17:23.082+12:00Thanks for your comment, Amanda. I'm really ex...Thanks for your comment, Amanda. I'm really excited about it too - the first of our cushions arrived today, and I have a coffee table lined up, with feelers out for a few more. The class are excited by it, and seem to like 'The Living Room' concept (that's the new name of our class wiki, too).Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-17051970705417591532011-04-13T21:53:24.189+12:002011-04-13T21:53:24.189+12:00Such a great journey to undertake! I moved to my c...Such a great journey to undertake! I moved to my current school 2 years ago where we have a shared office space. It's amazing how more mobile you become when you don't have a desk in the classroom. Also our Year 5/6 classes have removed all the 'traditional' table and desks in favour of the type of furniture you are talking about. Bean bags, single desks, kneelers and more now adorn the classrooms. The kids seem to really enjoy it. I look forward to seeing how your journey goes! <br />Amanda (heymilly)Heymillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452942761281768449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-66319653408525631182011-04-08T06:32:16.845+12:002011-04-08T06:32:16.845+12:00This is a great post, Graig. I was having exactly...This is a great post, Graig. I was having exactly the same type of conversation with a couple of teachers yesterday. Its kind of comforting knowing that others are also thinking through the same kinds of issues.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756806747817619059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-77675696686728163182011-04-07T07:37:29.352+12:002011-04-07T07:37:29.352+12:00The Apple Bus Tour provides an opportunity to get ...The Apple Bus Tour provides an opportunity to get a vision of where to go - the journey there takes time and effort. The short cuts we can take are often long cuts in the end!<br /><br />So enjoyed reading your reflections Craig!<br />Stuartstuartnzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08426646322118197482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-77942918411155721702011-04-06T22:58:07.499+12:002011-04-06T22:58:07.499+12:00Cheers, Jacqui and Tim. It's great to have exa...Cheers, Jacqui and Tim. It's great to have examples out there to learn from and emulate, and it wouldn't happen if there wasn't that willingness in the teaching community to share.Craig McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07200740581710723863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-83122323099736531192011-04-06T09:15:27.395+12:002011-04-06T09:15:27.395+12:00Nice write up Craig, I like your 'e-bling'...Nice write up Craig, I like your 'e-bling' phrase. I thought that a great deal of what we saw on the tour was much more than e-bling and Dave's use of web2 amongst the best.Timyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12641311443221195783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038533517847666972.post-609934128888762452011-03-28T17:13:49.498+13:002011-03-28T17:13:49.498+13:00Hi Craig, Dave is doing an awesome job in his clas...Hi Craig, Dave is doing an awesome job in his class and his wikis and blogs are fantastic resources. He deserves all the recognition he gets. Thanks for writing a great post on his work!Jacqui Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18098130968092971867noreply@blogger.com