Nate Sextus's Portfolio

What: Over the last month I have been exploring a new add-on on chrome called 'Screen Castify'. It captures the current action either I or the student is doing. So what: It is a good platform that gets students from the 'user' stage, to the 'creator' stage. Plus it captures what students have learned. Moreover, it helps students grow their communication skills, by having to keep their oral speech engaging. Now what: My goal is to share this with the staff a resource tool for them to use in their classroom. Additionally, I will be using this in my Wednesday group so that students can have a play and build their skills.   

Over the last few months, I have been doing an online programme with Mindlab. Mindlab seems to be the front-runners in the new DT NZC, with much funding coming from the government and other organizations.  However, the course has guided me through the two main strands of what the DT curriculum is about: Creating digital outcomes Computational Thinking It's given me an insight on how this curriculum may play out in the years to come and also an understanding of things should be learning. eg: Creating digital outcomes (user input, to change output)  - Editing images, text, files.  - 3d design -3d printing - Visual art through computers Computational thinking -Transactional writing in a computer context. A series of instructions to input into the computer. - Early code using 'Scratch' - Binary in a Maths context 1001110 etc. Ultimately the point of the curriculum is to prepare students for industries that will be there when they leave...

During our staff meeting, we went through this ladderr. It's a procress in our minds that then creates outcomes, either good or not so good. 

Reading: The importance of the teacher/student relationship for Maori... (2002) Hawk, Cowley, Hill, & Sutherland. What: In our staff meeting we were asked to do the above reading in the context of how to culturally relate to our students, whom we have 64% Maori or Pacific at Monrad. In the reading, it talks about it's not an explicit set of strategies but behaviors and attitudes when interacting with students.  So what: From the reading, we need to create an assessment tool of what could be used to mark us on being culturally responsive. Attitudes in class  Working to pronounce the name. Am I working with the student to pronounce their name right, or do I called him by his nickname?  Responding with feeling. Do I share balanced feelings when it comes to them doing well, or when they don't.  For example, when you used that tool that way, that was treating the equipment with respect. Do you think you should be doing that?...