In a short period of time, innovative technologies and tools have significantly change the way we live and work, and are continuing to do so rapidly. And for some time, this change has been challenging the old and traditional educational systems, teaching, learning and resources. Now all educational institutions have an obligation to prepare their learners to live and work in 21st century.
Much of educational literature I have read implies that at an online school, teaching and learning material/resources should be digital, latest/current, relevant, interesting and interactive. Online Teaching and Learning Environment should form of a virtual school. Except for genuine difficulties, student should be able to complete work and learn on line and their learning should be assessed accordingly.
In the last ten years of my teaching career at Te Kura I have spent significant amount of time on learning and professional development in the area of e-learning, on line learning and Information Communication Technologies. However I always have felt that due to several constraints I have been unable to apply the new learning and skills to teaching practice, at an expected level. I feel we are far away from 21st century teaching.
After getting to know about this Postgraduate Certificate Course in Applied Practice (Digital Collaborative Learning), reading and finding out about exciting learning and professional development opportunity, including the encouragement and financial support in the form of ‘Next Generation of teachers scholarship’ I couldn't resist deciding to enrol in this course. I felt this course is perfect for 21st century learning, professional development and to upgrade teaching practice.
Further development of key competencies and Key changes in my practice:
Thinking:
Although it has been very hard to study while teaching full time I am extremely pleased that I embarked on this learning journey. Now I strongly feel that the best thing about this learning is that it has shifted my mind set to 21st century education, learning and teaching. Progressing through the learning, (in the form of listening to ‘modern learning minded’ lecturers and international speakers, watching innovative videos, reading literature on educational research and finding, working on tasks with other enthusiastic professionals using new technologies), that incorporates New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies and Practising Teacher Criteria, and provides skills for 21st century teaching, is a privilege! A little example of this feeling is ‘watching the 3D printer in action building solid objects’ – its so fascinating! This is evolving technology and this task may be a part of our learners work routine in future.
As my learning progressed covering interesting topics like Digital Collaborative Learning in Context, Leadership in Digital Collaborative Learning, Research and Community informed Practice and Applied Practice in Context, without much realisation my thinking and approach to learning and teaching has been shifting more and more towards 21st Century world.
In my practice I am a lot more inclined to incorporate suitable digital tools and resources available in the area of Mathematics and Statistics, for example offering tutorials using Adobe Connect software, using iNZight software for teaching and learning Statistics, using NZ Grapher and Geogebra software for Algebra, use of Google Applications, iMovie, windows movie maker, Graphic calculators etc.
Participating and contributing:
At the beginning of this course I was so pleased to see the emphasis on working collaboratively and surprised to find out that group work is acceptable even for the assessments! After working collaboratively for some weeks I realised the importance of participating and contributing in this modern world and in future, even more! In my teaching practice I have been participative and contributive professional as I take pride in sharing my new learning, teaching, learning and assessment resources, volunteering for developing educational resources school wide, etc. This competency is growing stronger, recently Te Kura has bought Google GAFE suit, and I already have informally expressed my interest to be one of the leading teachers facilitating professional development and staff training for GAFE suit.
Using language, symbols, and texts:
Although it has been very challenging to cover all the reading, listening to speakers, watching educational videos, reviewing literature, writing essays, reviews etc, all this has significantly improved my reading and writing skills which directly helps with developing teaching, learning and assessment resources (school wide) which are NZC learning and assessment objective, informed.
References:
Practising Teacher Criteria and e-learning
http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/Practising-Teacher-Criteria-and-e-learning
NZC: Key Competencies
Capabilities for living and lifelong learning
http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/The-New-Zealand-Curriculum/Key-competencies
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