Mindlab Waimate intake 2018

I took on the Mindlab course to pick up some new ideas around digital technology and how I can use them in the classroom to engage and foster the learning of my students. The course offered so much more than this and the information gained was far more than I expected. Although it was tough trying to manage my time due to my busy schedule, the journey has been worth it in terms of the reflective nature the course took in making you question your thinking in a range of different ways. What  Our code, our standards (Ministry of Education, 2017). With regard to the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession Our Code Our Standards, I will focus this reflection on creating a learning focused culture in this reflective entry. I knew I had students in my year 6-8 class who were keen on digital technology and had a few ideas as to how to engage them. Throughout the Mindlab journey I have learnt about a range of tools that could be used in the cl...

The New Zealand Cultural Landscape is changing and becoming more and more multicultural. As teachers, to be culturally responsible, we need to accept this change and be culturally responsible in our practice. What As the world, including New Zealand, is impacted by globalisation, cultures intertwine and multiculturalism becomes common place. As (Savage et al., 2011) state, disparities exist where those with the dominant culture within a school experience privilege whilst simultaneously disadvantaging students whose cultures are different. But it doesn't have to be this way. Each and every child brings into school their own culture that have shaped and will continue to shape their experiences and learning. As teachers, we need to be culturally responsive and use the knowledge they bring as a rich source of learning that can benefit all.  Savage et al., (2011) go on to outline that teachers that are culturally responsive contextualise instruction in cultural forms, behaviours, a...

As we are becoming more interconnected through globalisation, international trends are playing more of a role in our lives they ever used to. With regard to the teaching profession, teachers not only need to be aware of global trends, but need to prepare their learners for their future in this ever changing world. What Jobs are changing. The days of moving into a career for life are long gone and as technology continues to advance, many jobs that were once done by humans have been replaced by technology and robots. As Daggett (2014) states, people are being replaced in by technology that can do jobs better and less expensively than humans. We have already seen technology and robots replace low skilled work in factories and driverless cars are being tested by corporate global giants including Google. As educators, we need to be aware of this global trend of technology replacing jobs and  prepare our students to be adaptable when entering the workforce. So what In order to be...