I am incredibly privileged to be and MIEExpert, where the teaching and learning is freely shared amongst, like-minded educators. On July 14th and 15th, MicrosoftNZ together with NZ fellows organised a hui for kiwi MIEEs at the Auckland office.

This featured local NZMIEEs and some of our wonderful Australian experts such as Pip Cleaves, Lynette Barker and Noelene Callaghan. Thank you to Becky Keene from Microsoft US for joining us and sharing her skills and expertise with us.

Gems from some of the sessions I attended were:

• Keynote:  Computational Thinking with Becky Keen

Twenty-first century skills are an important component of educational delivery today and these include computational thinking, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity.

Why should we teach computational thinking?

There is an increasing need to teach computational thinking as we live in a world of ubiquitous computing. Humans have migrated mundane tasks to computers by putting robots to work. Computers don’t care about making a difference andwill work for decades without thinking. The need to think and extend beyond mundane tasks demands the need for computational thinking as it adds a layer of humanity to tasks which computers are unable to bring. Teaching students empathy is fundamental to computational thinking.

 

Simon Sinek’s TedX on the Golden Circle is worth watching.

Computational thinking is reformulating a seemingly difficult program into one we can better understand.
Universal components of computational thinking:
1. Abstraction- when you identify what defines patterns you see and focus
2. Algorithms- when you develop a step by step plan or the rules to solve a problem
3. Decomposition- the ability to break a larger problem down into smaller parts
4. Pattern recognition- when you observe similarities and patterns within problems

Important take-home note: are we contextualising our teaching that connects with the worlds major global challenges that will create future-ready citizens with our students:

• The Digital Technologies Curriculum with Iain Cook-Bonney and Chris Dillon 

Excellent resource for STEM Education has been developed by Auckland University

Technology will impact the future of jobs and the challenge for all technology teachers is the implementation of the new DT by 2020. The challenge is to incorporate the global challenges into the curriculum where at least 11/17 fit under the umbrella of DT. This is achievable in bite-sized pieces, bigger problems need to be broken into smaller problems. The real focus with this should be the impact on social and end user and gain a better understanding of how digital devices process and store information.

• STEM share learning design: Pip Cleaves

This session was invaluable as Pip shared how to effectively design a STEM unit. STEM learning needs to be real and relevant to student interest and MUST include a technological component. Interestingly, STEM education is often confused for maker craft which it is not. Planning for STEM lessons needs to arise from student interests and global challenges would be an excellent precursor to get them thinking. Pip’s thinking process was simple and easy to follow which I am hoping to use with my students.

PBL has the teacher at the front as well as the teacher on the side and requires a lot of support and feedback  for the students.

The catch here is that all ideas are valued whether it eventuates into a tangible product or not. It is about leaving a legacy in the community to make a difference.

For example: using picture books to design a story map, using micro bits to sense temperatures and find the best places in the school environment to play at morning tea. This is then given to students as part of the welcome pack.

Some key questions to ask during the planning:

1. What is the big idea and how can this be broken into bite-sized chunks?
2. What is the point of the project (human bit)
3. Where is the empathy and understanding which is the building and knowledge?
4. What technology do we need for this unit?
5. What other equipment do we need ready for this unit?
6. What connections will my students and I be tapping into.

•  Microbit: The Basics with Donna Golightly

This was a fun interactive session where I learnt to code with microbits. Every aspect of teaching and learning does not require computers and students can engage in thinking activities well ahead of time to plan with microbits. These little wonderful ‘toys’ supports student design thinking strategies, promotes future ready skills, relevant to the  new DT curriculum and is engaging and fun.

We created our codes through https://makecode.com and programmed our microbits with it. My finished microbit was pretty cool.

Sustainable Development Goals: Koen Timmers

It was neat to hear from Koen (MIEExpert Belgium) about the Project Kakuma  where educators from the around the world collaborated to support education for refugees.

Education is about offering empathy and softer skills. Students can learn in different ways and do not necessarily need a teacher to learn. If teaching and learning are designed where students are no longer the object of learning but become the subject of learning, then student needs can be addressed in new and creative ways.

Other Gems worth exploring

1. Have you tried Flipgrid in your classrooms yet? This is a relatively easy tool to use with students assessment and learning.
2. Haeta Community School has a PBL approach to teaching and learning where students learn to their passions, skills and interests. This school would be worth visiting.
3. What does your social media say about you? As educators are we keeping our professional and personal lives separate? Thanks Pip Cleaves for the reminder.
4. Group challenge was a highlight for me in gaining a better understanding of developing units of work with sustainable goals and computational thinking. I’m keen to try this with my students.
5. Minecraft for Education is something I have been trialling with my classes. The chemistry world is really awesome for years 7-11. Gamification teaches students important critical thinking skills and to embed it within the teaching culture of the school requires a shift in the school’s strategic direction and consultation with the community. Noelene Callaghan for sharing your journey- some great tips!

It was always neat to hang out with other MIEE’s. There is always much to be learnt and this community has been my source of inspiration at the end of a very busy term 2. Loving the learning and the connections. Till we meet again…much Aroha to you all.