Doing the Work

The next step in my Google project is to read and reflect on Chapter 5 in The Mentees Guide, entitled Doing the Work.

As part of the idea of keeping the focus on learning, I am looking at the objective of journaling.

Journaling

The concept of making journaling a specific 'to do' appeals to me. To record thoughts and be able to reflect on them. To see my thoughts perhaps in a new light as I come back to them again and again.

Journaling would also be a good way for me to develop those thoughts further as I know I can often go round and round with the same ideas, the pros and cons, the why and why nots and not actually make progress. Journaling is a good vehicle to help me move my project forward by writing to reveal what the next step is and then trying it out.

Could Journaling be Blogging?

Somehow I feel that journaling could be just a brain dump but perhaps by using the discipline of a regular blog as a journal it might mean that rather than a brain dump, it is a creative and disciplined act.  The discipline is both the hard part and the one that I think will generate the best outcomes.

One problem I can see is that I am so busy journaling that I am not doing the work of the project, just writing about it. Currently, I focus on my project once a week for an evening. This is not enough as it is. Journaling as well will mean I need to put more time in! Perhaps I just need to bite the bullet and do it. Just do it!

Some journaling tips from the book

1. As you write, keep in mind three words: head, heart, and action. Include factual material, reactions, feelings, goals, and tasks.
2. Write regularly, after each meeting and in between. Even if you are not a journal person by nature, write something down.
3. Schedule journaling writing time. If you don't schedule it, it will get lost on the back burner.
4. Review your entries regularly. Doing so will help you monitor your progress.

Template

A template to help me in journaling when thinking about a mentoring relationship:

1. The most important work we did today.
2. The most valuable lesson.
3. How will I apply what I've learned?
4. What are the biggest challenges ahead for me?
5. What questions still remain for me.

A regular, (weekly?) journal is a good aim. I can try this for three weeks and reassess if it is working in terms of time input and outcomes. Outcomes would be that I am seeing progress in my thinking and doing.

Learning Opportunities

Where can I get exposure to new learning? I can take opportunities that arise through #GEGNZ, ULearn and other informal learning opportunities. Also, I need to remember to play as I learn lots by just giving things a go.

Learners new to schools

What do schools do to transition learners into a new school?

I am wanting to find out what intermediate and secondary schools are doing, how we might share good practices and how we might help one another improve these practices.

Please help me out by telling me what you do in your school using the form below.

Learning Stations in Secondary Schools

Okay, I thought learning stations was such a 'primary' idea that it could never work with older learners.

Turns out I was way wrong...

Progress on Transitioning Learners

I am slowly distilling my aims for my Google Education Innovation project. This is taking me a long time as I seem to be stuck on Learn, Create, Share and Cybersmart learning. A great pedagogy and curriculum respectively, however, I think they are only a part of what I need to think about rather than the whole. 

I want to see learners transition well from primary to secondary school and to help schools, teachers and learners to do this. 

In the year I am formally focussing on this project, what can I expect to achieve? 

As, Lenva, my patient and thoughtful mentor said:

"You may not do anything new in one year but you could open the door to new ideas"

Feedback

Managing feedback - both giving and receiving is not an easy task. I have been set a reflection exercise for my #GoogleEI project. A timely reminder for me to think about this aspect of collaboration.

Testing it out with Learners

Learners in a class was asked to volunteer to work with me during their Health class. Six learners volunteered - 5 girls and 1 boy.
Three of these learners were very familiar with online learning and cybersmart learning as they came from schools from within the cluster of schools I work in.
One learner had used a chromebook in another school.

We discussed ways their learning might be helped in the context of cybersmart learning. Their ideas are shown below:

• working in groups with people you don't know so well
• take one on one time with teacher to talk about what to work on
• build stronger relationships with students and teachers - one on one talks, things you want to change or you're not happy about

Learners created a digital learning object about their learning and posted this on their blogs.

https://kpclyvettem.blogspot.co.nz/2017/11/bullying.html

What Learners think about their Learning

Making the Most of Being a Mentee

Personal Reflection

Timeline of milestone events in my professional life with learning both professional and personal.


This is a challenge to reflect as part of the Google Innovators Program. I have found this definitely challenging - I started and then left it for a week! It has also been very worthwhile. Somehow I do know that writing things down works for me, helps to clarify and allows ideas to settle. Somehow I keep rediscovering this as I obviously don't do it enough. Okay, I'll write it - I need to write regularly!

Always have a plan

"Even if it doesn't work, always have a plan...Without a plan I'm just throwing things against a wall and seeing what sticks. If something does work I can't necessarily identify what it was. With a plan, even if it does not work, I can look back on it, reflect on why it didn't work and actually learn something."  

Learners Transitioning into Secondary School

As I get closer to attending the Google Innovators Academy I am engaging at a deeper level with the problem I have chosen.

Google Innovator Program

I have been accepted to attend the Google Innovators Academy in Sydney. Wahoo!

Here is my vision video.  Let the journey begin...