Digital technologies in action at primary school

Summary

This transcript provides an insightful look into how a primary school is integrating digital technologies into their curriculum, fostering digital literacy among students. Led by the deputy principal Dean, the initiative involves forming a professional learning community to ensure all staff are on board with the digital literacy vision. Students are engaged in problem-based learning, where they use various digital tools to tackle real-world issues, such as Christchurch's rebuilding efforts post-earthquake. The school encourages students to not just use digital tools, but to become creators of technology, fostering skills in collaboration and innovation. Teachers, too, are given time and resources to explore digital tools, ensuring they can effectively guide students in this tech-savvy learning environment.

Highlights

• Deputy principal Dean leads a professional learning community focused on digital literacy. 🤓
• Students engage in problem-based learning, solving real-world problems with tech. 🌎🔧
• Innovative Christchurch projects inspire kids to think about rebuilding post-earthquake. 🌆
• Kids are not just users but creators of digital content, like games and projects. 🎮👾
• Teachers have opportunities to explore digital tools during staff meetings. 🧑‍🏫🎮

Key Takeaways

• Digital Tech is not just about playing games, it's about creating them! 🎮
• Problem-based learning allows students to tackle real-world issues with tech. 🌍💡
• Teachers get to play and explore digital tools, making learning fun! 🧑‍🏫🚀
• Students create projects using digital tools, like scratch projects and videos. 🖥️🎬
• Digital citizenship is being nurtured from a young age! 🌐👶

Overview

At a primary school, digital tools are not just extras; they're essential! With the guidance of their creative deputy principal, Dean, the school integrates digital literacy across the curriculum, turning students into young digital citizens. The professional learning community enables teachers and support staff to jump on board with this vision, making digital literacy a cornerstone of learning.

Students dive into problem-based learning, where digital tools become their instruments of change. They're tasked with solving big, ethical questions or real-world problems like Christchurch's post-earthquake rebuilding efforts. From green screens to innovative portfolios, the kids are using tech to dream big and bring those dreams to life.

It's not just the students who benefit—teachers are given the resources and time to explore digital technology, ensuring they stay ahead of the game. Whether it's using Beebots for science or integrating digital maps, educators are finding creative ways to weave technology into every subject. This initiative not only empowers students but enriches teachers' toolkits as well.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Digital Citizenship The chapter titled "Introduction to Digital Citizenship" discusses the integration of digital literacy in the curriculum. It delves into considerations for what tools children would need as digital citizens, and how resources and space should be used to foster this education effectively.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Role of Deputy Principal Dean The chapter discusses the role of the Deputy Principal Dean in handling the digital literacy project. The Dean, described as creative, formed a professional learning community comprising early adopters. Their task is to ensure everyone understands the vision of achieving digital literacy among children and to support teachers and staff in this initiative.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Problem-Based Learning The chapter discusses the implementation of problem-based learning, focusing on how it can be utilized to encourage students to become computational thinkers and proficient designers. At West Raulerson far school, students engage in problem-based learning by tackling an essential, broad question often connected to ethical issues or national programs. The approach promotes active engagement and critical thinking using digital technologies.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Innovative Christchurch The chapter titled 'Innovative Christchurch' describes how children who are aspiring changemakers at school are attempting to solve various problems through the use of digital technologies. Their primary focus is on the innovative rebirth of Christchurch, particularly after the devastating earthquake. They are exploring how Christchurch has leveraged digital tools, such as green screens and platforms like 'Explain Everything,' as part of its reconstruction and innovation efforts.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Student Projects and Portfolios The chapter titled 'Student Projects and Portfolios' discusses various innovative ideas that students have developed. It highlights a school project on innovation where students are encouraged to create something unique, such as a Scratch project, video, or PowerPoint presentation. One student, who is part of the Coke Club, chose to work on a Scratch project. The transcript humorously mentions an unexpected character named Monkey Dave appearing in the project.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Meaningful Learning Through Technology The chapter emphasizes the importance of meaningful learning driven by the learner's own curiosity and problems they seek to solve. Through the use of engaging and motivating technological tools, learners are empowered to guide their own educational journey. They benefit from applying various technological expertise to arrive at solutions, reinforcing a deeper understanding and connection to the material.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Project Planning and Tool Selection The chapter dives into project planning and tool selection, focusing on the importance of assessing the specific needs and objectives of a project before choosing the tools. It emphasizes understanding the unique requirements and contexts, such as family dynamics or educational settings, as illustrated by a personal anecdote about discovering new things about family members. Interaction with knowledgeable individuals, such as teachers, is highlighted as a crucial part of this learning and selection process.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Creating with Technology vs Consuming This chapter discusses the approach that schools are taking in integrating digital technologies with student learning. It emphasizes empowering children to be not just consumers but creators using the technology available to them. Students are encouraged to innovate and select appropriate digital tools that match their project goals and needs. The chapter highlights the importance of using technology purposefully and strategically, fostering creativity and forward-thinking through the practical application of digital resources.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Skill Development and Collaboration This chapter emphasizes the importance of skill development and collaboration, particularly in the context of technology. It suggests that children should evolve from merely using technology to becoming creators of it. The idea is that instead of just playing games, they should also be empowered to create them, which can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor. The speaker also notes the development of digital technology skills, highlighting personal achievements like creating about thirty different games.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Resourcing and Teacher Support The chapter titled "Resourcing and Teacher Support" emphasizes the importance of collaboration and resource allocation in education. It highlights the expectation for teachers to stay ahead of technological advancements to effectively teach children. During a staff meeting, teachers and the digital professional learning community discuss how to leverage technology and skills gained during professional development to enhance teaching practices.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Integration of Digital Tools in Teaching The chapter discusses the integration of digital tools in teaching, specifically focusing on using 3D mesh technologies in science education. It emphasizes providing practical examples and tools such as BOTS or Lego WeDo to demonstrate natural integration into teaching practices. The importance of giving teachers time to explore and play with these digital tools is highlighted, acknowledging the time constraints teachers face.

Digital technologies in action at primary school Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] we digital citizens and so we've always had a suite of digital Goosen literacy throughout everything that we've done so when we were sitting our curriculum we were able to think what kind of tools would our children need if they were young digital citizens of our country and so purchasing and thinking about resourcing and thinking about how we'd use our space I kind of
• 00:30 - 01:00 handed the project over to my deputy principal Dean who I really creative digital Center himself and he formed a professional learning community of probably early adopters and they have been tasked with the challenge of making sure that everybody understands the vision around our children being digitally literate and how we will enable teachers and support staff to a
• 01:00 - 01:30 feminism to provide that platform for them to be able to be computational thinkers and great design centers so if you came to West Raulerson far miss school you'd see our kids engaged in problem-based learning and so what they would look like and when we have the digital technologies focus is there we start with a essential question which would be sort of a broad why the ethical question might be a problem with the National you know a national program or
• 01:30 - 02:00 wheeled ride problem that the kids are trying to be changemakers school and so they coming up with ways that they can use digital technologies to try and solve those problems and the top except the kids are really focused on has been innovative or to tahi so innovative christchurch and what Christchurch has done to rebuild after the earthquake and so they've used digital technology such as the green screen or explain everything at to kind of
• 02:00 - 02:30 some of those innovative ideas that people have had across the city and have come up with their own ideas of what could be next I've done a portfolio which is a thing we do at school on innovation also Tahoe so you're supposed to come up with something like a scratch project or a video or PowerPoint or something and I did a scratch project because I'm in Coke Club this year because I was going to have a cold quiz but I ended up with a guy called monkey Dave popping in at
• 02:30 - 03:00 the end he was supposed to do a quiz all about what I like find it really meaningful because they come up with the question that they're trying to solve and then they're able to use a range of you know really fun engaging and motivating tools that they're really motivated because they they're driving they're learning they're coming out with that Christian and then they using the expertise and various different technologies to to see it through to a solution which is really great
• 03:00 - 03:30 my favorite one was my one one cause I don't nobody really talked about that much more about my family's we're on a passion on a PPO it's wrong medicine though we do and I learnt that one of my members of my family was anymore normal one so I learn more about that with some ppl we'll start with our teachers kind of talking with the kids about what
• 03:30 - 04:00 tools that we have within the schools and kids are really aware of what they have at their disposal to try and a media their goal or whatever their project is going to be and then that'll go about choosing what you know what the outcome is going to be and what device or digital technology they're going to use to sort of you know take that forward they dream some ideas up and then they put it into action they're only using digital tools if there's a beast leaning
• 04:00 - 04:30 toward it that they need at the time and if they're not they need to look at other tools that they can use a vision for our children has been too very much the creators of technology just not diseases I find it quite exciting because then instead of playing games you actually feel that you actually created that game yeah I've made quite a few different games about thirty as well as obviously the digital technology kind of skill skills that
• 04:30 - 05:00 they've gained developing yeah there's a whole range of other skills that go along with it you know working together as a mess of one so that collaborations resourcing is a really big thing because our expectation is that our teachers are keeping ahead of the game really and think of what children will be using with technology and thinking about what they can achieve so within a staff meeting some of the teachers and the digital professional learning community
• 05:00 - 05:30 will just be naturally including okay if you're teaching science capabilities how would you have a digital 3d mesh and what would you be using and so they'll provide practical examples that have the tools there whether it's be BOTS or Lego we do or something they'll have it there and and show teachers how you can naturally integrate digital until your teacher our teachers are really time for and the best stuff we can give them it's time to actually explore and play so if there's
• 05:30 - 06:00 an area that I need to think really carefully about and we do as school leaders in its how do we enable our staff to have time to play with tools to to be creative themselves you