With most of Term 3 in lockdown due to Covid-19, distance learning has been the ‘normal’. With this, come some challenges in keeping the momentum of my inquiry going. I have tried my best and adapted my inquiry to make it work for all my learners during distance learning. Manaiakalani’s Learn, Create, Share pedagogy has been my guide and put my students at the very centre of their learning.
Here are my reflections:
We have used an integrated approach, linking our concept learning about Space with the curriculum learning areas of Reading, Writing, Maths and Science.
The learners have impressed me with their device readiness, showing etiquette in the new digital classroom environment. They are communicating using the Google Meet hands up tool and muting microphones on and off with ease.
Learners have created so many rich records of learning. These have been shared during our workshops and on Padlet. We have been able to provide feedback via the Padlet and SchoolTalk. It was great to see learners writing comments on each others posts as well.
Target learner 5: Male, Year 2 Russian
Target learner 6: Male, Year 1 NZ Polish
This evidence identifies formative feedback of students progress which was recorded on SchoolTalk for writing learning progressions.
Term 3’ distance learning has highlighted the importance of involving parents in this process as well. Throughout this lockdown period, we have had high whānau engagement and interaction, it really feels like we are all in this together. In Week 8 and 9, I spoke with each family and discussed their child’s challenges and successes of distance learning and what learning they were most engaged in. I recorded these connections using the Whānau Kotahi tool so I can monitor the engagement and level of relationships.
As distance learning seems to be continuing for this term, my next step is to gain learner and whānau voice about their writing learning at home and how I can support.
