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My recent inspiration to teach Geography from the future had it's challenges but was a textbook 'iteration' process. Taking four year 3 Geography classes with varying technology skills, meant that the 'beta' class on Monday copped a ritual dose of raw enthusiasm and varying quality. By Friday, my lesson is a well oiled machine.
Lesson 1# No matter how much planning you do, a classroom of 9 yr olds will find/create holes.

After creating over 120 surveys on survey monkey we found out that we needed to buy the pro version to print our surveys and results. *facepalm. After seam tinkering and a lesson on note taking we rejigged the lesson.

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                                                SPLATS

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                                                SPLATS

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12.11.16
I plan to continually update my SPLATS throughout the year. These SPLATS are the teaching moments that didn't quite go to plan. I find it very therapeutic and value sharing these splats to reiterate to myself that taking risks is the nature of our job and is absolutely worth it!

NOTE: All names have been changed except mine to protect the identity of kids who may/may not have outsmarted a teacher.

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Part 2# Geography assignment- Planning and surveying  27.10.16

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Part 2# Geography assignment- Planning and surveying  27.10.16

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At times this assignment has had me clenching my knuckles and banging in my head against a wall but it has also provided me with an amazing insight into what these kids are truly capable of. I am working with 4 grade 3 classes, 2 of them 1-1 iPad and 2 having access to computers. All classes have varying skills using technology, which has presented its challenges and opportunities to find the most effective way for kids to access technology resources.

Once the students received their dire message from the future, as a class we they mapped out the process to achieve their goal of protecting a significant place. Check out the picture right for the process.

After kids conducted their own research they used survey monkey to create a survey and collect responses from people. We sent this to other classes, their families and even another school. The most effective way to share our links was through creating a Padlet and the kids pasted a link to their survey and we just shared the website/QR code around. It was a great activity to gain insight into many people's opinions and was also very exciting for the kids to have such a variety of people viewing their work.

Survey monkey is a great tool to use and even though it was a little clunky to work with, the kids picked it up quite well. For the classes with limited technology experience we decided to minimise the clicking and modelled an example for them to edit. This worked well with our limited time frame. The other benefit of Survey monkey is that it summarises all the data into graphs, percentages and tables (see picture right). This allowed the kids to focus on analysing their data and articulating their findings.

With our analysis done we are ready to take ACTION! Now the fun begins.

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Intro to Greenscreen-Postcards  16.10.16

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Intro to Greenscreen-Postcards  16.10.16

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Last term I experimented with using the green screen for the first time and as you will see throughout this blog.....I am a little addicted! Working with a year 2 class, we decided to create postcards from where we would rather be on holidays. In groups, the students used the internet to research a certain destination they would like to visit. They had total freedom to choose where and then they had to research what it would be like there so they could write an accurate message to their parents on the back of the postcard.

Destinations included volcanos in Bermuda, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the surface of the moon and even the mystical legendary Stanthorpe. Using Doink the children struck a pose infront of the greenscreen with a background of their choice.

I wanted to inspire a class of travellers and show the kids how we can explore the world from the comfort of our classroom to connect with cultures from around the world. These kids have big plans for the world!

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Part 1# Geography Assignment - Future Warning! 12.10.16

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Part 1# Geography Assignment - Future Warning! 12.10.16

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Recently at iPadpalooza I heard @richardwells speak about a concept of future hindsight. This concept is all about transporting into the future and looking back on your 'present' self to give them advice. After reviewing the bland geography unit I decided to have a crack at using this philosophy in my classroom to inspire my kids to make a change.

Firstly I created a stern video message from outraged, 83 year old future Mr Fosten! The message warned the students that they had indeed 'stuffed up' and all the significant places they were taught to protect in current day Geography lessons were now indeed gone! They let them all slip by and were replaced by industry.  The preparation took some time but it was well worth it.
Process:
1# I took a selfie infront of a green screen
2# I imported into sketchbook to give me an ageing facelift
3# Next I used chatterpix to bring my old face to life and record the audio
4# Using doink green screen I added the futuristic background
5# Finally it all came together in iMovie, adding sound effects and the animations.

This ignited an intense discussion about what can we do now! What did we get from the message? What do we need to do? What is the process? How do we protect these places?

The assignment is very open-ended as students gather data in many ways regarding a particular significant place and then create an initiative of their own to protect it. Some suggestions include forming a club, social media campaign, poster, video, song and even letter to the government.

I am very excited to see how this one pans out.

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I took time to have a discussion with my kids about the gender inequality issues of the world. It blows my mind how switched on kids are with social issues and how they can see through the rubbish, stigma and prejudice that some adults seem to have engrained in their every day routines.

After a little research of my own I described the following scenario for them to discuss. The government has sent out a list of rules and regulations that applies to the future of all kids. I then used the fact sheet to flip some facts applying them for just boys and then some for all boys and girls. We had some great discussions about how this made them feel and how shocked they were by them. Also we discussed some amazing female leaders in their lives. I made it clear that it isn't about shaming men or boys but as a group of people being aware, so they can help make this change in the future.

Quotes:
After reading all the facts but turning them around so it applied to boys .
Me: Is anyone annoyed by these rules? * whole class raises hand except 1 kid
Kid: No, this already happens to girls

Kids: There is already an ad at the movies where a girl gets paid less than a boy. It's not right.
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Kids are onto it.

** The next day one of my students arrived with a 2 page letter to the government about his outrage for these gender issues and demanded they take action. We are now constructing the letter and sending it to our local MP. Proud Teacher right here! :)

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This was one of the most influential, inspiring, creative events in my life! I was lucky enough to experience iPadpalooza on the Gold coast this past holidays which was filled with passionate teachers, health professionals and technology aficionados all for one purpose. Preparing our students for the unpredictable future. 3 resonating themes that sat with me were...
1# Know self not stuff
2# Creativity in classrooms is more important than ever
3# It's all about the process not product
4# Inclusivity

Already there are iniatitives I have implemented in my classroom to give students greater freedom and choice to guide their own learning and connect with the process not the product. Exciting times! A lot of the work you will see below encapsulates invigorate zest for teaching.

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I have always found a challenge in keeping a strong connection between student's school and home lives, but I have found an answer. See Saw has allowed me to open a forum for students to share their work for their peers and family to enjoy. It has been amazing seeing the kids taking pride in their work knowing there is an audience waiting. It has also been beautiful to see kids making positive comments on each other's work. Parents are engaged with their child's work and there have been some instances where students have their relatives in other countries following and commenting on their work. I can see many more opportunities to use this space to provide timely feedback whilst keeping parents in the loop about their child's progress.

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A space where I can post my thoughts, wins, reflections, flops and experiences on my teaching quests. All comments and opinions are my own.