Principals+Page

= = = = = Principals discuss the impact of ICT infusion: = =media type="custom" key="7080439"= = = = Summerland School Visit 19th August 2010 = I had a great time a **Summerland School** on Thursday 19 August. The school is a hive of activity and the classes all were buzzing with children and teachers using a variety of ICTs in their learning. Things that I went away with were that mobile learning (laptops, iPods, iPads) is were learning is going and that BOTs have to commit money to lease the ICT equipment. One great idea that I got from Luke was to set up a BOT wiki (Click the link to see KFS BOT wiki). Check out **Luke's blog** it is a great read and thought provoking. Another idea was using **NetNewsWire** to keep with the latest news from the blogs and website you are following. Another great way to keep up with the latest happenings in education is through **twitter**. Through twitter you can follow others that have similar interests as you do. I have been on twitter for about a year now and have got so much out of it. You can follow **Tina Donnell** which is a great start. Thanks Sue for organising a great day. Cameron Lockie Kaipara Flats School

Leigh School Rubric: [|Professional Development ICT Assessment Rubric page 1.doc] [|Professional Development ICT Assessment Rubric Page 2.doc]

Kaipara Flats School Rubric: [|ICT Assessment Rubric1.doc]

Comments/Reflections from Point England School Visit 19 August 2009:
What an inspiring visit we had today at Pt. England. It was great to see ICT being used in a few simple ways with such an obvious impact on student confidence, self-esteem and achievement. The Literacy cycle, including a digital learning object and online component really stuck with me - as did the insistence that innovations were implemented in corporate way. Another thing I noticed was that while there was heaps of equipment there was not an interactive whiteboard anywhere in sight! (Melinda)

Seeing the ways children share their literacy with the world was inspiring. While engagement with the ICT tools and the 'wide audience' may be the initial motivators, the eLearning framework does mean students are also engaged fully in their literacy! The use of Blogging at Pt England may have reiterated or raised some factors to consider in our schools and I have documented ideas here: I was also impressed by the "Pt England Way", the creation of a strong school culture with values that are carried over into the online world as well as the school/classroom behaviour and learning environments. Creative eLearning opportunities are also utilised to teach and illustrate these values for assemblies and school TV. Sue Pritchard (ICT PD Facilitator)

I thought the visit to Pt England was very valuable, and it was inspiring to see that their e-learning pathway has developed out fo the compelling reason to remove the 'f' word (failure) stigma. The children were so involved and confident with their activities. This pathway is obviously a real winner for the school, with the students, staff and parents having real 'buy-in'. The opportunity to visit abother school, and particularly observe classrooms 'in action', is always an enjoyable, valuable experience. My feelings were summed up by the words 'inspirational' and 'motivating', but also a bit scary and daunting, with financial restraints having to be a hampering consideration! I would love my lead teacher to be able to have the benefit of a similar experience.

Lynne Duffin.

It was an interesting and thought provoking visit to Pt england school last week. I was impressed with the way in which Russell and his staff had identified the best ways in which to utilise ICT to meet the literacy needs of a very diverse group of children. The main message I think I took from the day was that first of all we need to identify the needs of our own children and then find ways in which we can meet those needs. In Pt England's case, using ICT for blogging and their literacy was what 'did' it for them and they were successful. In my own sole charge school I can now see the potential of using blogging as a way of the children socialising outside of their rather insular school environment.Good stuff! Julie Turner

I have been to Pt England on a number of occasions and each time I return I am re invigorated and humbled in my thinking and expectations regarding E-learning. It is not about the equipment or the wizz bang software / Web 2.0 tools - it is about learning relationships and belief. These children have been given wings to express themselves in a form that suits their cultural being. They have taken up the challenge and used e-learning aspects to investigate, communicate and present in ways that they can best relate to. The school has established a warm, open learning environment that allows the children to take risks and think laterally without fear of failure or pressure to perform to the unrealistic expectations. However the results are clearly evident that they are indeed attaining at a level well above expectation. The key to this is the inspiring, innovative leadership of the Principal and his team and the compelling belief that given a chance the kids in this school can be high achievers. For me this has added to my resolve for my own school to push the boundaries of learning and teaching expectation and to ensure the learners in the school community have every opportunity to achieve at their potential and beyond. Dave Fletcher ( Mangawhai Beach School)