Nicky's+stuff

Anne has asked us to create a page each where we can do some daily reflection about our experiences durign this four day course. Just to start with I am really excited about doing this program - and having my colleagues do this program. I am looking forward to seeing how this program might fit with our goals for our pre-service teaching students as well as providing professional development for ourselves and hopefully our colleagues in 2008.

My goals are to:

So far so good. I can see real benefits for using this planning approach in my own teaching, even at uni level. The idea of asking essential questions allows me to trouble why we do what we do with our students and provides a useful tool for focusing in on what we are really trying to achieve. The idea of changing the question around to make it more appealing to students is also a great idea. I can see real benefits in getting the students to adopt this approach themselves - the issue is seeing where in the current and the new B Ed this module will fit. More conversations with Narelle and Mary over the next couple of days.
 * see how we might use various modules of this program with our own pre-service teaching students, especially in the new B Ed
 * see how we might train our colleagues in this
 * get ideas for some integrated units that we might use with our pre-service teachers, as a way of immersing them in project-based learning and then get them to reflect
 * get ideas for strategies I can use in my own teaching
 * Reflection on Day 1**

I think that there are some useful elements to this program for both colleagues and students. One of my concerns though is how long we seem to be taking with things - probably more a reflection on the independent nature of my colleagues and the different ways they are using their time. Some to learn new things, some are using the time for planning, not enough are doing skills development with applications. I really like the way Anne is allowing us opportunities to explore Web 2.0 applications - there are some really useful things.
 * Reflection on Day 2**

US Intel Site with unit plans http://educate.intel.com/au/ProjectDesign/UnitPlans/ Australian Intel Site with unit plans http://www.intel.com/cd/corporate/education/apac/eng/au/241264.htm
 * Cool weblinks.**

Wedderburn College wikispace http://wedderburnp12.wikispaces.com

Bookr - uses images from flickr and makes them into a 'book' that you can turn the pages of. Voki - podcast with an avatar - again, really cute. PEdagogically of minimal value but highly engaging fro students. Nings - like My Space but protectable - could be useful for portfolios??
 * Things to explore**