Activity 7: INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION

I think interdisciplinary collaboration is a variety of collaboration formats. I think that this includes collaboratively working with others on an issue or even working on an issue or topic in multiple contexts (eg. learning contexts, integrated unit, cross curricular planning and learning).

I believe that contextual learning is relevant and important for today's students. Having students learn topics, issues and concepts across multiple curriculums help reinforce the learning in different areas (just like in real life and not in isolation of a single subject or classroom).

I have used this approach  of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in my teaching for many years now. I find that it fits in well with my philosophy of teaching and the Māori Medium learning environment that I teach within.

Something that I have changed in my teaching is the emphasis I place on Soft Skills. These skills are used in all areas of life and will benefit our tamariki in the future.

Soft Skills
- Problem Solving
- Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Curiosity
- Passion / Interest
- Collaboration
- Organisation Skills
- Gritt
- Learning from failure


Here is my coggle.

Activity 8: Changes in my practice

My reflection of the past 32 weeks of this course have seen me adapt and change aspects in my teaching. I have been amazed at the conversations and discussions we have during lectures and on online discussions. The discussions were about future jobs, skills required, futuristic technologies, providing experiences and opportunities for our tamariki and steps, roles and responsibilities that us as educators have for our students and kura.

These conversations I have seen and heard within these 32 weeks while I am at school or through professional discussions I have with other kaiako and Ngai Tahu initiatives that are occurring at present. These initiatives have been the sending of a group of Ngai Tahu Year 9 and 10 students to San Francisco with other students from other iwi around Aotearoa. The skills, knowledge and experiences these students were invaluable. They went to silicon valley and visited the top tech businesses and organisations there. The main and common messages that were given by the presenters and representatives were about the skills that are to be successful - Soft Skills.

Soft Skills
- Problem Solving
- Communication Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Curiosity
- Passion / Interest
- Collaboration
- Organisation Skills
- Gritt
- Learning from failure

Two key changes that I have made in my teaching is the emphasis I place on Soft Skills. These skills are used in all areas of life and will benefit our tamariki in the future. I have written these on the walls in my classroom and I try and focus many on my teaching to include or reflect on these skills.

The second change I have included into my teaching practice is the use of technology and online resources. This has included trying to flip my classroom and teaching my tamariki that learning does not just occur at school and in the classroom. Outside of the class, at home and with who ever can support our learning. I am having my students blog in written and video forms. I am having them use online dictionaries and google to support their literacy programme and inquiry. They are viewing videos and articles and having discussions about what they have viewed or read. I have used Facebook to support my tamariki and their whānau with making communication easier between kura and whānau.



This is my dream for my future professional development. This is from my blog that I posted earlier in this MindLab course.

Opening up my students learning, understanding and relationship to the world (from either a Māori, Pākeha or World view)

My dream is to be able to teach  my students how to interact and realise that their culture, language and learning can have relevance and impact on others around the world. I want my students to be able to do things that they see on Youtube, Facebook or on the News. I want them to realise that they have or will have the skills and abilities to create and develop new and different directions for the future.
I teach in a Māori bilingual unit. Many of my students are confident within themselves and are very proficient with their reo Māori and tikanga Māori.
So, my dream is for these "soft skills" are able to be applied regardless of the language (they are universal skills). My belief is that my sudents can create in any world future (Māori, pākeha, any)

Evidence of online interactions

Activity 6: Using social online networks in teaching and/or professional development.

I use social media on a daily basis in my personal life. It is usually one of the first things and last things I check before I go to bed.
The majority of my social online experiences are done via my cell phone. It is very easy and convenient. I always have my phone on me and the ability to click a picture, video or update a status just takes minutes. I enjoy reading the comments and ongoing interactions from others in my friends list on networks.

Facebook is probably the easiest way to connect to the different whānau at our kura. We have had whānau hui and we surveyed our whānau. The majority of our whānau thought it would be easier to notify them about upcoming events via Facebook. So, I created a whānau Facebook page just for our school whānau. I made myself, some of the kaiako and 2 senior managers administrators for the Facebook page.
The purpose of this page is for kaiako to communicate information to the whānau within our team. We only invited our team whānau to join the page. Whānau were able to recommend other whānau to join and whānau could also request to join. Only we are allowed to approve people joining this community. We have had students, aunties, uncles and grandparents ask to join the group, but we have declined their request.
We have used this page to inform our whānau about different haerenga, hui, Cultural Festival and upcoming events. I have used the page to share documents and photos of our students. Whānau were able to download, view and share docs and information.

In my class I teach collaboratively with another teacher. Our students have google accounts. Each student has set up a personal learning blog. These blogs are used to reflect, discuss and share thoughts and opinions. These blogs are shared with whānau and friends. Whānau and friends are encouraged to comment on these blogs. Our students are learning to write and upload video blogs to their blogs.
It has been a great way for students to keep a record of their learning.
A further benefit to having social media as part of our learning is the accessibility that others around the world will have to contribute to discussion or issues. Or vice versa, our tamariki having the access to others around the world.

Social media has already influenced my professional development. Firstly by taking part in this mindlab course, my online interaction with professional learning discussions have been more frequent and about topics and issues that relate directly to learning. I will continue being part of the mindlab community. I read the different posts that discuss areas of my interest (eg. Māori learners, Mātauranga Māori etc).

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