DFI Week 8 Blog Post

 Computational Thinking

Pedagogy/Kaupapa:                    Empowered

A direct quote which sums up empowerment: "The Manaiakalani kaupapa of empowerment is about advancing Rangatiratanga. Taking back control of our own lives". There was a lot of discussion around technology only being a tool, and I think in some respects it is but I also think that used properly by professionals and teachers who can see the potential of technology to transform students ideas, learning, lives and foster creativity, then technology is not just a tool. It can be so much more.

There was discussion about equity and how students don't all have equal opportunities, depending on the socio-economic backgrounds and/or communities. Students come to a decile 1 school with 32 million less words than others which puts them at a serious disadvantage to their counterparts and to their school journey and experience. The suggestion was made of teaching the students the 5+ a day conversation structure. Which, done properly, has the advantage to increase their language, reading and writing skills.

Empowerment - equity - for teachers, students and and communities.

The future of tech:

We learnt about all the nw tech over the past few years, some I know, use, have heard of, but plenty  have not. For example, Sophia the Robot, who learns through watchingYoutube. I find her a little creepy but also totally fascinating!

There is also the Zephyr's Cora, a full electric, flying vehicle/car that is currently being tested in New Zealand, and the hope is for it to be available to the public in a couple of years.

We where also introduce to the Morals and Ethics, especially in relation to self driving cars. 

- Who decides?

--Who programmes a self-driving car?

--Who makes decisions about what rules it follows?

--Who takes responsibility if someone gets hurt?

All these questions a food for thought, especially when we tried out the "Moral Machine", which I did not enjoy. There were almost no good decisions - impossible decisions. 

This whole session I think would be a cool lesson, modified somewhat, to do with my Year 6 class. Make them think and would have some great discussion points. Then it could be cross curricular, with reading and learning, creating and writing and then sharing with the class, and Principal perhaps and on their blogs. 3 most creative or in depth could go onto the class blog.

Scratch

I know for a fact that my students are great with scratch, I however am not, and I think that with more practice I may enjoy it more. I tend to lean more towards code.org, it is user friendly and is a great teaching tool for any age level, including myself, when it comes to coding.

I did manage to create something with scratch:

I think scratch could be, with more practice, a useful tool personal and professional aspects. It can make bring presentations, more interesting and visually entertaining.

It is a useful tool for personal life but it would not be my first choice, but that is just my personal opinion. I could however open it up to my students to teach the class, something to think about, student lead rather than teacher led.