Session 7 DFI Cohort 2 2019 Computational Thinking

Session 7 DFI Cohort 2 2019 Computational Thinking  Wednesday 7 August 2019

What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy?
Kerry started the day off by talking to us about computational thinking and the new Digital Technologies curriculim. My heart sank. I was convinced that sometime today they would make us do some tinkering with coding apps like Scatch and I hate them. Went into dinosaur mode and was thinking: Don't know why anyone thinks it's necessary for primary age students to learn this stuff?? Why don't they save all that for high school? Blah! Blah! Blah! Then we started doing it. Well, my brain was turning inside out and back to front as I tried to understand stuff and figure out timing issues. Next thing I knew I was thinking, "Oh, I like this! I could be hooked!" See my creation below. OK! So I haven't got my sprites moving and they are just hanging there having an argument!!!

What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow as a professional?
We had another Google Hangout today with Dorothy- this week's one was about personal agency and empowerment which I really liked because it mirrors my personal philosophy about the purpose of education. I believe that education should be emancipatory and that we have to do everything we can to make it that way. What did I learn that could be used with my learners?
See my notes about Scratch. We are lucky at our school in that we get regular visits from Tania, the Manaiakalani facilitator so our class actually knows a lot about Scratch and the students are already hooked. I loved the example which Monica showed us of a Scratch made by a student so that he could share his pepeha. It was very groovy.
What did I learn that could improve my confidence, capability or workflow in my personal life?
Pass.