Week 30 - Trends Influencing NZ or Internationally

For this blog post I will be using Rolfe et al.s Model of Reflection (2001), based on three questions:

1. What?
2. So What?
3. Now What?

Step 1 - What?

For the past three years I have downloaded and used Core-Ed Ten Trends documentation to inform my leadership and classroom practice.  Using their 2018 Ten Trends, I have noticed how similar they are with Daggart's (2014) identified five potential disruptive emerging trends:

1. Impact of Digital Learning
2. Heightened demand for career readiness
3. Increased emphasis on application-based learning
4. Use of data analytics for decision making
5. Development of personal skills

The trend I find most relevant to me, as an e-learning coach, is the impact of digital learning.  I am interested in this trend through the impact digital learning and the collaborative tools it offers to the ako ora Māori (Māori priority learners) at my school.  This area became heightened throughout my literature review, which gave strength to the development of my teacher inquiry - How might the use of digital learning and collboration (physically and digitally), improve ako ora students learning outcomes in writing?

Step 2 - So What? 

There is plenty of research behind the trend I have identified.

Daggart (2014) states that it is very common for high school students to bring their phones to school and use them to communicate and problem solve with, in fact teaching in a primary school, this is becoming a more common sight, especially before and after school.  Smart phones and this connectivity, "provides the context for digital learners to connect, collaborate and create content in ways that are especially meaningful for them."

With the ability to access digital devices, the ability to access up to date information, and this information is global has made one of the biggest differences to students learning.  Unfortunately, I think this has developed us into an .. instant, now society.  We expect it to happen now! We expect to find the information now!  Daggart (2014) also notes that making change in schools is essential, however full of challenges, a challenge noted by Daggart could come from teachers who were not skilled or up to date with the ever changing technology.  This is seen with the variety of teacher skill base we have in our schools today.

Step 3 - Now what?

Digital learning, from an educators perspective cannot be ignored.  Our students today, are digital natives (Daggart, 2014), and as a teacher I need to ensure that I transfore, I improve, I keep up with necessary  changes, in order to provide the learning and best education available to our ako ora Maori learner needs.

Undertaking, The Mind Lab post grad qualification has helped and supported me to address this trend that has been identified.  It has helped me continue to up skill in this area, especially with the revised Digital Technologies curriculum that needs to be implemented from 2020.

The school I am at is well funded with up to date digital equipment. It has well designed policies and procedures, that we  respond by regularly, routinely  reviewing them - We call this the TAPS 4 R's, and by doing so our teaching and learning skills are always open to improvements by professional development

References

Core Education. (2018). Core Ten Trends 2018 Retrieved from https://www.core-ed.org/assets/Uploads/Ten-Trends-14May2018.pdf

Daggett, B. (2014). Addressing Current and Future Challenges in Education. Retrieved from http://www.leadered.com/pdf/2014MSC_AddressingCurrentandFutureChallenges.pdf

Magette, K. (2014). Embracing social media: a practical guide to manage risk and leverage opportunity. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Rolfe et al. (2001) Reflective Model. Retrieved from https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/media/MyCumbria/Documents/ReflectiveModelRolfe.pdf