Latest Minecraft Mission

Walt: Collaborate and use the school values within Minecraft to create an online community.

Success Criteria - We will know we have achieved this when we have used our school values to create an online community/city that reflects these.

Goals:

1. Create a working city
2. Build my dream house
3. Build a place of work - e.g. - If you want to be a Vet build a Vet Clinic
4. Create a set of laws that each citizen/class member must abide by (these are to be written in a book in the city library).

We are using the chat function within Minecraft to collaborate, plan and create together.
Things to consider: Signs, roads, rivers, footpaths, trees, parks, schools


How we did this:

• P3 used the chat to discuss where they wanted to have a city, they discussed mainly the type of land (they wanted to be surrounded by lush green grass) and the location (they wanted it to be in a corner of the large map so no other classes would be able to grief buildings on our server).
• Dylan (our Minecraft expert) used a mod that he had to flatten a large area for the class to use for our city.
• Some of the other boys then took turns helping people to get to the city by giving explicit instructions of where to meet and then leading the way.

The beginning of the cities roads

Street Lights

An Ice Rink

Inside Ash's home

A Blacksmith -Ash's places of work

Antonio's Lounge - A TV surrounded by books - Sounds like heaven

The front of Antonio's and Zac's house

Natalya's House - Very colourful carpet

The start of the river that will run through the city

Manaia's house 

Roads complete with give-way lines and stop signs

We have been working on this for 30 minutes of class time in our PB4L slot and the students have been working on it before school and during their lunchtimes. 

I will keep you updated on how our city turns out!

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Students have just finished reflecting on our previous Minecraft mission: The City of Ember

I am so pleased with how in depth some of their reflections are.

Natalya's Reflection

Kayleigh;s Reflection

How do I feel about the VLN?

How do you feel about the VLN?

After many months of +Annemarie Hyde telling me how amazing it is I have decided to join.
I am apprehensive of the fact that I struggle to keep up with Twitter (I go from super inspired and active to non existent and back again).

I can't believe I haven't joined up sooner, I mean who wouldn't want free PD online, anytime and anywhere? The best part is it is all NZ based help, resourcing and learning. I can subscribe to what I want or need and comment and contribute at my leisure  If I really want I can simply read and hitchhike from other peoples ideas.

The downside of this is over time my email becomes clogged because I can't keep up with all the posts. I do feel some what pressured to get my intellectual side out and make some philosophical or in depth posts about pedagogy and education (sometimes I feel its a bit of a battle in certain threads). Instead I try to make posts on areas I feel are strengths.

I made my first post:

I am still having to actively engage myself in the VLN. A lot of the time I just go in read, I don't really know how to share my ideas in written form that make sense to others. I think as I develop my leadership side more I will be involved in more active sharing.

Does anyone have any threads that they like to follow?

Share them in the comments.

Going out with a bang

The Netball season is over!

I am both happy and sad about this. I am happy because I can say farewell to those cold early Saturday mornings, standing on the side of the court chewing my fingernails down with nervous anticipation of the score, but then I am sad because I have grown very attached to my team. They have worked so hard this season and made a huge amount of progress.

Today was our final game for the year against Devon Intermediate in our yearly sport exchange. I am pleased that my girls were able to finish the season up with a win (23-12).

When we started the season some of the girls were sloppy in their passing, lazy in their fitness training and struggled to get along. They have come a long way, and I feel they have learnt just as much off the court as they have on the court. They play with integrity, heart and respect. They show good sportsmanship and set achievable goals to further their own progress. I wish I could continue on with these girls for another year, that is the downside of Intermediate. They come and go so quickly.

I look forward to seeing next years girls grow and learn more about themselves and the game, on and off the court.

Professional Development Day - Saturday 31st August - Tataiako and the Registered Teacher Criteria

Time in school - 10am - 2pm

Tataiako and RTC

Two different documents that interweave

Looking for links by analysing and evaluating the key indicators for each and matching them against the criteria. 

Paired up with Glen to unpack both documents

Given opportunity to share our view, join up with another pair (Monique and Pauline). 

"Teachers need to take individual responsibility to meet the criteria and practice the cultural competency/provide the evidence ourselves."

Work in groups (Liana, Glen and I) 

What should this look like in practice at Mokoia in a classroom?

What sources of evidence can I provide?

Each groups will be combined to create one document.  

My version of Tataiako aligned with the RTCs (Criteria 1 - 4)