Genius Hour Presentations

Our term of 'Genius Hour' is coming to a close. We have had varied results. Some student's were very successful in their endeavours while others chose to waste their time and didn't achieve the results they had hoped for. They spent Monday presenting their final projects to the class. They explained what their genius hour was, why the chose it and the process they took to get to their final result.

Student's were easily able to identify those who had had success and who had chosen an interesting topic. Student's that had wasted their time communicated that they would like to do 'Genius Hour' again because now they have seen a successful end result.

The whole topic was facilitated through reflection sheets, conferencing and planning sheets. I can see the areas that need improvement if I was to attempt to do this again.

It was a great way to start the year to see what they were passionate about, I was able to see their inquiry skills and where we need to go next. I was able to see who could work independently and manage their time. I was also able to see who works well in a group and who works better on their own. Although the final projects were not all amazing the process the students took was very successful. Most students identified 'Genius Hour' as their favourite subject and were always asking for it as a reward for finishing their work early.


Genius Hour Projects:

Bradley & Ash - Research about characters in 'Assassins Creed IV'
Tanner, Kyle, Michael, Bryce & Hunter - Create a working theme park in Minecraft
Ronan & Cameron - Design & create an electric rubber (initially - create a storage compartment for a jeep)
Casey & Marnie - Invent two new chocolate flavours
Maya - Design a Harry Potter app
Rawinia - Deisgn and create a jewellry box
Senna & Cassidy - Create a blog about harp seals
Tegan - Create a fitness board game
Devon - Create a blog about caring for rabbits
Daniel & Thomas - Reupholster classroom chairs/redesign classroom furniture
Anthony, Cole & Matthew - Create working fast food restaurants on Minecraft
Shaurye - Showing the class how to create a book on Toondoo
Tanner, Sacha, Alexa & Estelle - Creating a P.E. game based on the Hunger Games, designing costumes for the arrival and a reaping ceremony.

If I was to do Genius Hour again I would have a stricter focus and facilitate certain students more, e.g. - you need to fill a need by creating a product, or you need to design a prototype, test it, reflect and then present a final product. 

P3 have been discussing the idea of Genius Hour being all to do with our class YouTube channel. They want to make episodes and videos that are educational and entertaining (e.g. Kid President) on things they are passionate about. 

Depending on the time table for next term will determine whether or not this is a feasible activity. 

Netball Noho

Last Friday night Whaea Liana, Whaea Te Aorha and myself spent the night at school...with 36 girls!
We decided what better way to build tikanga and whakawhanaungatanga than have a noho.

We began the night by having the girls set up their beds (in the staffroom) and sort out their kai for our pot luck dinner. Then we set up the hall and began the night with two guest speakers, 1 spoke about commitment and all the qualities needed to be a netballer and the other spoke about respect on the court from the perspective of an umpire.

Next we played team building games, did some jump jam and the girls in their teams presented a little skit. We all sat down together and had a lovely dinner with dessert dropped off by a very lovely mama. To the end the night we did our clean up and watched 'The Gabby Douglas Story', this is an amazing movie about an African American gymnasts character, determination and how she overcame all the obstacles that could have stopped her from becoming an Olympian.

The next day we woke up around 7am and the girls went for an hour run. We sat down together and had breakfast before commencing our big clean up. We went through the sporting code of conduct and had a round of sheriff - each girls gets a chocolate bar, the teachers have an opportunity to fine anyone for anything they did while at the noho, e.g. - snoring. Then the student's without a chocolate have an opportunity to fine and finally everyone who is fined goes around and defends their case. This was a very cool way to end our noho.

Overall it was a huge success. There was a very relaxed vibe and the girls definitely bonded with each other and us as their coaches.

#eduigniterotovegas

6pm - 8pm

Mokoia Intermediate

Mokoia Attendees - Kassey, Rachel, Anna, Annemarie

Order of presentations

- Justine (@cossie29) 'I don't give homework any more'
- Sonya (@vanschaijik) 'Teach Meet NZ'
- Monika (BeLchick1) 'Building you own PLN'
- Annemarie (mrs_hyde) 'Page 36 - A very good page to start'
- Anna (AnnaGerrit) - Learning Spaces

I don't give homework any more

- Think about all the excuses you get each week for why homework wasn't complete

- Why do we give homework?
        - Parents and caregivers want it
        - Reinforces what we do in the classroom
        - It's good practise and practice

- Homework types
      - Single sheet with lots of different activities
      - Projects
      - Homework that makes an attempt at the individualized learning programme

- Why was it important to change?
    - Students were completing it out of compliance
    - It wasn't individualized or challenging enough
    - Hard to provide effective feedback
    - Challenge student's thinking
    - Mismatch in beliefs and practice

- I do give prep for learning
    - Connections
    - Interactions
    - Questioning
    - Creating and sharing knowledge
    - Passion for learning
    - Critical thinking


Teach Meet NZ 

- Hyperconnectivity 'create, connect, collaborate'
- After sessions discussion will carry on on twitter with the #teachmeetnz


Building your own PLN

- Professional relationships, not personal
- VLN is the biggest staffroom in the country
- Pinterest
- Twitter - mirco blogging and easily accessible
- Bling for your blog

Page 36 - A very good page to start

- Annemarie's favourite page of the NZC
- Environments we should be in
- Shared Learning
- Supportive learning environments
- Ako, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, tuakana teina
- Opportunities to learn
- SAMR Model
- Game based learning
- Maker culture
- Coding
- Approach every new experience with wonderment and awe
- Think like a child
- Don't worry that you don't know
- Try new things
- Look for the positives
- Keep asking questions
- Collaboration, teamwork, power of the group, participating and contributing
- Confident, connected, actively involved, life-long learners


Learning Spaces

- Bean bags do not make a modern environment, however they do add extra comfort. They are easy to move
- Mosquito nets create privacy but as a teacher you can say what is going on
- Outdoor bean bags have a tougher fabric
- Standing table (Anna's fav piece of furniture) - student's excited to work here
- Built in benches
- Student's may not use furniture how you think they would
- Where they want to learn may not be where you want to learn, but who cares if they are focused and safe?
- Pop up tent
- Learning space is always changing - encouraging children to explore the space and use it in different ways - this will give them ownership!
- How does your space impact your learning?
- Fun fast paced presentations using flickr images, you choose the topic and it will randomize various internet images - Pechaflickr 

Minecraft PB4L City Update

Latest additions to our city:

- Farm

- McDonalds

- Burger King

- Theme Park

- Athletics Stadium

- Tram/Monorail

- New Homes

- Restaurant

- Waterslide

- Carpark

- Park