DFI - Week 1

Manaiaklani Digital Fluency Intensive  

Over the next 9 weeks, I am taking part in the Manaiaklani Digital Fluency Intensive, aka DFI. It is aimed at increasing teachers' digital fluency and confidence. 

We opened with the story of Maniaklani. It is a story that I have heard told many times over my years teaching at Glen Innes School, which is a part of the Manaiakalani cluster of schools in Tamaki.  It was refreshing to be reminded of the journey other educators have traveled before us and the "why" that collectively drives us all to support our tamariki to be the best they can be. Manaiakalani was the word gifted to this kaupapa. It means a hook from heaven. A hook to engage our learners. Digital technology is our hook. It brings a sparkle to our children's eyes and engages them in learning. 

Throughout the day we learned many tips and tricks to use  Google Apps (Drive and Docs) and Chrome to use ourselves and pass on to our learners back in the classroom. 

Organizing my Google Drive (a Marie Kondo moment!)

I've used folders and colour coding to organise and easily identify my files. 

I aim to name my files with many key words so that they are easily found using the search tool. 

I have used numbers/letters in a strategic way to get the folders into a sensible order.

 Voice typing in Google Docs rather than typing. 

For someone like me, that isn't the fastest typer or the best at spelling this will help save me valuable time. 

Just open a google doc, click on tools, voice typing and then select the New Zealand English option. 

The voice typing tool could be used in a classroom context to support children in their writing or to create more opportunities for children to increase their reading milage. 

Google Docs to collaboratively write and send emails.  

This is a building block new to docs in the last few weeks. Simply open a doc, go to insert, building blocks and then click on email draft.

 

It will open something that looks like this in your Google doc. It is then able to be shared and edited like a Google doc and when it is ready to be sent simply click the mail icon and it will open and send through your Google Mail. 

I am looking forward to learning more over the next 9 weeks of the DFI course and taking this learning with me back to my school to share with my colleagues and my learners.


Nga Mihi Nui