Not an easy choice when you are 13 years old - so much to consider, both in terms of whether the things they want to study are available and what sort of 'feel' they had from the teachers and other students they met on their visits. 

I reflected that these two are pretty fortunate - for they have a choice. For most young people the only option is the one school they are 'zoned' for. Either way, I was reminded of the impact that a school environment and culture can have on the lives of our young people. Time will tell whether the choice these two have made will meet their expectations and provide them with what they're hoping for.

It's the provision of the 'right conditions' that will have the greatest impact after all - a thought reinforced by Dr Jean Clinton in her keynote address I mention below...

Deep Learning Lab

A highlight for me this month was being a part of the team at CORE Education that designed and hosted NZ's first Virtual Deep Learning Lab. Normally a face-to-face event held each year for the NZ schools participating in the global NPDL project, this year it was a hugely successful online event involving educators from all across NZ, as well as Canada, the US, Australia and Hong Kong in two days of online events. This was more than just an 'online conference' with a sequence of speakers beaming in online. The design of this event was focused much more on ensuring those participating had a unique and inspiring 'experience' through the two days, with a programme that was imaginatively designed to provide different pathways for participation - and the environment was 'gamified' to incentive contribution and participation! At the completion of the event a unique micro-credential was available to those who participated and another to those who actively contributed in the form of a workshop or demonstration. 

The opening keynote speaker at the DLL conference was Dr Jean Clinton, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Jean is based in Hamilton, SW of Toronto, working as a clinical psychiatrist and knowledge translator. She is passionate about youth well-being and system improvement she's also a special advisor to New Pedagogies for Deep Learning.

Jean's opening address was truly inspirational and very timely for the audience of educators faced with the challenges associated with adjusting to life after lockdown. Her clearly articulated and research-supported explanations of why we need to be focused on learner wellbeing and consider that the positive presumption we have about kids goes a long way toward addressing the issues of wellbeing and equity in our classrooms!

The video above provides a 'taster' of Jean's communication style, and you can find many other resources she shares on her website.

Looking for something to read?

I've added three more titles to my reading list on this site. If you're looking for something to read that is aligned with the vision of what FutureMakers is all about I'd recommend the books on this list. I'm always keen to hear the feedback from others who have read them, and to hear recommendations of other books you feel worth reading!

I've also added the fourth paper in the series "Leveraging the potential of digital in a post COVID-19 world" in the resources section of this website. The title of this paper is The Current use of Digital in NZ Settings, and contains a broad overview the ways in which digital technologies are being used in NZ Education settings to enhance, enable and provide access to quality learning experiences. The other papers in this series so far can be found in the 'articles and papers' section of this website. 

Putting Students First

More from My Blog

Here are some other posts I've written this month that may be of interest:

• Why Innovate Teaching and Learning? - exploring the major drivers of change at a system level, and reflecting on what we can learn from the already abundant literature about innovation and change as we move forward from the COVID-19 lockdown period
• Global Competencies - considering how we address the needs of a new generation of students requiring different skills from the generations that came before.
• Teaching - a perishable skill? - a reminder of the need to ensure we are continually refreshing ourselves as professionals, by immersing ourselves in the ideas and thinking that is emerging in the field, as well as engaging in rigorous, ongoing reflection and inquiry to remain current and abreast of our field.

That's it for this month - thanks for subscribing to my site - please feel free to pass the link to others in your network who you think may find it useful.

Working online with your staff

I have worked in the field of distance education for more than 25 years, and can provide a range of services to your school and staff online. If this is something that interests you please feel free to contact me at derek@futuremakers.nz.