sabbatical+work

This wiki page is to outline the work that was completed as part of my [|Teacher Study Award]. This award allowed for research, reflection and the development of a practical resources to support the teachers and students with e-Learning. I thank the Ministry for offering this award and encourage other teachers interested in completing a project or resources to take up this wonderful opportunity to contribute to the wider educational community. This page will continue to be developed and any comments or feedback is welcome via email sgordon@sunnybrae.school.nz.






 * How can our staff sustain the momentum of continuing to build teacher capacity and understanding of eLearning and effective pedagogy after the ICT contract has ended?
 * How can DiscoveryZone (Learning Management system using Moodle) be used to support professional development, eLearning and the revised curriculum

The impetus for the completing the application for this research project was based on the wish to continue to sustain the momentum of continuing to build teacher capacity and understanding of eLearning and effective pedagogy after the ICT contract had ended. Our school was part of a successful ICT contract as member of the Central North Shore Cluster. Due to the efforts of our wonderful facilator, Fiona Grant, school management and staff eLearning opportunities were explored, developed and became embedded into classroom practice. During the contract staff were also inspired and willing to share their journey with conference presentations (ULearn, L@S) and on classroom blogs with the wider school community.

Looking ahead to 2009 the school management were looking for ways to continue support teachers and their eLearning efforts once the contract had ended. It was hoped that ways could identified to support staff once the facilator has left. A more gradual phasing out of support coupled with the need to develop the use of the schools LMS seemed the ideal approach. The successful application and the activities undertaken for this sabbatical has helped us to continue our eLearning journey.



The methodology for this sabbatical involved the following elements:

• Literature Review (maintaining momentum, Learning Management Systems) • Online surveys • Visit schools who have completed their ICT contract to discuss how they plan to/have maintained the momentum and to review their Learning Management Systems (Knowledge Net, SchoolZone, etc.) • Liaise, Discuss and create features in our LMS (DiscoveryZone) to support eLearning and integrated unit topics • In class support – working with teachers/students



**Online Surveys:**
The graphs below were created to track any general trends/changes with two Cohort Groups when surveyed over a two year period. Cohort Group 1 (in blue - Year 4(08) and Year 5(09)) and Cohort Group 2 (in green - Year 5 (08) and Year 6 (09)). I plan to continue to survey Cohort Group 1 as Year 6 students next year to monitor their use of eLearning the school's LMS - DiscoveryZone with Cohort Group 1 as Year 6 students. What the graph above highlights is that while all the students surveyed indicated that they get to spend time on the computer at school, we need review the somewhat varied use. It is hoped that as computers become embedded as a tool that is used across the curriculum these values will change. ||  || This graph reveals that the students surveyed are generally using the computer at home quite regularly. This also highlights the real potential for access to eLearning opportunities from their home. ||
 * Cohort Analysis**
 * || [[image:Graph1.png width="312" height="220"]]

comfortable with using the computer as a tool for their learning. ||
 * [[image:Graph3.png width="501" height="319"]] ||
 * We can interpret from the above graph that students are quite confident and

launch in 2008 and its use in Term 1 2009. This is another question to track next year to hopefully see a shift to the more frequent use categories. ||  ||   || While the LMS is in its early stages of development this result highlights that there still some work to be done to promote and ensure the use of DiscoveryZone and associated eLearning opportunitites from home. ||
 * || [[image:Graph4.png width="411" height="294"]] ||  ||   || [[image:Graph5.png width="279" height="204"]] ||
 * || This graph illustrates the use of DiscoveryZone just prior to its official

their classroom blogs with the wider community. This question helped to highlight if students are viewing the classroom blog from home and sharing it with their family. While more students view the blog from home than don't in Term 1 2009, there is still a large group (36% of Year 5, 32% of Year 6) that don't access the blog. We are looking at ways of encouraging students and their families to review the classoom blogs and training them to write comments on their own and other the school blogs. ||
 * || [[image:Graph8.png width="446" height="305"]] ||  || [[image:Graph9.png width="330" height="238"]] ||
 * || Once again the 2008 survey results and associated lack of access to DiscoveryZone was expected given the survey is the baseline data just prior to the launch of the LMS. The almost 1/3 of Year 6 students and almost 20% of Year 5 students in 2009 not accessing the school LMS is in Term 1 a certainly an area to monitor and target further. ||  || Teachers and students have been working on developing and sharing


 * ||< We were curious to find out what the students felt they used the computer for at school. This was to gauge whether the computer was being used as a 'treat' once students had completed their other work or was it embedded into the classroom tumble. It is pleasing to note that the classroom computers are being used for a range of activities (Top 5 activities are listed in the table above) and they are part of the maths and reading tumbles.. ||  ||


 * || Upon closer inspection of the question "What do you use the computer for at school?" one can also gauge the use and changes over time of various activities and software. The table above indicates that while there is a slight increases in the use of Inspiration and Keynote, work is still needed to review with staff how these tools can be incorporated more into the classroom programme. ||

**School Visits/Conferences:**
Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) Ontario, Canada:**
 * Sir Isaac Brock Public School

Before the start of my sabbatical I decided to take up the opportunity to visit family and friends during the Christmas holiday break. At this time I was also able to spend a lot of time at a local school – Sir Isaac Brock Public School in the Upper Grand District School Board. I was fortunate to observe how the school and district organised online resources. Each year level had its own online ‘door’ that when opened one could view a range of weblinks organised by curriculum area. Viewing this system of organising weblinks allowed me to reflect on how our school was using weblinks and could we look at modifications at the school, cluster and even national level to support teachers. Having a central ‘child friendly’ site of suitable weblinks for New Zealand students is worthy of further investigation. I feel this approach and site would be welcomed as currently individual schools are locating and creating links and websites – a real duplication of effort. Having a central child friendly portal of appropriate sites supporting the New Zealand curriculum is an real opportunity and could be linked to recent LMS developments.

Sustaining the Momentum: Life During and after the ICT PD Contract**
 * Learning @ School Conference/Presentation

Preparing for and presenting at the Learning @ Schools 09 conference with Fiona Grant gave me the opportunity to reflect and share our experinces as well as hopes for the future. Below is the abstract for our session and the presentation is on the cluster wiki http://centralnorthshore.wikispaces.com/LearningatSchool09

Members of the Central North Shore ICTPD Cluster will share their knowledge and experiences building and sustaining a professional learning community and highlight the key strategies used to help ensure a 'change/shift' towards eLearning. Use of appraisal goal setting, teacher inquiry and the vital role of the Cluster wiki will be reviewed. This session will also provide suggestions for ways the cluster can sustain the momentum once the ICTPD contract has ended.

The presentation highlighted the various strategies outlined to ensure a shift towards eLearning but also our plans for sustaining the momentum namely to:

• continue to support staff where possible, • cluster Lead Teachers to continue to meet at least day per term. • to continue to use and update the cluster wiki

This conference also provided a wonderful opportunity to meet with the various LMS vendors and attend associated presentations. During and following the sessions I was able to meet with staff and review their experiences with the range of LMS products.


 * BeyondIt Conference (Schools represented: Summerland, Pt England, Elm Park, Upper Harbour, Bucklands Beach Intermediate, Te Akau ki Papamoa, Tahatai Coast Somerville Intermediate School, Kaiapoi Borough School, Discovery 1)**

At this unique conference a group of Mac users were identified for “pushing the boundaries” in their approach in their classroom, school, or cluster and asked to share their experiences. The participants had an opportunity to present what areas they are exploring, after which members were invited to follow areas of interest that has been presented. The conference participants worked in groups collaborating and created content and ideas for future conference sessions such as:

• __e-Mazing Race:__ A race to explore Aotearoa for clues to identify and locate some excellent learning resources. Along the way we will employ some Web 2.0, just to make the hunt a bit more interesting... • __The Glass is Half Full:__ Removing the barriers .. making what you have in your classroom/school work for your students learning. • __Moving Past the Gimmick__: Moving past the candy-store mentality to select appropriate tools so that elearning can occur in any curriculum area. • __Learning through Gaming:__ How can gaming technologies link to the New Zealand Curriculum? Students design-think-problem solve and share their learning through gaming technologies.

Throughout this conference I was able to review with key people from schools around New Zealand about eLearning strategies and issues. Participants shared the various LMS systems used and progress made with eportfolios.


 * Red Beach Primary School**

After discussing and viewing various LMS options it was suggested that I visit Red Beach school to see how they were using KnowledgeNet. Chris Bradbeer was very helpful with sharing and reviewing the various features of their LMS and how it was being used to support eLearning at their school. I liked how their LMS had a very useful Teacher Administration area that was well organised with important headings and associated links.



I also found the way their Numeracy page to very well organised with key resources links available for planning, assessment and support. I could clearly see how valuable this page would be to a classroom teacher.

Makoura College (Wairarapa eLearning Community) Meeting with Anton Coltham -



Central North Shore Cluster – Lead Teacher Meetings

School LMS (Moodle) – DiscoveryZone



In-class Support



I attended the ULearn 09 conference in Christchurch this year and presented at one of the taster sessions. The abstract and the presentation is below. Title: Abstract: //During this taster session I will review Moodle as our primary school LMS. Sharing our LMS and some of the decisions and choices we have made in shaping Moodle for the primary level will be explored, as well as potential future developments.// The presentation was well received and it also gave me an opportunity to to discuss with other schools thinking about using Moodle as a primary school LMS some of the lessons we learned on our journey. While down ULearn I was also able to catch up with the lastest Moodle developments at a breakfast meeting with the Moodle Reference group, ministry officials, and interested private sector computing and networking companies. During this meeting we were able to review the progress so far, possible collaborations and future direction of Moodle as an LMS in New Zealand. I spent some time at the Moodle stand meeting with other schools from around New Zealand and Australia who were interested
 * A Taste of Moodle as a Primary School LMS**



The eLearning Expo held during the last week of Term 3 provided students with the opportunity to share with the wider school community about eLearning at Sunnybrae. Parents and caregivers were able to come out and see and participate in demonstrations of various eLearning activities including; interactive whiteboard, digital photography, digital recording and listening devices, use of DiscoveryZone and recent ePortfolio developments, as well as a blogging at the Bloggers Cafe. We received very positive feedback on our online survey about the event such as:

//A great way to find out what your children are doing and finding out about how new technology is being used at school.//


 * || [[image:Expofam1.png width="199" height="162"]][[image:Expofam2.png width="171" height="179"]][[image:Expofam3.png width="181" height="155"]] ||  ||

Below are some of the resources that have been created and will continue to develop over time


 * || [[image:North_Shore.png caption="Click for ICT Cluster Wiki" link="@centralnorthshore:home"]] || [[image:SNSweblinks.png width="205" height="81" caption="Click for SNS Weblinks" link="@snsweblinks:home"]] || [[image:SNSICTPD.png caption="Click for SNS ICT PD wiki" link="@snsictpd:home"]] || [[image:SNS_Moodle_Support.png caption="Click for SNS Moodle Support" link="@snselearning:home"]] ||



**Benefits of the Sabbatical**
A major personal benefit with this sabbatical has been through developing a deeper understanding of how to sustain the momentum of continuing to build capacity once our ICT contract has ended. This included some practical initiatives and ideas that could be applied at the classroom level but also management strategies to ensure that ICT continues to be embedded in the classroom programme and teacher PD is ongoing. I feel that the effective use of DiscoveryZone will also continue to assist us during our transition. The sabbatical leave has given me the opportunity to explore various Learning Management systems and develop strategies to use DiscoveryZone (and Moodle) to provide meaningful, timely support and extend the eLearning opportunities.
 * Self**

The benefit to the students I teach with this sabbatical has been through encouraging, facilitating and developing their eLearning attitude and skills via the DiscoveryZone online community. It has been said that a Learning Management System provides a “walled garden” where students can learn and collaborate in a safe and secure community, where they can voice their opinions, complete online tasks, comment and receive feedback, access appropriate online resources to support their integrated inquiry research while at school and at home. Through my sabbatical research I have been able create links with other schools that will benefit the students in my class/school with possible online collaborations, video conferencing and projects. These new opportunities will help to engage and motivate a wider range of students.
 * Students I Teach**

A benefit to the school with this sabbatical has been the ability to support and ease the transition following the end of our ICT contract. The sabbatical time has helped extend eLearning and the effective use of DiscoveryZone. The school has benefited from in-class support, help sheets and suggestions for other ICT activities, projects and possible online collaborations with other schools. Another benefit for the school has been the additional opportunities to link with home and the wider community.
 * School**

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