Final Keynote-Wez Fryer

Wez Fryer had the very hard job of being the final keynote speaker. 

With many of the delegates having already left, and some leaving during the address to meet planes etc, Wez managed to keep us all interested and sum up the whole thinking and pedagogy of the conference with one word – connectivism. 

He also challenged us to encourage our class to really show us what they can do, rather than what they know.  Once again, another educator suggesting that especially now, the skills of critical thinking, literacy (and by this I mean -reading, writing, maths, digital), and collaboration are the things we should be focusing on over knowledge/facts.

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy

After having a sleep in until 7:30 (YAY ) , I managed to head down to the trade hall before my first breakout entitled Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy.

Andrew Church, from Kristin School, is a very passionate digital educator who is doing some great things with his Year 12/13 students using digital taxonomies.  It was great to hear someone who has similar beliefs about what and how we need to be equipping our children with teaching currently.

Although Andrew did kill a tree or 20 to provide us with paper examples of how Blooms taxonomy can be adapted to easily encompass Blooms original thinking, it was another great breakout choice.

I would love to see what Kristin School are doing in person.

Breakout 7. Getting Things Done – Without Doing It All Yourself.

After a lovely massage, off to the Millenuim Hotel I went, hoping that this breakout wouldn’t be a disappointment. Well thank you – James Thomas – from Whangaparoa College! You did a great job! Lots of cool, fantastic dialogue today. I said to myself that I was just going to observe and take it all in without taking notes. Yeah Right – That lasted about 10 seconds. He had so many little tidbits of bite sized information! Just what we needed for the last breakout of the Conference.

Saw a very cool video clip which had a moral to the story – Multi-tasking can be dangerous! If I knew how to link you to it, I would. Long story short – clip from inside a car of a guy on a highway on a motorbike, lying back on his seat texting and changing lanes and then talking on his cell phone! What a laugh.

If you ever want to read a cool book about personalities and how to work with people - Love Letters!

Conference is closing, so have to get on the road home! Will blog the Keynote – Wes Fryer when I get home, because I know how to now!

Thanks Mel for all your support to get this blog thing going for us and encouraging us to have a go. It’s been great getting to know you out of school, even though you never stop working for our school!

Thanks Andrew, for your wit, humour, awesome gentleman manners – Thanks Andrew’s Mum!!!!  and the belly aching laughs! What goes on tour – does definately stay on tour!

It has been a pleasure you guys. Let’s go forth and change the world! Arohanui Keri xxxxxxx…

DownTime

Hey, you all can see that we have been really busy here in Rotorua, so I got up this morning and went and had a devine Spa Stress Massage at The Polynesian Pools. A one hour soak in the pools followed by an amazing 1 hour massage. Turns out the lovely lady, Jane Hayes-Mackenzie, sorry if I haven’t spelled it right, Jane!! –   who masseged me knows my brother and has worked in Queenstown with Phil’s coach, John Griffin. Small world aye!

Anyway, I digress yet again! – Needless to say it was well worth the $$. I can thoroughly recommend the Polynesian Pools Spa Therapies when in Rotorua. What a great way to start the day.