Tilly's Mindlab Journey

Week 32’s blog is structured using Rolfe's model of reflection. Step 1 (What?): I am thankful for the skills and tools I have encountered during my Mindlab journey. There have been many changes to my practice and my pedagogy and but a key change is my confidence in using reflective practice and inquiry learning as a way of assessing and refining my practice. It is strongly linked to the standard of Professional Learning from Our Code, Our Standards (Ministry of Education, 2017). This standard involves using inquiry, collaborative problem-solving and professional learning to improve professional capability to impact on the learning and achievement of learners. Osterman and Kottkamp (2015, p.66) note that "awareness is essential for behavioral change. To gain a new level of insight into personal behavior, the reflective practitioner assumes a dual stance being, the actor in a drama and the critic who sits in the audience watching and analyzing the entire p...

My reflections on indigenous knowledge and cultural responsiveness will be structured using Rolfe's model of reflection. What? This week’s task requires that I define the terms 'Indigenous knowledge' and 'cultural responsiveness’. I believe that everyone has a 'culture'. For those who are a part of the dominant culture, this may not be acknowledged as being culture - but 'it's just what we do'. Cultural responsiveness for me personally means, teaching and thinking in a way that promotes pride and equity in one's culture and beliefs.   Culturally responsive pedagogy is defined by Gay (2001, p.106) as “using the cultural characteristics, experiences and perspectives as conduits for effective teaching”. It is reflected in five elements including knowledge about cultural diversity, the culturally integrated content in the curriculum, the development of the learning community, the ability to communicate with culturally diver...

In this reflection, I use Rolfe et al.’s (2001) model to focus the impact of digital learning, how it influences education and how has it been addressed by educational institutions. What The trend of digital learning caught my attention as in our school all staff implement the use of devices into teaching. Teachers in our school are utilising technology in the best ways possible. As a BYOD school from Years 3 to 8 with iPads provided in Years 0-3, teachers use technology to engage students by using applications or by making them part of digital communities (blogs, google sites, etc.) Daggett (p.4, 2014) says that “using technology effectively in everyday learning can help students to strengthen their learning experiences and build on their intuitive technology skills”. Teachers are comfortable when teaching students to use devices for “publishing” or for research. They are using technology in creative ways to teach the students to become digital citizens but do tea...