Well, what a year! Teaching, while enormously rewarding, is an exacting profession!
You’ll be looking forward to a break. Turn the computer off, lock away the phone, take some deep breaths, and relax. It’s time to allow the mind and body to be refreshed.
You know when you’re refreshed: you start thinking about the things that excite you again; you feel energised; you want to get cracking! You want to grasp the bigger picture, to get the creative juices flowing, to be inspired, to plan. Well, here’s a few ideas from CORE staff that just may provide some of that stimulus. There’s both fiction and non-fiction, heavier as well as light. We have placed them under the main categories for our blog, and provided, and a variety of mediums: books, websites, videos, podcasts. There’s something for everyone.
The list
General
Books
How to come up with good ideas— Ewan McIntosh
This book will help you achieve ambitious visions for learning through swift innovation.
Ewan is well known to many as an educational leader, ULearn keynoter and thought leader. His company Notosh recently hosted the Google Certified Teacher Academy in Sydney. This book outlines his philosophy behind design thinking.
Get it from the Notosh website
Get it from iTunes store
Reviewer: Allanah King
And another review:
How can students, teachers and school leaders in the education world innovate, share and build on new ideas, taking them out of individual classrooms to have a wider impact?
Connected Educator Month review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxnAK_ZpRKw
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Get it from the Notosh website
Get it from iTunes store
House Rules — Jodi Picoult
Nineteen Minutes — Jodi Picoult
Two oldies but goodies that take you into the world and heads of the the student who doesn’t fit into the social infrastructure of school or society.
A combo of delightful switch off reading-for-pleasure holiday reads with a central protagonist in each that really got me thinking about the backstory of students who just don’t fit in.
Reviewer: Paula Eskett
Key Competencies for the Future – Hipkins et al (2014), NZCER
A timely focus on how the NZ Curriculum — and the Key Competencies in particular — offer a vehicle to design learning around “wicked problems” and real world learning. CORE featured this book, with NZCER, as part of Connected Educator Month. The discussions are still open for you to join.
This book offers a starting point for any school looking for a pragmatic way forward in the rethinking of student-centred, relevant learning programmes.
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Becoming a High Expectation Teacher. Raising the Bar — Christine Rubie-Davies (2014)
This book offers practical advice on how teachers can have high expectations for their students. It explores three key areas that high expectation teachers enact differently: the way they group students for learning, the way they create a caring classroom community, and the way they use goal setting to motivate students.
This book is inspirational and has the potential to transform teaching and learning — it is an easy read, and provides examples and practical guidelines to help lift teachers’ expectations — love the New Zealand context … every teacher, and everyone who works with teachers, should put it on their reading list!
Reviewer: Adele O’Leary
Program or be programmed —Douglas Rushkoff
The debate over whether the Net is good or bad for us fills the airwaves and the blogosphere. But for all the heat of claim and counter-claim, the argument is essentially beside the point: it’s here; it’s everywhere. The real question is, do we direct technology, or do we let ourselves be directed by it and those who have mastered it? “Choose the former,” writes Rushkoff, “and you gain access to the control panel of civilization. Choose the latter, and it could be the last real choice you get to make.” In ten chapters, composed of ten “commands” accompanied by original illustrations from comic artist Leland Purvis, Rushkoff provides cyberenthusiasts and technophobes alike with the guidelines to navigate this new universe.
Rushkoff investigates why programming is the new literacy of the digital age. An interesting read highlighting the importance of understanding programming.
Get it from Rushkoff's website.
Reviewer: Tara Fagan
Article
Preparing for a Renaissance in Assesssment — Peter Hill and Michael Barber
“We are about to see big changes in the possibilities of assessment as a result of technology” writes Barber. “Current assessment systems around the world are deeply wedded to traditional testing and exams and, some might argue, are holding us back from potential reforms” This highly readable, though meaty article, argues that current assessment methods are no longer working, so that even the top performing education systems in the world have hit a performance ceiling. The authors set out a ‘Framework for Action’ for school leaders to prepare for the “assessment renaissance”
Available as free pdf online from Pearson
Reviewer: Liz Stevenson
Website
Spend an hour of the holidays learning some basic coding. This website will show you how as well as why coding is so important.
Reviewer: Tara Fagan
Videos
How to escape Education’s Death Valley — Ken Robinson
You can access the Interactive Transcript.
This video features Ken Robinson, who outlines 3 principles crucial for the human mind to flourish — and how current education culture tends to work against them.
The description on the site reads: "Sir Ken Robinson outlines 3 principles crucial for the human mind to flourish — and how current education culture works against them. In a funny, stirring talk he tells us how to get out of the educational "death valley" we now face, and how to nurture our youngest generations with a climate of possibility."
Ken Robinson, as well as being an entertaining speaker, has some leading ideas that feed into approaches such as Modern Learning Environments and Practices, and Universal Design for Learning.
Reviewer: Hazel Owen
Vital to education: Non-cognitive skills
Awareness of the importance of affective factors on cognitive abilities has been long-known, but this podcast focuses on "studies that show how poverty-related stress can affect brain development, and inhibit the development of non-cognitive skills".
The implications for curriculum design, facilitation and support of students of all ages, as well as assessment practices are huge.
Reviewer: Hazel Owen
Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.
True stories told live — what’s not to love? I like to think of them as ‘camp fire stories’.
An electic mix but 9/10 stories I love. This was one of the podcasts recommended to me by many people.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 2.2 million listeners. It is also often the most popular podcast in the country, with around one million people downloading each week.
This was probably the most recomended podcast by friends — apologies if you’re familiar but I think it’s a great start to listening to podcasts for pleasure.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
Early Years
Book
Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years: Tools for Teaching and Learning — Chip Donohue
‘Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years is a thought-provoking guide to effective, appropriate, and intentional use of technology with young children. This book provides strategies, theoretical frameworks, links to research evidence, descriptions of best practice, and resources to develop essential digital literacy knowledge, skills and experiences for early childhood educators in the digital age.’
Provides current thinking around using digital technologies to support young children’s learning. A good read that prompts reflection on how we use digital tools.
Reviewer:Tara Fagan
Video
A video featuring Nathan Mikaere-Wallis and Miriam McCaleb who are child educators, presenters and Brainwave Trust educators talk of the joy and importance of play — for children and for adults.
Engaging presenters who have the pedagogical backing but also have hands on experience with their own children and others.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
Podcast
Leadership in ECE: Q1 and the proverb explained
Ruta and Lima, experienced Early Learning Facilitators, explain the proverb — “Ia su’i tonu le mata o le niu” which means to pierce the right eye of the coconut. The proverb describes the notion of leadership — to go about an undertaking in the proper way — leading the right way. Q1 of this series.
Due to the vast growth of Pasifika families and children attending ece services in both mainstream and Pasifika services the Ministry is interested in developing Pasifika leadership pedagogies to ensure that teachers and leaders who are working with Pasifika families/fanau and communities are demonstrating an understanding of Pasifika theories and practice in their services. The Pasifika Education Plan puts Pasifika learners, families and communities at the centre, so that all activities are responding to the identities, languages and cultures of each Pasifika group.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
Emerging Technologies
Book
It’s Complicated: The social lives of networked teens – by danah boyd
This book explores issues related to identity, privacy, safety, danger, and bullying, as faced byyoung people online.
This is a timely reminder that, contrary to popular media, networked spaces function at the heart of many young people’s identities and sense of connectedness to those around them. boyd presents a person-centred view of society and offers an informed take on how we might alter our view and support them to become confident and independent in a networked world.
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Podcast
CORE colleagues John Fenaughty and Chrissie Butler discuss changes in understandings of bullying and cyberbullying and explore how schools can take a more inclusive approach to supporting the wellbeing of all students.
To quote John and Chrissie: As 1:1 technologies and BYOD become more prevalent in schools, evaluating school-wide approaches to support students’ wellbeing becomes imperative and a wonderful opportunity to enhance inclusive practice.
This podcast also features other resources on the page.
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Video
This will revolutionise education
Many technologies have promised to revolutionize education, but so far none has. With that in mind, this video asks: what could revolutionize education?
An engaging, lighthearted and informed overview of the ‘big picture’ around the evolution of technologies and the hype that can surround their use. This would be a good ‘spark’ to prompt staff discussion.
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Kaupapa Māori
Book
Tiketike Ngahuru, Hakahaka Raumati — Teanau Tuiono
A Māori medium resource on traditional seasonal calendars and how they are used to plan planting and harvesting
If you are interested in how some communities continue to use the environment to plan and organise their lives. It is written in Māori.
Reviewer: Teanau Tuiono
Podcast
100 % success in language learning/embrace your dickness — Nichole Gully, Tahu Paki
Nichole Gully and Tahu Paki discuss their top tips for second language success? The most important? Embrace your dickness.
As someone who normally loves to give things a go but struggles with languages, I think of Nichole’s advice when I feel nervous about giving it a go. This podcast is entertaining — Nichole and Tahu are excellent — but filled with practical examples from real life.Very relatable.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
Website
Introducing Te Takanga o te Wā — Teaching Māori History Guidelins for Teachers Years 1-4. Reo Māori and English langugae versions
Teaching of Māori history is a new learning focus closely related to tikanga ā-iwi and social studies. The website is bilingual and caters for the needs of all kura and schools with students at this level.
Reviewer: Deanne Thomas
Pasifika Education
Podcast
Raising Aotearoa: The Emerging Realities Of Multiple Diversities – Shannon – Part 1
Providing a parent’s perspective on the identities, languages, cultures of their children who are of Māori and Pasifika descent. Highlighting the challenges of navigating Māori and Pasifika learners on their educational journeys by focusing on who they are and how they articulate their values.
An excellent insight from a parent:
'Teachers of kids like mine need to learn to understand their worlds, talk to their parents and whānau and think about how their cultures, languages and identities shape the individuals they are — every child comes from a different background and this can inform their learning in the classroom.' Shannon — parent of two Pasifika children.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
Ten Trends
Video
What’s next in 3D printing? [TED]
Just like his beloved grandfather, Avi Reichental is a maker of things. The difference is, now he can use 3D printers to make almost anything, out of almost any material. Reichental tours us through the possibilities of 3D printing, for everything from printed candy to highly custom sneakers.
For anyone interested in makerspaces and hands-on innovation, this video will be an engaging exploration into how 3D printing will become an integral part of design processes. Reichental argues that it will connect us with our heritage and our culture around us.
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Book
#EdBookNZ — Various
Produced as a collaborative effort during Connected Educator Month, this e-book, in English and te reo Māori, explores how digital views in education are changing.
Dip in and out of short chapters on digital communities, connected learning, iPads and digital citizenship, to name a few. With an impressive team of educators — and a front cover and forward from Pam Hook — this is also a model of what can be achieved through collaborative action online. A trend in action.
Reviewer: Karen Melhuish Spencer
Reality is Broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world — Jane McGonigal
Kindle version
Written for gamers and non-gamers alike, Reality is Broken sends a clear and provocative message: the future will belong to those who can understand, design and play games.
The two main take-aways from this book have changed the way I do my work: many small and meaningful challenges and real time feedback is the key; by turning your world into a game you can hack life itself. Don’t read this book unless you’re prepared to buy into its premise.
Reviewer: Stephen Lowe
Video
Jane McGonigal on alternate-reality gaming
In this 20-minute video presentation explains how alternate reality games can alter an individual’s reality for the better in a technique dubbed reality-hacking.
Jane McGonigal is extraordinary in her vision and in her accomplishments. Her work heralds a brave new world in which we are truly masters of our own destiny; in educational terms both empowering and agentic, she gives us tools for life.
Reviewer: Stephen Lowe
Website
Six to Start create award-winning games that combine the digital and physical world. Zombies, Run! and The Walk use smartphone sensors to create immersive and motivating gaming experiences in the real world.
Don’t just transform your classroom, totally transcend it! Make your immediate locality your classroom. Walk, run, play and learn. The future of personal computing is unarguably both personal and mobile. Six to Start are leaders.
Reviewer: Stephen Lowe
Universal Design for Learning
Book
Universal Design for Learning: theory and practice — Anne Meyer, David H Rose, David Gordon
This book is the print version of the CAST website, and the two complement each other. Sometimes it’s easier to sit with a book than stare at a screen.
It’s my opinion that there’s a lot wrong in this book. But they say you have to learn the rules before you can start breaking them. It is good to read the standard text, before your move on (through conversation with Chrissie Butler, for example) towards deeper understandings.
Reviewer: Stephen Lowe
Podcast
UDL – Universal Design for Learning — 101; the 3 principles explained, part 1 of 4 — Chrissie Butler, Stephen Lowe
Using analogies of food and sport, Chrissie Butler — CORE Education's UDL [Universal Design for Learning] specialist — talks to Learning Designer Stephen Lowe about the three principles of UDL: 'Working out what people need (to learn) and the smartest way to make it'
An excellent place to start for those who wish to learn more about Universal Design for Learning. An engaging conversation between CORE’s UDL expert Chrissie Butler and Instructional Designer Stephen Lowe.
The podcast page also has links to other options of finding out more about UDL.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage
Modern learning
Video
“What works to prepare a student to be successful in their classes, with the kind of skills they have to use is not that different from the skills they’re going to need when the leave school & go into the workplace”.
In just over 4 mins see what the combo of great service & space design in a MLLE (Modern Library Learning Environment) can do.
How would this library environment support MLP?
An excellent clip to challenge the perception of traditional library design and shift the expectation of service and space from transactional to transformational.
Reviewer: Paula Eskett
Podcast
How approaches to managing change in schools are evolving — Karen Melhuish Spencer, Mark Osborne
A discussion exploring how modern trends in learning design and technology, combined with understandings about adult learning, are driving the development of new models for leading change in schools
An engaging and practical discussion between Karen Melhuish Spencer and Mark Obsborne on the only contant: change and how to manage it.
Reviewer: Rochelle Savage