DT With Mrs B

  In the Mindful Minute Segment, I will share a video (probably from Youtube) that  is themed around digital technologies.  Once viewed, teachers are prompted to ponder the implications of the content for students.   Finally, teachers are urged to consider ONE CHANGE that they can make to their practice that aligns with the thinking in the video, to impact student learning. This week's Prompt: Source:  Education Gazette - Tukutuku Korero Questions: What does it mean by students being creators as opposed to users? Are we doing this in our current programmes? What are the soft skills that are mentioned in the clip?   In what ways do we support our students with growing these skills? Is there one thing I could change to support student growth in these areas? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below:

As educators, it is essential to provide students with innovative tools and opportunities to foster their creativity and critical thinking skills. One such tool that has been proven to be highly effective in the realm of Digital and Visual Communication (DVC) is MaKey MaKey. This post will explore the definition of MaKey MaKey, its benefits in the classroom, and how a recent lesson on this tool allowed students to reflect on the functionality of their creations for end-users. MaKey MaKey is an invention kit that allows students to turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It is a small, user-friendly circuit board with alligator clips that can be connected to various conductive materials, such as fruits, vegetables, aluminium foil, or graphite pencil drawings. By connecting these materials to the MaKey MaKey board, students can create interactive projects, turning their imaginations into reality. Interdisciplinary Learning: MaKey MaKey bridges the gap bet...

The Hour of Code is a global movement that aims to get more students learning about computer science. It provides a fun and engaging way to introduce students to the basics of coding, and it can be used to supplement the New Zealand Digital Technologies curriculum. The New Zealand Digital Technologies curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including computational thinking, programming, digital systems, and information and communication technology. Hour of Code activities can be used to teach many of these topics. For example, there are activities that teach students how to code simple games, create animations, and design websites. In addition to teaching specific topics, Hour of Code can also help students develop the skills they need to be successful in the digital age. These skills include problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Hour of Code activities can help students develop these skills by giving them the opportunity to solve problems, create new things, and think ...

Creating short films can support students' understanding of DDDO and computational thinking in a number of ways. For example, students can use short films to: Explore the different ways that data can be collected, stored, processed and used.   Learn about the different types of digital devices and systems.   Break down problems into smaller steps, and use logical thinking to solve them.   Come up with new ideas, and use digital technologies to bring them to life. Work with others to solve problems, and to create new things.   In addition to supporting students' understanding of DDDO and computational thinking, creating short films can also help them to develop their creativity, innovation, and collaboration skills. These are all essential skills for success in the 21st century, and they are all skills that can be developed through the process of creating short films. The possibilities are endless, and the most important thing is to encourage students to be cre...