Introductions - Turou turou

 

 

 

Kia Orana friends and fellow E-educators,

Here I share with you my thoughts about teaching and learning through a digital technology and e-learning integration lens. Please comment, share and contribute to broaden my understandings of the ideas raised by commenting below.

Teaching  has always been a complex, challenging and highly rewarding profession. It's constant evolution and commitment to change mirrors the diversity and ever changing needs of the learners.

The expectation for teachers  to engage with Digital Technologies and e-learning practices and pedagogies within the 21st Century classroom is, in my opinion; fast becoming a prerequisite to providing quality teaching and learning environments rather than a desirable, pedagogical "point of difference" that we have accredited teachers with over the past 10 - 15 years.

This fast paced digital age means that teachers must strive to "keep up" with changes and advancements in technology and the ever changing direction of how curriculum is delivered in the classroom using it. This challenge is compounded by experts in the education field lauding that there is no "best fit" model and that only by examining our practice, goals and the school ecology can we strategically design a program that closely meets the needs of the learners as well as the level of efficacy our teachers are at.

For our small nation we are beginning to ask the emergent questions. How  can we integrate? What is this technology for? Can we prove that it is engaging and raising student achievement? How can we utilize technology to promote and preserve the language, culture and heritage of the Cook Islands? The list goes on.

At this point in the Cook Islands we can celebrate the many teachers who are championing ICT integration and indeed inspiring other teachers to do the same in their classrooms. Limits or restrictions on internet connectivity and reliability have meant that teachers here are striving to be innovative by discovering other uses for devices within their schools and classrooms that are not just web based.

As I consider the movement forward for IT use in our Cook Island classrooms I can identify two areas in which we must collectively develop:

-Collaboration skills. The ability to openly share ideas, resources and work load. Valuing everybody's opinions, expertise and experiences is focal in developing systems and strategies that are diverse and inclusive by nature.
- Ownership. This means developing internal systems and structures that are unique to our own schools and communities. It means deciding on specific school wide goals and actively working towards them.

I am excited about the direction in which the Cook Islands is moving with ICT integration and use. I love that we are seeing more and more Cook Island champions for ICT. I am sure the ambition and foresight shown by the IT "movers and shakers" here can provide a great model for other Pacific Nations wishing to move forward with their own ICT projects.