ULearn14 Breakout 3 - Helen Prescott is amazing!

A very big Thank You to Helen Prescott who managed in just over an hour to make Google Apps For Education seem plausible and amazingly something that I can manage. This is quite an achievement. 

Helen has shared an amazing amount of information with us. She has included many many links that I will be able to explore in that wonderful thing called 'spare time'. And she is arranging a Hangout with a trainer to answer our questions.  She is amazing!

Armed with this information I can get started at school this coming term and set in place a plan for school-wide roll out.

This was a practical and very timely workshop to do.

Thankyou

Sometimes a workshop will show you how well you are doing

When you attend a work shop and realise at the end that your school is doing most of what the presenter was sharing, it is a good feeling. 

Of course there are always things to learn.  So what have I learned about Teacher Inquiry as part of Appraisals.

• Presenting findings at the end is valuable.  Teachers have something to work to that showcases their work.
• By using GAFE able to have public (within the school) records of what is happening. Can include personal responses to professional readings and teachers can learn from each others work.  
• Try using Halbert & Kaser Spirals of Inquiry 2013 to develop the big question. They have questions to guide the teacher in developing their questions.
• Fail Fast - Try something new, learn from it and make changes.
• Teachers Council will shortly be sending out more information about what is needed.
• Use VLN Teacher's Inquiry site. Lots of good information.

What was reinforced for me:

• Teacher Inquiry is about reflective practice.  It is not something on top.
• by using GAFE it is being recorded in one place
• this can be done individually or at times of discussion.

Over all I am glad I went as at the end of the time I realised we have a good basis to move on with.