Collaboration:
Four years in and it's hard to imagine my school without collaboration. Authentic connections sheds light between disciplines and educators, Redecker et al (2011) agrees in that Professional relationships will increasingly be characterised by an open knowledge exchange, not only between colleagues and peers with similar professional profiles and learning needs, but also between older and younger, experienced and inexperienced workers. Authentic connections also sheds light between learners and educators, and between learners and significant others.
Collaboration Continued:
In addition, ensuring the use of technology helps to support learning, helps learners connect, promotes deeper learning across all levels. Hampson, Patton and Shanks (2011) believe that by blending technology into learning experiences, we can better blend school into learners’ lives which means learners are more connected to their learning in school and outside of school.
Over this Covid19 lockdown period learning has had to change without any real preparation in terms of teaching and learning. We meet as educators in our learning hubs 3x a week on Zoom and discuss, share and work out how we will work in this new approach to accessing learning that hopefully is interesting, relevant and meaningful for our learners. As educators, we meet with our students on Google Meets 3x a week to catch up, to support with online learning and sort out any issues they may have. Google Hangouts is a quick and easy way for learners and parents/caregivers to contact us any day of the week and to inform the whole cohort of learners about relevant notices about assignments, tasks and school updates. Redecker et al (2011) takes the view that digital technology will play a vital part in enabling the prospect of lifelong learning. With the pervasiveness of technology and with rising flexibility, learning anytime, pace or place can and will become a reality in the future.
Hampson, M., Patton, A. and Shanks, L. (2011). Ten Ideas for 21st Century Education. London, Innovation Unit. www.innovationunit.org/knowledge/our-ideas/21st century-education (Accessed March 2020)
Redecker, C., Ala-Mutka, K., Leis, M., Leendertse, M., Punie, Y., Gijsbers, G., Kirschner, P., Stoyanov, S. and Hoogveld, B. (2011). The Future of Learning: Preparing for Change. Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union. http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC66836.pdf (Accessed March 2020)
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