Jodie

Day 1 - Thursday I am at home now, throughly pleased with myself because not only have I managed to remember my passwords to both wikispace and the del.icio.us site, but I have also remembered how to edit this page! So I thought I would madly enter a short reflection about todays course, before my little one arrives home with my husband and offers up another array of challenges to compliment the ones I was faced with today.

The two tools that we explored today have really proven that ICT can be used effectively to enhance thinking strategies. I am looking forward to seeing how the course unfolds and although I am finding it challenging already, I am sure I will be able to apply thinking strategies more effectively in all aspects of the curriculum.

Day 2 - Friday

Finally (after a couple of hours of re-reading, searching sites, reviewing example units and using a mass of post-it notes) I have come up with my EQ, UQ's and CQ's. With the assistance of Mel and Anne, (thanks so much) I have learnt how to link my unit plan to this page.

If anyone has the time I would appreciate some advice/tips regarding these questions. I am revamping a unit of work called //Kitchen Chemisty// that is aimed at Years 3/4 although I think this unit plan may end up being more appropriate for Years 5/6. (Old habits die hard)

Now I have nutted out these questions (well at least I hope I am on the right track) things do feel like they are falling into place. I just don't know how I am going to complete my unit plan by Wednesday because this really has turned out to be a challenging exercise (on so many levels) of learning by doing!

Looking forward to any suggestion, comments or constructive criticism...

Day 3 - Monday A light at the end of the tunnel - everything is coming together. A sense of '//Wonderment and Awe'// overwhelmed me when I finally found an idea for the Seeing Reason Tool! Looking foward to (with some trepidation) working on the Showing Evidence Tool over the next few days.

Day 4 - Tuesday

Showing Evidence Tool

+ Challenging for gifted students Promotes higher-order thinking skills Challenges teachers to evaluate how they are planning for, teach and assessing thinking strategies

- Difficult to use with junior primary school students Challenging for teachers (this could be seen as a + or -)

Interesting

Everything about it!

Day Five - Wednesday

If you have not done the Essentials course: How have you found the course in general? Initally I found the course challenging. As the days progressed and we used the tools, the whole concept came together. I think it is important to continually think about how you are going to deliver the course. This keeps everything in perspective.

Have you felt that you have been disadvantaged by not having done the Essentials course? Developing the curriculum framing questions was difficult at first, but with the support of others in the group and the trainers, I did feel confident in the end. The practical activites assisted with this as well. To run the PT effectively, I would highly recommend doing the Essentials course first.

Do you feel equipped to run the course back in your own school?

I feel confident in delivering the 32 hour module. I think it is essential to have the flexibility to aim the course at the skills of the people you are directing it. This will ensure engagment with staff to further develop skills in both curriculum development and ICT.

What are the things you are wondering or still have questions about. When will be recieving our resources for the PT course? When will our school visits be?