DFI Day 2

Deep Dive #1 Google Hangouts

What's all the fuss about?
Because I had no real idea how to use this amazing feature I didn't realise how useful it would be to have that face to face contact with the class without actually being present. In light of what is happening around the world I see the urgency in learning how to be proficient in this method of delivery.

 It was a bit confusing to start with but I think with lots of practise it will become easier. I am excited about doing a tuition with my class on Monday. We had a go as a small group which was lots of fun and I am keen to have a go at using the new recording function that is a part of Google Hangouts, however it hasn't been pushed out to us yet. At this stage we need to use Quick Time to record.

It was really great to join a hangout with someone in Auckland and reflect on the Manaiakalani pedagogy with a focus on Learn.
To start with we  looked at the 4 goals of learn...

Goal 1 Teachers and learners need to learn the same skills

Goal 2 Teachers need to use this learning

Goal 3 Teachers need to take the evidence that we have presented and make deliberate and effective use of it.

Goal 4 We must be working all the time in that digital environment.

We need to be moving both these lines at the same time hand in hand.

Deep Dive #2 Google Keep 

Another amazing extension that I have used in the past. This was really a refresher for me and a reminder how Google Keep can really streamline my workflow.  Just use it!

A hack that I took away from this deep dive was that you can use the recording function in Google Keep and it will convert it to text.

Deep Dive #3 Google Mail 
This was a chance for me to go behind the scenes and have a play with my settings. Look at some cool hacks and setting features to personalise  my Mail to suit me.  I really enjoyed finding our more about this as Google Mail is so important in my daily work.  My to do from this deep dive is to setup my email signature.  I remember that DJ Burt mentioned to keep it professional with no bitmoji and photos so I have to get that done. A hack that I took away was to use schedule send at the bottom of my emails.

Deep Dive #4 Google Calendar. 

This would have to be the most useful Deep Dive today for me today and an app that I am embarrassed to say I have never really used properly. I have used the surface features but because I haven't learnt ins and outs it has been a chore to add all my events and appointments. Now that I am more familiar I can see myself using this all the time. It will ensure I don't forget appointments and take away the stress of having to remember everything. Love it! The added benefits of being able to invite people to Hangouts etc easily is also great. My hack would be to use Google Calendar to send notes to reliever within an appointment.

Summary of the day...

• So much fantastic, useful information 
• Hanging out with awesome colleagues
• Knowledge which will help me with workflow
• New learning to take back to share with the tamariki
• Feeling empowered.