Background
Westmount Teacher Academy has been a while in the design process!
The undertaking of designing an interactive and valuable learning experience for all the teachers at Westmount across Junior, Middle and Senior schools and within the 11 campuses and their satellites across New Zealand has been a huge undertaking for the Teacher Academy team, and a process that we are still iterating and refining as we traverse the landscape.
Each week as we develop new tools and support systems in relation to professional learning groups, curriculum inquiry support or campus PLD, we will make them available both through this weekly blog and the Teacher Academy Moodle pages.
 |
| http://classes.westmount.school.nz/course/view.php?id=2973 |
Inquiry Process
The process of Inquiry should really be undertaken for each of the goals that you have set for appraisal. The minimum being, 1 curriculum based and 1 personal, however the write up and use of evidence is not stipulated other than you must show evidence of inquiry towards your appraisal requirements and to meet the RTC’s (PTC’s now). My suggestion would be to do two really well throughout the year and then choose which if not both to report on.
Timeline for Inquiries
I have had many requests to clarify the expectations around teacher inquiries, and as a way to explain I have put the following interactive timeline together. I have to say it looks pretty flash and with relatively minimal work to put it together. I can see the value of using this or a similar tool to add to Moodle courses for students.
The above link is to the timeline that I created for teachers and is hosted in Westmount Moodle.
However the following link is to the website that hosted the App and the user guide on how to create it for those of you that would like to try it out.
Skype for Business (Video tutorial and help notes)
Okay, so I am a realistic person and I am also the first to admit that the transition to using Skype for business as a tool for collaboration sharing sessions, has not been as successful as I would have hoped. But we have come to far to throw in the towel for defeat, but instead urge you to continue to trial and explore till we get it working as I know it can!
Many teachers are now getting the hang of the basics, but to help you a little further Suzanne has put together and awesome video tutorial hosted on Moodle that will show you how:
- To create groups
- Schedule a meeting and send out invites
- Link into skype meetings
- Add people to the meeting after it has started
- Share your screen/programme so you can show your screen and talk to it
- How to use the features to produce minutes collaboratively as a group.
Suzanne has also produced help notes that you can access through this link if you find it easier to follow script more than a video tutorial.
Signing off for this week, but will bring you new tips and tricks next week before we head off into the end of term holidays.
