Ubiquitous (adjective): present, appearing, or found everywhere.

 Rangiwhāwhā - or ubiquitous - refers to learning that can take place anytime, anywhere, anyplace, and for anyone. This concept was at the forefront in March 2020 all across Aotearoa, as we went into sudden lockdown. This situation transferred into the opportunity for students to be learning at all times, without constraint to traditional school hours. It allowed for rewindable and visible learning to be accessed by students and their whānau. 

The flow on effects from this urgent need to have learning available digitally have been beneficial to the return to learning in the classroom. This is especially true as my own classroom has needed this access while I have been out of school attending the Digital Fluency Intensive. To continue on with our regular routine with consistency, students and relievers have access to the timetable, requirements, resources, and all other relevant links. 

With the focus on devices, we looked at digital learning from a student's perspective. Working through shortcuts on Chromebooks with a 'Digital Dig', and the Explain Everything app on iPads, we experienced how learners manage themselves in some of the online spaces. We asked the question: is every person strongly set up for online learning if we were to return to sudden lockdown? Should there be a drill for this as there are drills for earthquakes and fires?

                                                        

As you can see from the video, I wasn't super excited with my experience at Explain Everything, but it was only my first go and I am sure with more time I would work it out and find ways to use it. My school does not use iPads, we are 1:1 with Chromebooks, so at this stage I will focus my efforts in that arena. Overall, it was beneficial to learn more about using Chromebooks so I can assist with student queries, as digital fluency starts with the ability to ue the device. 

A common theme throughout, both in personal and professional online usage, was the theme of being cybersmart (as opposed to cybersafe). Keeping positive language is essential to creating connected and confident decision makers online. Cybersmart can be metaphorically seen as the strong/solid roof of Manaiakalani that is embedded throughout the learn/create/share kaupapa. 

Wheoritia te atawhai - make kindness go viral

Moving forward professionally, it is important to acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and our commitment to partnership, participation, and protection, particularly in connection to education. By enabling students and whānau to be the owners of devices, it encourages engagement and ownership of the learning taking place. It gives every student the opportunity to be digitally fluent, and makes learning accessible and visible.

I ran into a few issues today with accessibility to the workspace feature in Hapara. After watching my bubble coach talk through step by step instructions, we found that it was not on my Hapara page and we spent time trying to figure out why. As I was left with minimal time, I defaulted to creating a Screencastify recording focusing on Digital Footprints, specifically within profiles. I would cater this to my students by asking them to refer to their current profiles and see what tweaks and changes they would make after our discussions. I will follow up the workspace issue with my Manaiakalani in class support person.  

Haere rā

Alicia