Reflective entry 8: Evaluate the outcomes of a digital and collaborative innovation in your practice from an educational research perspective. (Fepuleai. M, Macfarlane. K. 2020)

 Our research journey started out with the hunch that real-time reporting could improve the reading outcomes for culturally diverse students in our school.  We aimed to implement our research in term one of this year however we were unable to do this as planned due to COVID 19 lockdowns. This entry will reflect on what we have managed to achieve so far and the impact of COVID 19.

Our first step towards live reporting was to establish guidelines with staff on a teacher only day held just prior to school starting.  This went ahead as planned.  Staff were introduced to the concept of Real-time reporting and the benefits we hoped would come from it.  We asked teachers to think about our stakeholders (students, whānau, teachers, community) and identify:

1. What each group needs to ensure they can participate in real time reporting effectively.

2. How we support each group to be ready to participate in live reporting.

Staff worked in small groups to write their ideas on an ideaz board which can be seen here.  It is our experiences that where staff are asked to share ideas verbally very few people will speak.  Ideaz Board gave people a chance to speak to each other in smaller groups and share without being singled out, resulting in more ideas being shared then previously experienced in meetings.  This was a great learning opportunity for us and something which would be good to include in future meetings.  Many of the comments in the teacher section highlighted that teachers are still unsure about what real-time reporting looks like in practice.  As a staff we need a shared understanding of what real-time reporting looks like before we implement it. This is something we can establish collectively in future meetings. 

‘When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters – one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity’ (Hood, 2020)

Although the Covid 19 lockdowns meant many of our plans to implement real-time reporting were disrupted it presented opportunities for learning and brought about some positive outcomes.   Seesaw was our main platform for learning while in lockdown, leading to teachers having to quickly upskill.  This resulted in collaboration between teachers as those that were more confident using the tool supported those who were not.  Learning from Lockdown (Hood,2020) stated that many schools reported increased collaboration over lockdown and this was certainly the case for us.  The collaboration has continued after lock down, with teachers sharing what they are doing on seesaw and celebrating their successes. 

Our whānau also had a steep learning curve with Seesaw. For many parents it was their first time engaging with the platform and in Room 12 there was a high uptake, with 17 out of 24 students engaging in online learning using the platform.  McWilliams and Patton (2015) stated that Real-Time reporting promotes connections among and between people, ideas and settings and we have seen this beginning to develop between whānau, students and teachers.  For example just before the first three day lockdown Kirsty had taught a lesson on the Treaty of Waitangi. A parent gave the following comment on a post related to this:

‘It was great to hear A talk about his oar art and his current understanding about “the Maori people went to war coz other people try take the land”...when I grow up I want to be Maori and go to war”. We can’t wait to see his knowledge of tangata whenua and The Tiriti o Waitangi develop as he gets older’

The post had generated discussion between the student and whānau, connecting school and home.  The comment allowed Kirsty to gain an insight into what the student had taken away from the lesson.  It also started conversations with the parent when Kirsty saw them at school, further strengthening relationships between home and school.  

Of course there were some areas that need to be addressed, such as lack of access to devices.  We were able to hand out devices to whānau for the lockdown, but now students are back at school we need to develop a system whereby whānau can come in and use school devices.   Another insight gained from lockdown was the value of face to face meetings.  During lock down Kirsty attempted to hold a zoom meeting with parents from Room 12 to go through the basics of Seesaw.  Out of 24 parents, two attended, with one of these two leaving mid call due to difficulties with connections and having to soothe their youngest child.  This made us realise that for our community Zoom is not the right forum for meetings.  We need to make time to develop authentic relationships with whānau in order for real-time reporting to be a success.  This is something we will continue to work on.  

Mindlab has allowed us to widen our focus and look directly at those ‘wicked problems’ that have been sitting at the back of our minds for a long time.  Through this we are seeing changes in our practice which are starting to have an impact on kaiako, whānau and akonga.  We look forward to continuing to challenge the status quo, working with and for our families as we move towards real-time reporting.  This is not the end of our journey, it is the beginning. 

 

Hood, N (2020) Learning from lockdown. Retrived from https://theeducationhub.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/7440-TEH-learning-from-lockdown-document3.pdf

McWilliams, L., & Patton, C. (2015). How to share data with families. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 46-49.

Reflective entry 7: Explain how your application of a digital and collaborative innovation relates to national educational policies/guidelines and contemporary educational theory and compare it to existing delivery models and needs. (Fepuleai. M, Macfarlane. K. 2020)

Up until now Nga Iwi School has reported to parents through writing twice a year.  This includes one meet the teacher meeting and one three way conference with teacher, whanau and tamariki.  Throughout the year, the school has open mornings, a variety of school events and teachers have informal conversations with parents when the opportunity arises or is required.  Current national guidelines state that quality assessment is communicated with parents in writing, a minimum of twice a year, in plain language (T.K.I., n.d).   In 2020, Nga Iwi School will be moving from twice written reporting to real-time reporting using the Seesaw app.  This entry investigates how Nga Iwi is using government and ministry guidelines, frameworks, key documents and policy to guide us to real-time reporting.

The advent of real-time reporting at Nga Iwi School has involved a focused look by leadership at a variety of policies and administrative guidelines.  We have sought parent opinion and feedback relating to the concept of online reporting and monitored interest in moving towards real-time reporting.  Research states that parental involvement in children’s education has a positive influence on achievement (Fan, X., et.al. 2001).  Our purpose for moving to this model of reporting is wholly focused on bringing the classroom to the parents, getting them connected to the learning, making it ubiquitous and accessible at home.  The Ministry of Education recognises parents as key stakeholders  in raising student achievement and success (T.K.I., n.d).

Moving to an online platform the Nga Iwi School leadership team is using a variety of Ministry of Education sources to ensure we will meet administrative guidelines and expectations for implementation.  This takes time as there are a multitude of resources out there.  The main resources referred to, but not limited to are; T.K.I’s Assessment online, Digital Technology: Safe and Responsible Use in Schools and NetsafeSchools.org.  We continue to visit many other documents including the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELPs), Ka Hikitia and the Plan for Pacific Education.  All of these documents hold relevance and importance to our context and it is important that we involve them in the development of our reporting system.  

We are making  links between the MoE and Netsafe frameworks and connecting them to the NELPs, Ka Hikitia and the Pasifika Education Plan.  Aligning these systems will give us clarity to our purpose and the direction we are headed.  Being in a low socio-economic community, equity and barrier free access is an issue we have to address.  Our COVID experience gave us a window into accessibility for our tamariki and whanau.  We discovered over time that online access increased in our community from approximately 45% pre-COVID to 90% post.  This data positively informed us of the ability for our whanau to access the reporting app.  Our next step is introducing whanau to the app.  We surveyed interest in real-time reporting with parents after the first lock down and during whanau conferences.  70% of those surveyed expressed interest in the new system and 80% of those were interested in parent training for the app.  30% preferred the current form of reporting twice a year in writing.  Providing opportunities for our community to learn about the app is important in engaging those less confident and unsure of the benefits and purpose of the new system.

Ensuring the platform is equitable, consideration needs to be given to the cultural lens our context has on how we report to parents.  The app enhances this aspect of the new system.  Language, identity and culture are at the heart of our tamariki.  Real-time reporting allows our tamariki to visually connect their learning to their whanau by sharing their learning on time, in real time with their loved ones.  We encourage our students to use their heritage language in their learning, which means their whanau at home who may be stronger in their first language, will be able to understand and communicate about the learning with their tamariki.  This is an exciting aspect of this system.  Whanau will be better informed and more frequently updated on the learning and progress of their tamariki as it happens.  Among the actions stipulated in the Pacfic Education Plan, to design education opportunities and work reciprocally with whanau (MOE. 2020), the reporting platform is a space where parents who wouldn’t normally be directly involved in their child’s learning, could now be engaged.  Barriers such as language can be removed as parents can communicate with their tamariki in their home language through the comments option.

With so much information available to schools, it has become evident while going through this process that it is important for schools to ensure they are accessing  Ministry guidelines and documentation.  Doing this gives the process strength in direction and functionality, always ensuring the students are central to the purpose.

As processes and school designed guidelines are developed, back mapping is crucial to ensure you are staying on track.  Nga Iwi School are confident they have met government and community expectations in developing this system and will continue to review and reflect on the system.

Fan, X., & Chen, M. (2001). Parental involvement and students' academic achievement: A meta-analysis. Educational psychology review, 13(1), 1-22.

Ministry of Education. (2020). Action Plan for Pacific Education. Retrieved from:  https://conversation-space.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/Pacific+Education+Plan_WEB.PDF

Te Kete Ipurangi. (n.d).  Why Report to Parents and Whanau.   Website.  

Retrieved from: https://assessment.tki.org.nz/Reporting-to-parents-whanau/Why-report-to-parents-and-whanau

Te Kete Ipurangi. (n.d). Report time. Website. Retrieved from: https://assessment.tki.org.nz/Reporting-to-parents-whanau/Report-time

 

Reflective entry 6: Critique and address issues of law, regulations and/or policy that have been relevant to the digital and collaborative learning innovation you applied in your practice (Fepuleai. M , Macfarlane. K. 2020)

 The immersion of digital technologies into the education sector has presented many questions in terms of ethics, legalities, policy and process.  School’s moving into the digital realm have not only had to focus on capabilities, pedagogy, equity and outcomes but also had to manage and maneuver through a raft of legislation, policy and guidelines to ensure they are keeping their communities safe.  New Zealand’s Ministry of Education promotes a “learn, guide, protect” model, developed to guide young people’s learning in the digital world (MOE, n.d).  ‘Learn’ focuses on student citizenship, values and competencies.  ‘Guide’ covers students and the wider community including whanau engagement, teacher capabilities, student engagement and online safety.  ‘Protect’ centers on policies, monitoring and technical restrictions, incident response and reporting (MOE).  

This model offers guidance to schools with a focus on the what, why and how of online learning and the areas to be closely addressed in using devices and technology safely in a learning environment.  Each element of the model provides schools with specific areas requiring development and a shared understanding between the school, students and whanau.

The advent of online learning and real-time reporting opens a wide raft of considerations for schools.  At a governance level, school boards are responsible for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of their community.  There has been much to develop in recent years and more evolving in regard to policy and legislation in relation to technology and digital practice in schools and much of this is under the umbrella of Health, Safety and Wellbeing policies.  In many schools boards with agency support from the New Zealand Trustees Association have developed information and communication technology policies such as; Digital Technology and Cyber Safety; Health, Safety and Welfare; Surrender and Retention of Digital Devices and Bullying and Responding to Digital Incidences (School Docs, n.d).  These policies provide the framework for schools to work within the digital space, but as the space evolves, they require regular review to ensure they remain relevant and up to date.  

Safety and privacy are threatened in schools with online cyber attacks increasing since the 2020 COVID lockdowns in New Zealand (Kenny, K. 2021).  Schools have to be constantly aware of what students are accessing and what is accessible in the learning space.  Schools are blocking more and more websites containing harmful content or cyber attacking software in order to keep students safe (2021).  These types of incidences and media reports are of concern to parents who are already wary of their children’s online access at school.  School policies vary across the country around devices and content, however they are responsible for the health and safety of students not only on site, but in the cyber world while working at school online.  Agencies such as Netsafe provide a plethora of advice and guidance to schools and the community in regard to internet safety.  Netsafe has developed a schools framework to help schools navigate and understand their current digital practices - safety, citizenship and well-being (Netsafe Schools. n.d).  The framework supports schools in their development and review of safe online practices and the online environment their students are working in.  The Netsafe framework is informed by the seven ERO Wellbeing indicators; students (Akonga), partnerships (mahi ngātahi), stewardship (kaitiakitanga), leadership (hautūtanga), curriculum (marau), professional confidence (te tū māia), inquiry and review (te aromātai) (n.d).  This framework links to and expands on the MOE model in addition to providing a sound tool for review and reflection of current school systems.

The New Zealand government has developed the Network for Learning (N4L) company to provide all schools and kura with a managed network.  N4L manages the safety and security of the network to ensure students can work safely online.  The network works with school tech specialists to connect (provide fast, reliable internet connection), protect (monitor access and cyber security support) and support (manage, monitor and maintain school connections) (N4L. n.d).  

Having a company providing resources to manage school’s networks is essential to supporting schools responsibilities in regard to student online safety at school.  Many boards and school leaders do not have the knowledge or digital capacity to manage their network safely and tech support providers are an expensive resource to employ.  By taking on this expense, the Ministry of Education shares the responsibility, understands the magnitude of the responsibility and works closely with schools, leadership and experts in ensuring the responsibility is met accordingly.  N4L engages support from the education sector through a leadership advisory group, made up of school principals and educationalists who advise the company of the big picture of education and technology.  

School boards and leaders have access to an extensive support network of resources and documents to ensure their  learners and community are safe in the cyber world at school.  It is important that each school ensure their systems are current, their staff are trained and they have review tools in use to reflect and evaluate the systems and processes in place are adequate.

Digital Technology and Cyber Saftey (n.d) School Docs: Nga Iwi School. Website.

Kenny, K. 2021.  Schools are dealing with increased online threats, report details.  Stuff Website.  Retrieved from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/124008524/schools-are-dealing-with-increased-online-threats-report-details

Ministry of Education (n.d). Digital Technology: Safe and Responsibly Use in Schools. Website. Retrieved from: https://www.education.govt.nz/school/digital-technology/digital-technology-guide-for-schools/digital-technology-safe-and-responsible-use-in-schools/incident-prevention/incident-prevention-2/#cd_3091_guiding-young-peoples-learning-in-the-digital-world_ComplexDocumentAccordionSection_Guiding%20young%20people's%20learning%20in%20the%20digital%20world

Netsafe Schools (n.d). Netsafe School Overview. Website. Retrieved from: www.netsafe.org/thekit/netsafe-schools/overview/

Network for Learning (n.d).  About Us.  Website.  Retrieved from:  www.n4l.co.nz/about-us/

Reflective entry 5: Critically analyse issues of ethics, society, culture and/or professional environments that have been relevant to the digital and collaborative learning innovation you applied in your practice (Fepuleai. M , Macfarlane. K. 2020)

The culture and professional environments of the school, societal issues and ethics all impact on a school’s ability to change.  This reflective entry will explore the impact of these factors on our digital and collaborative learning innovation.  

Stoll (1998) describes school culture as a lens through which the world is viewed, it can often be captured by the phrase ‘it’s the way we do things around here’.   Culture is often neglected but it can be what makes change so difficult within a school.  One aspect that impacts school culture is the age of the school.  Nga Iwi school opened in 1972  with the name “Ngā Iwi o te motu kia kotahi ai”, meaning  'People of the land be one'.   The age of the school has both positive and negative impacts on our culture and its impact on change. 

The name ‘Ngā Iwi o te motu kia kotahi ai’ is very apt when considering the community that supports Nga Iwi primary.  We have a diverse community and the school celebrates and fosters it through community events, language weeks and having physical spaces that represent the diverse cultures within our school.  Through our innovation of real-time reporting we are hoping to get this diversity reflected in our classroom practice and reporting.  Having a school that is already immersed in it’s cultural diversity should work favorably in this innovation, however there are other factors that put up barriers to this change.

As a school ages, change becomes more difficult, and we believe this plays an important factor in our innovation.  Many of the staff began their teaching career at Nga Iwi school and have remained there for the entirety of it.  This brings with it positives as they have developed strong relationships with the community, however it also means ‘the way we do things around here’ is strongly embedded and difficult to change. In discussing the change to real-time reporting we have had many teachers state that ‘it’s not what the families want’  before fully engaging in the idea. This resistance to change is compounded by recent political agendas. 

According to Stoll (1998) national education policies can impact on the culture of a school.  In 2010 national standards that focused solely on reading, writing and maths were introduced into NZ primary schools.  National standards are no longer used to measure student achievement however it’s impact is still being felt.  Our current written reports focus on reading, writing and maths despite NAG2 stating that schools must report on a child’s progress across the curriculum (Ministry of Education, 2017).  The change to real-time reporting and the opportunities it presents to report across the curriculum and to include diverse ways of knowing are met with resistance from some staff.  For some of our colleagues it is simply very difficult to imagine a different type of reporting.  For example when discussing the ways we can use real time reporting teachers were putting forward ideas such as: 

• To put  running records onto seesaw

• Set a time once a term to report on reading, writing, maths.

Teachers are looking at ways of moving written paper reports to seesaw rather than seeing seesaw as a way to change what and how we report.  This requires a cultural shift within the school that may take some time to achieve. 

School culture is one aspect which impacts change, we also need to consider societal issues. Nga Iwi Primary is a decile one school.   Real-time reporting requires that whānau have a device, access to the internet and knowledge on how to use seesaw.  According to TKI Not having access to these things is an issue of equity(TKI, no date).  Many of our whānau only have access to one device, usually a phone from which to access information.  A recent survey found that 10% percent of our whanau do not have access to a digital device connected to wifi.  We address access to devices in class by providing ipads and chromebooks, however the students don’t have access to school devices at home.  Royal Road school addressed this by setting up times where parents can pop into the school library to access computers (TKI, n.d). In a report into the success of real-time reporting at Park Estate School it was found that time needs to be set aside for teachers to support parents and build relationships with them in order to enable them to access their child’s learning (TKI, n.d). Although we are just at the start of our innovation we need to ensure continued commitment to building relationships and supporting parents to get online. 

This commitment to whānau aligns with our ethical responsibility as teachers.  The code of professional responsibility states that we must have a commitment to families and whānau as outlined by the diagram below:

Real-time reporting allows us to achieve all three objectives however it requires us to ensure we are enabling access to the community and that we ourselves as teachers are meeting our commitment to the teaching profession by ‘engaging in professional, respectful and collaborative relationships with colleagues’ (Council, 2017, p12).  

References:

Council, E. (2017). Our code, our standards. Wellington, New Zealand: Education Council.

Ministry of Education (n.d) The National Administration Guidelines. Website. Retrieved from https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/legislation/nags/

Ministry of Education (n.d) Connecting with whānau via digital Seesaw learning journals 

Retrieved from https://elearning.tki.org.nz/Leadership/Real-time-reporting#js-tabcontainer-1-tab-3

Stoll. (1998). School Culture. School Improvement Network’s Bulletin 9. Institute of Education, University of London. http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Understanding-school-cultures/School-Culture 

Te Kete Ipurangi. (n.d).  Real-time Reporting  Website.  Retrieved from: https://elearning.tki.org.nz/Leadership/Real-time-reporting#js-tabcontainer-1-tab-4