DFI Day 5 - Sites

Halfway there! Session five of the Digital Fluency Intensive was all about Google Sites.

Now, I’ve built a few sites before, but if there’s one thing the DFI has taught me, it’s that technology never sits still. Even though I felt like I knew my way around, I was amazed at how much has evolved since I last put on my "web designer" hat.

The "Not-So-Intuitive" Suite Member

I’ll be the first to admit it: while I’m becoming a fan of Sheets and I live in Docs, Google Sites has always felt like the slightly quirky cousin of the Google family. It’s not always as intuitive as the rest of the workspace, and because most of us don't build websites every single day, those skills can get a little rusty!

That’s why this session was so incredibly valuable. It served as the perfect "refresher" to:

Navigate the updated interface.

Remember where all those handy embedding tools are hidden.

Explore new layout options that weren't there a couple of years ago.

Making an Impact: Our School Site

The best part of today wasn't just learning—it was doing. I was able to take everything we discussed and apply it immediately to our own school site.

It felt so productive to spend time making actual improvements and meaningful additions that our staff, students, and community will see. It’s one thing to practice on a "test" site, but it’s much more rewarding to improve a resource that supports our daily mahi.

My Key Takeaways:

Don't assume you know it: Even if you've used a tool before, the "new" version probably has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Consistency is key: Revisiting these less-frequent tools keeps us digitally fluent.

Purposeful Design: A website is a living thing—it needs regular love and updates to stay useful!

I'm feeling much more confident in my web-building abilities now. It’s all about keeping those "life-long learner" gears turning! 

DFI Day 4 - Dealing with Data

 

They say knowledge is power, but in the teaching world, data is the fuel that powers our knowledge! Session four of the Digital Fluency Intensive was aptly titled "Dealing with Data," and it couldn't have come at a better time!

Being in a Leadership role means numbers, spreadsheets, and student outcomes constantly surround me. The challenge isn't just collecting the data; it’s being able to:

• Classify information quickly.
• Interrogate the numbers to find the "why."
• Identify trends across different year groups.
• Analyse findings in the most efficient way possible.

Let’s be honest: as teachers, we are notoriously time-poor. We need the shortest, easiest route to the answers so we can get back to what matters most - supporting our tamariki and staff!

The "Docs vs. Sheets" Confession

I have a little confession to make. Historically, I’ve never felt truly comfortable using Google Sheets. Whenever I had a choice, I would default to Google Docs for almost everything. Docs felt safe, linear, and familiar. Sheets? Well, Sheets felt like a giant grid of potential mistakes and frustration!

However, today was a massive turning point. I’ve realised that by avoiding Sheets, I’ve actually been making my mahi (work) harder. Sheets isn't just for math geniuses; it's a powerful assistant designed to do the heavy lifting for us.

My New Goal: Perseverance!

Like every other skill we teach our students, I know that practice makes easier. I’ve decided to stop hiding in the comfort of Google Docs and start embracing the power of the spreadsheet.

My goal moving forward is to:

Persevere through the initial "I don't know how to format this" phase.

Learn the functions that will automate my leadership reporting.

Support my mahi by letting technology save me time rather than causing me stress.

It might take some time to feel like a "Sheets Pro," but I’m committed to the journey. After all, if we want our students to be brave learners, we have to lead by example!

Onward to more data-driven discoveries!

DFI Day 3 - Media

Stepping Up the Engagement: Interactive Learning and Lessons in ‘Recording’

Today’s learning was a fantastic dive into how we can move beyond the linear and bring a bit of "choose your own adventure" into the classroom.

Beyond the Linear: The Power of Pick-a-Path

One of the highlights was exploring Pick-a-Path slide. We’ve all used slide decks for years, but this felt like a genuine "step up." Instead of just clicking "next" until the end, Pick-a-Path allows students to become digital architects.

Whether it's a quiz where a wrong answer loops you back to a review slide, or a complex story where every choice leads to a different ending, the level of engagement is through the roof. It’s not just about consuming information; it’s about planning, sequencing, and logic. For students, it turns a standard presentation into an interactive experience that they actually want to navigate.

The Reality of the Learning Curve

Of course, no day of learning is complete without a few "human" moments! Part of our mahi today involved recording a kōrero (conversation) with a colleague.

It was a great reminder that learning is rarely a straight line. Sometimes you have to go backwards or make a mistake before you can truly move forward. In my case, I learned a very practical lesson about digital recording: always double-check the "stop" button! I thought I had ended my recording after our kōrero, but the "camera" kept rolling. What followed was a very authentic (but definitely not intended for public viewing!) chat between two teachers. While the kōrero itself was valuable, I decided to keep that particular file off the blog—some behind-the-scenes moments are best left in the classroom!