eako A powerful learning resource for students and

e-ako A powerful learning resource for students and teachers Vince Wright Vince. wright. 3. 14@gmail. com Andrew Tagg Andrew@nzmaths. co. nz

What is e-ako? What are the benefits for teachers and students in using e-ako ? What is the philosophy about the use of digital technology that underpins e-ako? Where are the spaces for future development of e-ako?

e-ako is a learning resource for: - teachers and - students

Within a given area users are free to choose the e-ako (module) they want to learn from.

In the PLD 360 section teachers can select a book icon to investigate a topic of interest.

An engaging online adventure for students learning mathematics at levels 1 -5 of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Developed for New Zealand students and teachers by leading maths educators.

Currently 220 interactive modules funded and endorsed by the Ministry of Education. Pedagogically sound modules and learning pathways used by over 500 NZ schools.

Monitor and support students’ progress and tailor their learning. Students can learn anywhere, anytime, at their own pace.

Shall we give it a crack then?

The Cat and Mouse e-ako is located in the Problem Solving section and is written to challenge high achieving students.

According to 2014 data, 73% of primary schools have digital technologies available in classrooms (Digital Technology in Schools Report 2014, Research NZ). In fact New Zealand has the second highest reported rate of classroom based technology use in the world (OECD, 2015).

Within a socio-constructivist view, learning is mediated by social tools and norms. Tools have an important role in learning. They can make tasks easier but they also influence what learners ‘see’, how learners inquire, and how they act. So e-ako is a tool for supporting learning. It should make the ‘job’ easier.

You need to know how the technology functions in order to use it effectively. TPACK Model (Mishra & Koehler, 2008) E-ako is convenient and accessible and does not require high levels of technological expertise on the part of the teacher and students. However, effective use of e-ako by a teacher involves application of their pedagogical and content knowledge.

Do I have students working alone or do I strategically put them in groups, or let them self-allocate into small teams? Do I teach a concept first then use e-ako as consolidation or do I make e-ako the first learning opportunity? Do I use an e-ako as the basis for a lesson with a group of students?

What is the philosophy about the use of digital technology that underpins e-ako? I am motivated and interested. When it functions well technology is intuitive, responsive, and convenient.

Can we get beyond the technology being used in routine ways towards it adding value to the learning situation? In creating e-ako modules the authors aim to enhance learning , not just provide opportunities for practice of knowledge and skills.

What ‘job’ should technology do? Engage learners Enable learners Three E’s of technology use - Project Tomorrow (2011) Empower learners

Engage learners Motivating students to engage in problem solving, creativity and critical thinking. Enable learners Empower learners Increasing students' access to educational resources. Encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning. We know that students are motivated and engaged by e-ako. We know that e-ako gives student access to opportunities they may not otherwise have. Our challenge is to empower then to take personal responsibility.

Benefits of technology use Portability of information Simultaneous multiple representations

Replication and sharing Efficiency and accuracy

Creativity and experimentation Powerful representation Responsiveness to students

Students used calculators to verify the correctness of their predictions with decimats.

Jourdan’s Year 4 class at Fairfield Primary, 2015. Learning not to draw what they could not see was a real challenge for the students.

Taking photographs with ipads allowed the s

e-ako report card Benefits Portability of information Simultaneous multiple representations Replication and sharing Efficiency and accuracy Creativity and experimentation Powerful representation Responsiveness to students ? ?

minder that e-ako is just one resource on nzmaths ts on Matariki for Levels 2 -4 are now available. Waipuna-ā-rangi Uru-ā-rangi Hiwaiterangi Waitā Pohutukawa Waitī Matariki Tupu-ā-rangi Tupu-ā-nuku