Devices Day 17 July 2026

Today I learned a number of new skills.

a) That there is a heap of new shortcuts that I didn’t know about for using on a Chromebook. Some I will use, and some I find my current ways easier for me.

b) How to use Google Vids and record a screen with an inserted video. There is lots more I need to learn how to use and know about the barriers of this software. Including the length of time a video can be, adding extras, etc. See the video created down the bottom.

c) An insight into EE and how to use it. See the image below. As I don’t have access to iPads in my school, it was an interesting insight into what is happening in the lower primary Manaiakalani schools and the knowledge that students have prior to learning on a chromebook device.

.EE png

 

My Google Vid

Sites Enabling Access 6/7/26

Today’s course was all about ensuring that our Google sites were accessible to all. Using an incognito screen to see what the public can and cannot see.

For this, I used my school’s Jumpsite. This is based in our Akpranga Hub site and lets parents and students know what we are planning for the term for our classes as well as links to associated sites and Hapara workspaces.

At the start my site was dull and boring. The home page has a basic introduction to us as a person and our contact details. This ius all that is allowed. Following this is one page per class.

What I changed.

a) Added a footer that’s included links to online software and other school and department sites.

b) Embed hapara workspaces into the Y10 pages with changes to the width so in the preview watchers could scroll side to side to see the full page of the workspace—not just the first 3 columns.

c) Moved links into buttons so they are not so wordy and easier to find.

d) Added my Bitmoji stickers (including megaphone, etc.) and other clip art (listening and writing) to remind students what the buttons is based around

e) Updated the Y10 Hapara workspaces by adding a few GIFs to stop them from looking so boring on the embedded version on the website.

f) Spatially moved a few buttons around to make it easier on the eye.

Old versus new version

         

 

I am pleased with the overall look and enjoyed having time to complete something I have had on my to-do list for a few months now.

Google Sites Day 5 17/4/26

Today was learning about Google Sites (multimodular and multitext dtat base). I have used Google sites for many years across all year levels and subjects, including jump sites for department classes. So apart from a few shortcuts, I didn’t gain a lot from the digital learning from today’s session.

It did, however, give me time to think about the sites I have and how to work smarter. The outcome was I started a Noteflight software Google site that would be used across my Y10 and NCEA classes with helpful videos and notes, starting with a page called “Beginners: How to Guide,” moving on to another page called “Shortcuts,” and a final page titled “Extras for Experts.” Making a one-stop shop for all my classes to use.  https://sites.google.com/d/1Sf4qMwzZ1Uz-nvXTeP5-_uEMnrrMT1P1/p/1993GdpcqTMUFM3nuEgr9dNVAJnCQeY8M/edit

Then during the afternoon session I was part of the leadership group. I am currently curriculum lead for SOLO taxonomy. So I spent the time setting up the start of a Google site to be added to the staff site with different resources across many mediums being added. This was a great way for me to take all my notes, create order, and make a more visually appealing presentation for staff to refer to. This will continue to evolve throughout the rest of this year and into 2027. https://sites.google.com/greyhigh.school.nz/ghs-solotaxonomy-2026/how-solo-fits-at-ghs

I enjoyed having the time today to create ideas and turn them into a stronger more visual format that will help with time management while supporting students and staff alike.

The aim over the next few months is to continue developing both these sites.

Day 3 Blog Media

I only did a half day due to this date conflicting with the Teachers Only Department day at my school. I had set a reminder on the million-and-one to-do lists to write this post and complete the tasks, but reality versus intentions doesn’t always work.

Based on YouTube-only tasks

I only use YouTube. for two reasons in my classroom:

a) to show students learning or example videos

b) As a catalog of student performances so I can share with individuals the video, and they can embed it into their own evaluations and work. And to share with NZQA for external evidence (when their system doesn’t fall over).

Much of what else I experienced that day was information I already use as a performing arts teacher.

When I get a chance, I will go back and complete the blog profile.

DFI 8th April 2026 Google Sheets, Forms and My Maps

Today’s course was about Forms, My Maps, and Sheets in Google.
As far as Google Forms are concerned, I can use this tool with flair. I have major listening programs that are based on Google Forms and self-marking, collecting data in Google Sheets. Example.

My map was intriguing but not something I feel is valid at this time as a music teacher. Will keep the idea in the back of my mind in case I discover a way of including it. Example 

Google Sheets was a meaty learning session. Found many shortcuts I didn’t know (so grateful for learning these). Love the formulas—I have never managed to make these stick in my head. Working on the basic formulas led me to explore creating a summary page for my data collection from the listening quizzes. I dedicated all my lunch break to perfecting the formula and have initiated the process of consolidating all 34 tabs into a single tab, incorporating the student’s email and final score. This process will allow me to see only one tab, so I won’t have to move between tabs to check for new input grades. Now I need to finish adding all the formulas, and then I will color-code 100% vs pass rates (using drop-downs) so I can see student progress. This way the uncoloured ones will show up as white so I know which are the new results from student work. This session was one that I was looking forward to the most, as this is something I have been wanting to extend my skills in for a few years now. Example.(Using the evidence from a student blog)

Here is the link to my stage 1 results and first summary page—definitely a work in progress. Once I have finished Stage 1, I will move on to the Stage 2/3/4 documentation as well. The good thing apart from time management is that it also gives a great colour code of how my students are progressing through the program. 

 

Great day thanks to all those who lead and helped along the way.

Workspace -Day 2

Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy

That process is built on best practice for students and teachers. Based around the three key areas of Learn, Create and Share. These three areas are best practice for students: learn the knowledge/skills, create based on the materials learnt, and then share your understanding with others or teaching staff via many different methods ( Blog, discussion, feedback and feedforward).

New Skills and knowledge learnt today

  1. How to use google meet, invite through the calendar, lead as a host, record a session, share the screen, stop recording and close google meet. Interesting fact that google meet can live stream and can have up to 50 people in a google meet.
  2. Google Keep – what it is, how to use it, how to download it onto a phone, its capabilities and its transferability to other google products. Including usage for students to share group notes with each other and the teacher.
  3. Advice – using Keep to make a quick 30-second audio recording of the main points note for later reference.
  4. New and different settings that are available in Gmail. Including archiving, adding pictures to signature and using templates
  5. How to find shortcuts using shift + ?
  6.  Google calendar – settings – more of a review, as I already use this app well. Great reminder to send the department meetings as calendar invites so that a continuous document is easy to find for staff.
  7. How to add your timetable from KAMAR into google calendar.
  8. How to embed a google meet video into the blog via code

All of these are creative ways to stay organised and use technology more effectively.

Next Steps

  1. Add new shortcuts to my running document.
  2. Send the department meetings as calendar invites so that a continuous diary document is easy to find for staff.

Core Business – DFI Day One (edited)

List of new skills learnt during the day –

  1. The importance of a professional picture in the profile and the avatar function within google profile.
  2. Reminder about numbering folders to get them in a order that works for you and colour-coding folders
  3. How to use google groups
  4. Lots of shortcuts, i.e., CTRL/SHIFT/V to paste without format.
  5. Smart clips – what are they and how do you use them
  6. Use of initials at the front of labelling files so it’s easier to work out who the work belongs to.
  7. How to blog.
  8. Layout in a visually based document.
  9. How to use split screen with the new update on chrome.

So What?

These are amazing, helpful and timesaving tips that will help me in my day-to-day digital usage. Once I am comfortable with using them, I will start sharing them with my students so I can grow their skills. They will also help me grow my confidence in extending my skills and knowledge.  I need to overcome my own barriers when it comes to blogging. I am an anti-blogger-come-journal-writer and have huge headspace barriers to overcome my hatred of this type of task. One of the issues is that I like to take time to think before I review/reflect in a written format. Sugestions made by leader Michelle to Voice type intial ideas, and then go back later and revise are helpful. 

Now What?

  1. Practise, practise and practise some more. 
  2. Create a chart of the shortcuts for my wall to remind me what buttons to push. (  Link to Shortcuts page) I will continue adding to this page throughout the course.
  3. Continue making my visual document so I can use this with my year 10 Music classes. Add this to my Hapara workspaces.
  4. I will come back and reflect some more once I have had time to think and the brain fog created by today’s learning has cleared.
  5. Later thoughts. (Love this day but brain was fried by the end). Book one period non contact to read and review DFI days and complete goals set aside. This way I can keep the DFI course as part of my whats on top and not only come back to it when the days are on (embedding). Also pin and bookmark blog page to my account (done) -so I can find it easier. (DONE)
  6. Draft 1

Hello world!

Welcome to your brand new blog – a space to share your learning journey.

To get started, simply visit your blog’s dashboard, edit or delete this post and check out all the other options available to you.

Like more help?

We can walk you through step-by-step in our guide to getting started with your blog.

You can see what other learners are sharing on their blogs here.

Happy blogging!