Digital storytelling 101

Off to the Hospital Play Specialist conference today and looking forward to sharing the exciting ways Digital Storytelling can be used in their context.

Global Storytellers

This star studded video reminds us that stories are powerful when shared...everyone has a story to tell - what's yours?

Outdoor Environments

Nō hea koe? - Māori Maps

Nō hea koe? - Where are you from? A common greeting in any Māori/Pasifika introduction. Who you are and where you are from determines your place in this world. It helps the person you are speaking to make a connection with you. So what happens when your sense of ancestral ties lie in another part of New Zealand. With most Māori living in urban areas the links to marae for many Māori occurs when you have lost a loved on, when you are celebrating an event or a family reunion.

Today I read an article in the Aucklander - "Putting Māori on the Map" which briefly details the endeavours of some wonderful people who have trekked Tai Tokoreau capturing images of Northland and Auckland marae - these images and details have been capture on a portal called Māori Maps.

Instinctively, I took the opportunity to search my own marae (as you do). And there in all of its glory is an image of Kohewhata Marae on Mangakahia Rd and Te Kotahitanga Marae on Rangihamama Rd. I can see the potential of such a site and am looking forward to see how it unravels.

Reflective Questions

I came across a post this evening at Wake Up Tiger. I usually just browse through their quotes and find some gems here and there. Tonight there was a link to thoughtquestions.com and what a great find. I've been reflecting in online spaces and the role I play through commenting, liking and sharing. One hundred percent of what I share is super positive... that's fine obviously! But I've been thinking lately about how I might engage in some in-depth thought provoking thinking. The questions at thoughtquestions.com have done this for me tonight. I'm about to head over to Facebook and start some thought provoking conversations. A few questions that got me thinking are below:

What would your answers to these questions be?

What memories do these images bring back?

Reomations

We're enjoying a National Facilitators Hui with our Early Years team up in Auckland. The ideas buzzing in the room are ample. Our colleague Tania shared the Reomations link yesterday. A resource within TKI - Te Kete Ipurangi that has a huge range of animations focussed on Te Reo Maori. There is a wealth of information with accompanying teachers notes and videos. The list of Units are detailed below:

• Unit 1 Ko au
• Unit 2 Akomanga
• Unit 3 Kai
• Unit 4 Te huarere
• Unit 5 Hauora
• Unit 6 Ngā tau
• Unit 7 Ngā hākari
• Unit 8 Te marae

There is lots of potential for children, teachers and whānau to further explore this resource in their centres. Perhaps sharing a video at each team meeting and then practising the reo throughout the week would be useful. If you have any ideas for other teachers feel free leave your ideas in the comments section below.