One of the traps of learning stories is that we want to use them for assessment. We think that they can serve the same function of tests, that they will help us tick off curriculum coverage and maybe even give us the evidence we need...
Continue ReadingSmata is not for everyone. There is a special type of teacher it works for. Is that you? The first thing you need to understand is that Smata is all about what you, the teacher, can do to deepen the connection between yourself and your learners. Why? Well,...
Continue ReadingWell, it's been too long since anything was posted here. I really need to become more disciplined! So, in that spirit, I'm going to try an offer a monthly update of things that have been happening in the world of Smata. Here goes. The App There are...
Continue ReadingMichelle from Berhampore School talks about how Smata's emerging to rich scale helps develop reflective practice. https://youtu.be/zPKr6PV7ZMg...
Continue ReadingIt was great to talk learning and play, especially with older kids, with Sarah Aiono of Longworth Education. You can listen to the episode here: [embed]https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hLKwRu5Igjx27BAvlpKYB?si=4D1lBnr0SWWBnaCrtlqG-A&dl_branch=1[/embed] ...
Continue ReadingIf there's one thing teachers ask the most when first enquiring about SMATA it's this: 'Can I share the data?' And the answer is, 'Yes, sort of, with a few work arounds.' You see, when SMATA was being created one of the things I was big...
Continue ReadingIt was great to get along to Kelburn Normal School and hear about how they are SMATA to power up the reflective dimension of learning. SMATA's edit button is the feature that's helping them do this. You find this when you go to review an observation. What...
Continue ReadingIf there is one question that all teachers ask, regardless of pedagogical approach, it's this: 'What do I do next?' Knowing what to do next requires recognising what is happening, making inferences about quality, and responding to them. This is easy when students are all doing...
Continue ReadingI've been thinking about the way information is presented in education, and the impact that has on what is valued as learning. You see, my life as a teacher and board member was informed by tables and graphs (mostly bar graphs) that sorted learning achievement...
Continue ReadingI was with a school, listening to a teacher talk about how she had been using Smata and how she planned on using it during the next term. This school uses learning through play in the junior school, and what using Smata during Term 2...
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