Visual Communication Research 2019

Key Feedback ideas/points: Gamifying may just trivialise a very serious issue, be careful with the form of your prototypes. Chrome Toaster precedent Project based learning- giving real world application, understanding the  Really look into my idea of using students as part of the process- bringing them in and giving them autonomy and recognition. "School is the first step into the world."  -Samuel Pitcher. "Teaching something without students realising they're being taught."  -Ryan Walker. Perceptions about specific classes, eg 'gateway'.

A theoretical 'resource booklet/ workbook' planning out content that teachers would need in order to understand the problem, and then take action to change. I hate the cover art... needs to change somehow.

Source: Harris, Morgan. “Teaching High School Adolescents: Chapter 4 Intelligence Theory.” EDPR Morgan Harris, n.d. https://sites.google.com/site/edrpmorganharris/home/chapter-4-intelligence-theory "Intelligence Development:  Whenever we think intelligence, we think of how levels of intelligence are determined. At different points throughout history, particular psychological theorists have suggested that intelligence is primarily an inherited quality or, instead, primarily something influenced by children's environment. Both of these views have merit, as it turns out. Currently, most researchers agree that a combination of both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of intelligence." "One of the more recent ideas to emerge is Howard Gardner's theory of intelligence. Instead of focusing on the analysis of test scores, Gardner proposed that numerical expressions of human intelligence are not a full and accurate depiction...

Looking to find my 'teacher resource' niche. (Looking for base content to redesign) https://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/resources/course-design/designing-a-course/

Communication design can be used to improve student engagement by creating teacher resources that encourage a diverse and creative learning environment. (Secondary level) A recent NCEA review by the Ministry of Education has highlighted a number of issues, the need for greater teacher support among them. It’s well known (and researched) that teachers can make or break classroom atmospheres, yet many NZ teachers are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. So how can we expect teachers to create positive learning spaces under this immense workload and pressure?  The children of today, are the changemakers of tomorrow. But are New Zealand students being adequately prepared for the future?  Teachers aren’t being given the opportunity to teach to their full potential. They don’t have the time to pay attention to individual students differing needs, meaning that many students are slipping through cracks in the system, being forgotten and left behind with handicapp...

Context Questions: How long have you been teaching? Are you working or have you previously taught elsewhere? Is Massey your first/ only teaching job? What is your core area of teaching? (Subject + age/ level) Content Questions: Have you seen a change in the 'quality' of first year students over the period you've been teaching? I.E. are new students 'better' or 'worse' than when you began teaching? From your experience, are first year students (generally) prepared for Uni? Are there any specific skills/ abilities that you wish students had before  they begin uni? What do you currently do now in order to  compromise  or catch students up? Are you aware of the current situation with the NCEA review? Do you have any opinions on the system, or changes you believe need to be made? Any recommendations for teachers do you think I should be interviewing for this? (New teachers/ first year teachers)

Where can teachers find resources? Where can teachers get help? Is it easy to find... and is it good enough? Is there a problem here and could my project step in to help? Absolum, M. “Clarity in the Classroom: Using Formative Assessment.”  Hodder Education, 2009, page 8, Auckland. “ The New Zealand Curriculum Update: Issue 21” Ministry of Education, May 2012.  http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Updates/Issue-21-May-2012 What resources can I find from a google search, how easy are they to find, and how easy are they to use? Links to follow: http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Online-blog/Grouping-students-in-mathematics http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Online-blog/Innovative-learning-environments-and-student-agency http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Online-blog/Lifelong-learners http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Online-blog/Developing-a-lo...

The current Website: There's a lot of content in a small space. There's little visual hierarchy making it a little confusing to navigate at first. The colours are very muted and withdrawn, it tends to feel more professional and authoritative rather than supportive and welcoming. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz The current information support: Same observations as above. NZQA has put commendable effort into making clear and succinct content to fully inform readers about their system, however the tone it's communicated in could be redesigned to be more effective. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/understanding-ncea/how-ncea-works/ The current NZQA App: Similar observations to the website. Excellent content, improvable visual communication.

Key problems: Many students and teachers are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Key aims: Improving student engagement through teacher/ student support. The theory: If teachers are better supported, they'll have more time and energy to spend on their students, therefore students will have a better classroom environment, which will lead to better student engagement and more effective learning overall. But how???... A manifesto for change. Outlining all my research, promoting my findings in a clear, succinct, and actionable way. Provide templates for change- taking the next step from just words. A template resource. (Eg using English/ maths and SHOW how to incorporate diversity into teaching.) Teachers are feeling overloaded, so what parts of their job could be made easier? How can we make the pedagogy process easier, faster, simpler, and more fair/ equal across schools and subjects. What to do when just designing an app/ poster/ website etc just doesn't feel right? ...