At Reporoa college

Talked with principal Kris Bhatt who is leading the staff pd of Myportfolio, with compulsory appraisal documents uploaded to their portfolios being their first steps. Two staff members are using mp for collection of their evidence for Prt registration.



This large totara trunk in the foyer was taken out of a local swamp and has evidence of ash from the 1010AD eruption. Impressive!







Their staffroom does not have the beautiful outlook that we at Ruapehu enjoy. And it's a foggy day. Kris tells me that sometimes the fog does not lift all day.



However the tea and coffee making facilities could well be copied I feel.



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Location:No 3 Rd,Reporoa,New Zealand

Day one

At home making contacts with principals in the Volcanics cluster and other teachers involved with elearning in this community.


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Location:Wembley Pl,Taupo,New Zealand

A special hi going out to all my students going back to school tomorrow!  It's true I am missing you already.

And be kind to all the teachers, please, especially Mrs Mikaere.

Car rentals

Trying to get the best car rental deal my brother in Denver says he can get it because of business rates but looks like Shelagh Buck at Harvey's World travel in Ohakune has come through trumps instead! You have to look around, huh?

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Location:Taupo

Fires near Colorado Springs.

Fires are being contained in Colorado thank goodness.  I will be visiting a school in Colorado Springs to observe Flipped Learning.  Aaron Sams, the co-founder of the flipped school, has referred me to his colleague here as he is leaving teaching at the nearby Woodland Park school where he and Jon Bergman started the flipped school concept.  I feel for that community.  Such devastation.


From blogs.smithsonianmag.com
Of course the Khan academy has developed many of the same principles as flipped learning but what I like about Aaron and Jon's concept is that it is more a blended (hybrid learning) approach which emphasises the concept of the relationship between the teacher and students.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore will be an interesting place I would imagine.  I have read a little about how it was carved into the granite hills.  Adding these pictures in random order, just getting a few ideas of the places I will go...

And lets not forget Disneyworld...

I also really like the look of this chapel in Rapid City, on the same theme.