News

We have been busy over the summer break developing new content for the Enabling e-Learning website and planning a new series of free webinars and discussions in our online community.

Check out the latest newsletter to find out what's new!

Go to the Newsletters  page to:

• sign up for the newsletter – look for the heading Keep Informed, enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button. 
• view archived newsletters.

Each year Netsafe coordinates Safer Internet Day in NZ on behalf of the UK Safer Internet Centre. On 7 February, people across the world will promote the safe and positive use of technology in fun and interesting ways. 

With the theme "Be the change: Unite for a better internet", Netsafe is working with individuals, organisations and schools across the country including Google, Trade Me, and Twitter to spread the message.

What can you do?

• Register now for the free webinar: Safer Internet Day: Updates from Netsafe with Karen Spencer »  
• Find out how you can participate in Safer Internet Day now »

This new resource on the Educational Leaders website promotes the leadership of collaborative, evidence-informed inquiry in ways that keep learners’ progress at the centre.

It provides field-tested tools and ideas to support leaders and teachers to apply spirals of inquiry, learning and action with their learners.

Go to Spiral of inquiry: Leaders leading learning »

Part of the Education Amendment (Update) Bill proposes a legislative framework for online learning , acknowledging that students will access their education through online delivery, with providers from the schooling, tertiary education, and private sectors.

Any registered school, tertiary education provider, or a body corporate that has been approved through the accreditation regime, will be able to be a COOL.

Changes related to online learning will come into force by December 31, 2017 at the latest unless by brought into force by Order in Council earlier.

On November 21, Netsafe launched its seven days a week service to combat online bullying, harassment, and abuse. The free service is available to all New Zealand internet users.

The service includes:

• helping to resolve complaints and advice if there is anything that can be done to stop the abuse
• working with those involved to stop it
• liaising with online content hosts to remove the harmful content.

The latest Enabling e-Learning newsletter is out now! We have lots of useful information to support planning for next year.

Go to the Newsletters  page to:

• sign up for the newsletter – look for the heading Keep Informed, enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button. 
• view archived newsletters.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the release of an online guide, Planning an inclusive learning environment to help schools plan new builds and building modifications that meet the needs of all students.

“This is a very useful and comprehensive resource. It takes schools through all the components they need to think about when planning a new learning environment,” says Ms Parata.

“New Zealand is diverse and every child has different learning needs. Each one of them deserves to feel included and valued at school. This guide will help principals, teachers and boards of trustees to take into account the different needs of students when planning innovative and inclusive learning environments.”

More information on Enabling e-Learning »

• Teaching in innovative learning environments
• Planning an ILE – information for school leaders
• Flexible learning spaces

Education Minister Hekia Parata launched a new online curriculum design tool to improve learning experiences for children and young people in Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako.

The tool will enable each Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako to collaboratively design a quality curriculum that supports the unique learning pathway of every child and young person in that community.

The model will be trialled in Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako early next year, with further testing and refining throughout 2017 in response to feedback.

More information »

• Press release – Cutting edge curriculum tool goes live
• Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako  – Ministry of Education website information

The Education (Update) Amendment Bill (the Bill) proposes to recognise the impact that technology is having on education, by introducing a new mode of education delivery – online learning. Technological change makes it possible for students to learn anywhere, anytime, and at any pace.

More information »

• Establishing a regulatory framework for online learning – information from the Ministry of Education.

Anne Williams, e-Dean at Ashburton College, explains the benefits for students of online learning, particularly using NetNZ. Anne comments, "Being an online learner really does give a lot of independence to students around their learning."

It's Tokelau language week from 23-29 October. Find lots of useful online resources for including Tokelau language in your classroom curriculum on the Pasifikia Resources page .

Try out your language skills with these easy words and phrases in te gagana Tokelau.

• Fakafeiloaki: Greetings
• Mālo ni! Hello!
• Ulu tonu mai: Welcome
• E fakafeiloaki atu: We greet you
• Fakafetai: Thank you
• Te mānaia o te aho: It is a beautiful day
• Te mānaia o nā hiva faka-Tokelau: Tokelau dancing is beautiful
• Tōfā ni: Good bye

The latest Enabling e-Learning newsletter is out now! This issue contains lots of free professional learning events for you to sign-up to in Term 4.

Go to the Newsletters  page to:

• sign up for the newsletter – look for the heading Keep Informed, enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button. 
• view archived newsletters.

Each series is designed for a specific stage in students’ learning, providing supports and challenges to scaffold their growing understandings and to prepare them for the next stage in their learning.

The English-medium literacy instructional series support teaching and learning through years 1–8. They include:

• reading materials designed to support learning across the curriculum and students’ development of more complex literacy skills
• targeted materials for students who are not yet meeting literacy expectations.

Instructional series on Literacy Online »

This new online guide provides ideas, resources, and stories illustrating how NZ secondary schools use digital technologies to extend and enhance learning in the NCEA years.

Using digital technologies to support learning in a senior secondary context  has been developed by the Connected Learning Advisory. This online guide has been developed to support school leaders and teachers prepare for NZQA's extensive innovation programme for going digital, which will impact all senior secondary students. Schools need to make significant shifts in practice to respond to challenges and harness the opportunities provided by digital technologies.

This guide is one of a series produced by the Connected Learning Advisory. To find out more visit the Connected Learning Advisory page on Enabling e-Learning. 

The latest Enabling e-Learning newsletter is out now! This issue contains lots of free professional learning events for you to sign-up to in Term 3.

Go to the Newsletters  page to:

• sign up for the newsletter – look for the heading Keep Informed, enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button. 
• view archived newsletters.

We have a fresh series of free online webinars and forums to support your professional learning and development, and build your e-capability. 

Find out and share what's on with your colleagues

• Term 3 Enabling e-Learning calendar of events
• Download the Term 3 flyer to print for staff rooms
• Add events to your own calendar and share with your colleagues!

The Ministry of Education have released an App to help teachers use the learning progressions frameworks to support teaching and learning.

The App allows you to browse the frameworks and illustrations anywhere, anytime and make notes to help you in your work.

Find out more about the App, released 13 July 2016 on iTunes »

Ruaumoko: The Rumbling Voice is an interactive digital book narrated by deaf Māori students in Te Reo Turi and New Zealand Sign Language. This narration is supported by text and audio in Te Reo Māori and English.

The story follows the whakapapa of Te Kore, Rangi and Papa and their separation, Ruaumoko, and the battle of his brothers where he sent earthquakes to signal his feelings about the separation. The narrator explains the connection with the deaf community and their identification with the way Ruaumoko sends vibrations through the ground to gain the attention of others. The story familiarises the deaf students with their whakapapa and gives them the sense they are associated with one of Nga Atua Māori, demonstrating they are powerful and valued.

The digital book is available from:

• iTunes (apple)  
• Google Play (android) . 

Digital technology is to be formally integrated into the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today at the NZTech Advance Education Technology Summit in Auckland.

The decision is an outcome of the Government’s Science and Society Strategic Plan – A Nation of Curious Minds: Te Whenua Hihiri i te Mahara .

"Digital technology will be included as a strand of the Technology learning area in the New Zealand Curriculum, and as a whenu within the Hangarau Wāhanga Ako of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa," says Ms Parata.

From now until the end of 2017, the Government will consult with stakeholders, design new curriculum content, and develop achievement objectives across the whole learner pathway. It will be fully integrated into the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa in 2018.

Education Services has a new website explaining how professional learning and development (PLD) is being changed from 2017. The new website explains what PLD is focussed on, who delivers it, and how schools, kura and, Communities of Learning can access it.

Education Services are working with a wide range of sector representatives to implement the new approach to PLD.

The Professional Learning and Development site will have the most up-to-date information about the changes.

The latest Enabling e-Learning newsletter is out now! This issue contains lots of new school stories, resources, and information from the Enabling e-Learning website. Find out what's coming up in Enabling e-Learning community. 

Go to the Newsletters  page to:

• sign up for the newsletter – look for the heading Keep Informed, enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button. 
• view archived newsletters.