News

Each year Netsafe coordinates Safer Internet Day in NZ on behalf of the UK Safer Internet Centre. This year it is 6 February.

The theme for Safer Internet Day 2018 is "Create, connect and share respect: A better internet starts with you". This theme is an invitation for everyone to join in and engage with others in a respectful way in order to create a better digital experience.

• Download Safer Internet Day resources »
• Find out how you can get involved in Safer Internet Day now »

Today the Ministry of Education released the new Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content.

The new Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content is available from:

• NZ Curriculum online | Technology
• Te Marautanga o Aotearoa | Hangarau

The release of the content follows a consultation period with teachers, kaiako, schools and kura, parents and whānau.

Schools and kura are expected to integrate the Digital Technologies | Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content by 2020. It will be taught from Years 1–10, with the option to specialise from Years 11–13.

Resources and supports for teachers and kaiako

To complement the release of the new curriculum content, the Ministry have commissioned a range of resources and supports for teachers and kaiako to:

• build their digital confidence and capability
• support them to introduce the new curriculum content into their teaching and learning programmes.

These supports and resources will be available over 2018–20.

More information »

• Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content goes live  – Ministry of Education announcement.

• Equipping students with skills for Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko learning – information on supports available is under the heading "What teachers and kaiako need to know".

• Digital Technologies and the national curriculum – what’s it all about?

The final newsletter for the year is out now. Read the latest updates and find out what's new on the website.

• December newsletter »

To sign up for our newsletters:

1. Go to the Newsletters  page
2. Look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button.

Each year Netsafe coordinates Safer Internet Day in NZ on behalf of the UK Safer Internet Centre. In 2018 this will be held on 6 February. Netsafe will be providing resources, imagery, stories, and information to help you celebrate this day in your classroom. These resources will be available in early 2018.

The theme for Safer Internet Day 2018 is "Create, connect and share respect: A better internet starts with you". This theme is an invitation for everyone to join in and engage with others in a respectful way in order to create a better digital experience.

Find out how you can get involved in Safer Internet Day now »

The Ministry of Education have closed off the Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko (DT & HM) curriculum content consultation process with the release of three reports outlining:

• the rationale for the new curriculum content and how it was developed
• the feedback received from the schooling sector and other key stakeholders
• the advice received from an independent Curriculum Advisory Group.

DT & HM feedback and synthesis reports 

1. Martin Jenkins consultation report  – summarises and collates feedback received from the public consultation.
2. Curriculum Advisory Group (CAG) report  – the CAG was established as an independent panel of experts commissioned to advise the Ministry on the draft DT & HM curriculum content and provide recommendations on feedback received during consultation as collated in the Martin Jenkins consultation process report.
3. Summary report   – outlines:
   • the process for developing and consulting on the draft curriculum content
   • the changes noted, and responded to, on the DT & HM curriculum content after considering submissions received
   • the next steps for the sector as the new curriculum content is introduced into schools and kura.

A fourth report, The Ministry of Education’s response to the Curriculum Advisory Group Report, will be available on request.

The new curriculum content will be gazetted in December. It will be available for all state and state-integrated schools and kura to use in their teaching and learning programmes from the beginning of the 2018 school year. All schools and kura will be required to implement the new curriculum content from 2020.

Resources and supports for teachers and kaiako

To complement the release of the new curriculum content, the Ministry have commissioned a range of resources and supports for teachers and kaiako to:

• build their digital confidence and capability
• support them to introduce the new curriculum content into their teaching and learning programmes.

These supports and resources will be available over 2018-20.

More information »

• Strengthening Digital Technologies Hangarau Matihiko in the curriculum
• Digital Technologies and the national curriculum – what’s it all about?

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 4 Enabling e-Learning calendar of events
• Download the Term 4 flyer  to print for staff rooms
• Add events to your own calendar and share with your colleagues!

Our latest newsletter is out now. Check out what's new on the website and the free PLD available to you this term.

Find out more in the latest newsletter »

To sign up for our newsletters:

1. Go to the Newsletters  page
2. Look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button.

Consultation on new digital technologies content for the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, the Māori-medium Curriculum, was launched today by Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“The new curriculum content is about ensuring that students across all year levels have access to rich learning aimed at building their digital skills and fluency, to prepare them for this world," said Minister Kaye.

More information »

• Read about the new curriculum content for consultation – Strengthening Digital Technologies Hangarau Matihiko in the curriculum – consultation .

• Complete the online survey  seeking feedback on the proposed Digital Technologies | Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content.

• Attend a consultation workshop – Digital Technologies| Hangarau Matihiko Curriculum content consultation workshops .

Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced an investment package of around $40 million over three years to enhance the digital fluency of our young people.

“This investment will help integrate new digital technologies content, released this morning for consultation, into the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, our Māori-medium Curriculum,” says Ms Kaye.

$40 million digital fluency package at a glance

More information

• Read the full press release »

• Digital Technologies and the national curriculum – what’s it all about?

Our latest newsletter is out now. Check out what's new on the website and the free PLD available to you this term.

Find out more in the latest newsletter »

To sign up for our newsletters:

1. Go to the Newsletters  page
2. Look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button.

This new online survey tool is designed to provide useful information for school inquiry, review, and development. It can provide your school with important insights about its teaching practices, processes, and leadership.

The design of the survey ensures that:

• the items are based on robust research and are consistent with the New Zealand Curriculum, ERO's School Evaluation Indicators, and the draft Standards for the Teaching Profession
• it's completely confidential, NZCER developed and hosts the surveys and safeguards the data
• the principal gets sent a set of reports immediately after they close off the survey in their school so they can decide how best to use them.

Free to schools in Terms 2 and 3 each year.

NZCER will provide a national report at the end of the year.

Access the Teaching and school practices survey tool »

The 20/20 Trust's latest report, Digital technologies in schools, published April 2017, presents findings and information from the Digital Technologies in Schools survey. The survey objective was to ascertain how New Zealand schools manage access to, and the use of, digital technologies as a medium for curriculum delivery and student learning.

Specific areas of focus include:

• strategic planning and digital technologies
• digital tools for learning and personal digital tools
• internet safety and students
• te reo Māori resources
• the impact of digital technologies on learning
• barriers to the use of digital technologies in schools
• use of digital technologies to communicate with the wider community
• future-focused learning and stages of adoption of digital technologies by teachers.

The summary and full report are downloadable from the 20/20 Trust website .

The weekend media reported on a virus called WannaCry that is targeting computers of public organisations and private companies around the world.
 
Some schools may have been affected by this virus and we are writing to let you know what you should do and what we are doing to protect schools.

What is WannaCry?

WannaCry is malicious software that is taking control of computer systems by blocking access to a device, then demanding a ransom to unblock it. The virus, a type of ransomware, is largely being spread through emails when users click on links or attachments. Once a device is infected, the virus can quickly spread to all devices using your organisation’s network.
 
You can read more about WannaCry in New Zealand from CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team), the lead government agency monitoring the situation and providing advice on cyber security threats.

How can you protect your school?

• Keep your software up to date – Ensure all devices connecting to your school’s network are patched with the latest software updates. The virus is affecting devices using older versions of Microsoft Windows software (XP through to 2008 R2) by exploiting flaws in Microsoft Windows SMB Server. Turn automatic updates on wherever possible.

• Be cautious of email attachments and links and remind your staff and students to do the same – Everyone should apply a duty of care when clicking on links and opening email attachments. Note: these could be sent by people you know including students or staff who are unaware their devices have been infected.

• Check CERT for updates – Visit CERT’s advisory page, which provides updates and guidance on cyber security threats: https://www.cert.govt.nz/it-specialists/advisories

• Don’t become complacent and make sure back up files are kept off site

If your school has been infected, please report the incident to CERT immediately via its website: https://www.cert.govt.nz/businesses-and-individuals/report-an-issue/ and do not pay the ransom.

What is being done about it

N4L has blocked all traffic on the Managed Network that is attempting to connect to malicious IP addresses known to be associated with this virus. They are also actively monitoring the Managed Network to spot traffic patterns that may indicate suspicious activity from connected devices.

Web safety and cyber security requires continuous vigilance, education and duty of care around how devices are used. This virus may evolve and we will continue to work closely with our technology partner, Spark, and government agencies such as Ministry of Education, CERT and Netsafe to help schools keep their online environments safe for teaching and learning.

EduCampNZ is focused on digital learning, education, sharing ideas and learning from each other. Everyone is invited to participate.

EduCampNZ Dates and Venues for 2017

• EducampHB Saturday 13th May, Mahora School

• EducampTheTron Saturday 20th May, Maeroa Intermediate

• EducampPalmy Saturday 10th June, College Street School

• EducampNCant Saturday 10th June,Cheviot Area School

• EducampAKL Saturday 29th July, Papakura High School

Our latest newsletter is out now. Find out about, and register for, the great free webinars we have planned this term!

Check out what's new on our re-organised the website:

• Take a look around the Connected Learning Advisory, a new section on the site, find out what they can do for your school and contact them. 
• The resources for kura kaupapa Māori are now integrated across each section of the site.
• Take a look at the new content to support students who are deaf or hard of hearing, check out what you can do for NZ Sign Language week.
• Use the resources we have put together so you can plan for Samoa language week.

Find out more in the latest newsletter »

To sign up for our newsletters:

1. Go to the Newsletters  page
2. Look for the heading Keep Informed – enter your email, and click on the yellow subscribe button.

Nikki Kaye addressed the Secondary Principals' Association Annual Conference today. She talked about the role of digital technology and school infrastructure in the modernisation of the education system. She explained the importance of teacher supply, and how greater collaboration through Communities of Learning will help schools navigate a more successful path into the future. Key points from her speech relating to e-learning and digital technologies are outlined below.

Developing digital fluency

"Digital fluency is one of the five priority areas in teachers’ professional learning and development."

"The Ministry has set up a $1 million contestable fund, to support innovative learning projects that capture students’ imagination, and help them become skilled in using and developing digital technologies."

More information »

• Teacher-led Innovation Fund
• Grass Roots Initiative

Communities of Online Learning

"Communities of Online Learning are about supplementing and complementing learning in the classroom, not replacing it. The Virtual Learning Network is seeing schools across New Zealand come together as one online community, or a 'classroom without walls'. Communities of Online Learning will give students access to a wider range of subjects and teaching expertise."

Strengthening digital technologies within the curriculum

Equipping students with the right skills to participate in a 21st Century economy means equipping them to be creators, and not just users, of digital technology.

To support the new curriculum content, the Ministry is developing learning progressions for the design of digital technologies. This will help teachers deliver the rich, meaningful learning opportunities that will make a difference for all learners.

"The new curriculum content and the progressions will underpin the development of the NCEA Achievement Standards, meaning clearer learning pathways for digital technologies across the whole of the students’ schooling."

More information »

• Digital technologies in the curriculum »

Read Nikki Kaye's full speech to Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand Annual Conference »

The toolkit, developed by The Ministry of Education, contains information about the tools, resources, and services available to support Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako to meet their achievement challenges and deliver personalised learning pathways for all ākonga.

The tools are arranged into six domains. Each Kāhui Ako will be at different stages of development in key areas within these six domains. The Development Map is designed to help each Kāhui Ako identify potential future development areas under each domain.

Go to the Community of Learning | Kāhui Ako toolkit »

We have developed some useful new pages on the Enabling e-Learning website and are providing some excellent free professional learning opportunities in our online community. 

The Enabling e-Learning website is now responsive, so you can view it easily on your phone!

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.

Netsafe’s Education Team has started work on the first update to the Netsafe Kit for Schools in five years. NetSafe worked closely with CORE Education and a team of researchers to develop the draft tool.

The pilot process

The team are piloting sections of the kit with schools and kura using a "test and learn" approach.

The first pilot involves a tool to help schools review the strategies, processes and resourcing they have in place to support digital citizenship and student wellbeing. 

There are already over 50 schools participating in the pilot which is now underway and runs through March/April.

Join the pilot »

If your school would like to join the pilot, email Karen Spencer  Director of Education at NetSafe.

The Schools' Cloud Transformation Project (SCTP) is an initiative by the Ministry of Education to assist Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako, schools and kura in moving to cloud-based products and services in a smart, safe way.

Initial Trial – Lessons Learned  – A summary of the lessons learned from the initial trial, which may be useful to schools, kura and kāhui ako who are thinking about moving to the cloud.

Sign up to be part of the pilot  – If you would like to be considered as part of the Schools' Cloud Transformation Pilot, please complete the online form.

Heads in the cloud: moving school systems online  – Education Gazette article, March 2017, summarising the findings of the initial trial.