News

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 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.

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 »

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 »

If you have been using technology in a way that is innovative, or you have a brand new idea you would like to trial, the Grass Roots Ideas Initiative wants to hear from you!

The Grass Roots Ideas Initiative aims to help schools around New Zealand better understand how to use digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning.

The Ministry of Education wants to work with teachers and school leaders to identify, test, and share teaching and learning ideas that take advantage of the Internet, digital devices, digital resources and/or digital tools.

The Ministry will support successful applicants by funding release time for the person or people leading the change in practice. The release time will cover their involvement in setting up and implementing the change, analysing the results and writing them up. The Grass Roots Ideas advisor will provide mentoring support throughout the application process and idea investigation.

More information »

• Grass Roots Ideas Initiative
• email: delta.info@education.govt.nz

DIGMYIDEA is a nationwide competition is about discovering and nurturing people with ideas that can make a difference. The aim is to grow Māori involvement in Aotearoa / New Zealand’s digital economy.

There are two entry categories:

• Māuri oho: Youth category (15 years to 18 years)
• Māuri tū: Open category (anyone 19 years and above).

Entries open Monday 24 August and close Sunday 18 October 2015. Entrants can submit an individual or team (up to three people) entry.

More information on the DigMyIdea website »

Kia orāna! Cook Islands Māori Language Week / Te epetoma o te reo Māori Kuki Airani takes place this year from 3 August to 9 August. 

For ideas, resources, and inspiration to help you learn and celebrate the languages of the Cook Islands with your school community go to Pasifika resources»

Use this collection of online resources to support learning and teaching about ANZAC day and the WW1 centenary.

ANZAC day e-learning resources provides:

• links to discussions and crowd sourced resources in the Virtual Learning Network
• NZ Curriculum resources
• useful links to reputable NZ websites with lots of information, and interactive activities for students.

Getting it right in the classroom is a key focus of Dyslexia Advocacy Week. See what you can do to improve the learning experience and support improved achievement outcomes for student’s with dyslexia.

More information is available from:

• Dyslexia and learning
• Dyslexia foundation

International Languages Week takes place between Sunday, 17 August and Saturday, 23 August 2014. This special week provides an opportunity to showcase and promote languages and cultures in your school and communities. 

What can your school do to celebrate International Languages Week?

• Use the following question as a discussion starter with your class – "does the world look different in other languages?" 
• Connect with community groups and families to find out what languages are spoken in your school community.
• Invite family members with a second language into the school as guest speakers, to read first language books, or practice conversations with students.
• Learn more than greetings – can you do a weather forecast in another language? Run an assembly or a PE lesson? Or cook something using a recipe entirely in another language?
• Make a video like this YouTube one  to promote International Languages Week.
• Develop a resource written in an international language to welcome new migrants and inform them about your local area.
• Connect with another class in a country that speaks an international language – The Mixxer  is a free educational site designed to connect language learners around the world.
• Participate in Moving Words – The inaugural literary translation prize for New Zealand secondary schools .
• Use information communication technologies (ICTs) to improve student language learning outcomes – Learning languages with ICTs is a website with examples of how New Zealand teachers and schools are using ICTs to improve student learning outcomes.
• Consider ways in which you could build learning languages into the rest of your school year.

For further information and resources visit International Languages Week on NZC Online »  

The e-Learning Planning Framework (eLPF) online survey tool is now available for all schools to use. 

The eLPF online tool is intended to support schools with regular self-review and planning for improvement of e-learning skills and knowledge. Use the online survey tool to gather and analyse information from across your school staff, leadership, and community including students and whānau.

The online survey tool:

• is an efficient way to gather information in a relatively short space of time – the survey takes approximately 40 minutes.
• gathers information from each individual
• offers flexibility in terms of access (time and place)
• helps schools and teachers reflect on, and evaluate, their e-learning capability. 

Schools can register now to use the online tool.

Go to Using the eLPF online tool for further information »

Whakatipu has just released a new bilingual app for iPhone and iPad in time for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

"Māui and his first journey" interweaves positive parenting, child development, and brain development information into the traditional pakiwaitara about Māui growing up. Voiced by prominent kaumātua Amster Reedy of Ngāti Porou, the app has been developed by award-winning developer Flightless and illustrated by Ali Teo.

"Māui and his first journey" is available online and as a free download from the iTunes store:

• View the app in the iTunes store

This year the theme for te wiki o te reo Māori is te kupu o te wiki, the word of the week. This theme promotes learning te reo Māori throughout the year rather than during just one week.

Use the resources and join in the discussions in the Enabling e-Learning community.

• Māori resources  – Access teaching resources and school stories on the Enabling e-Learning website.
• Whakanuia te wiki o te reo Māori - Celebrate Māori language week  – Find and share ideas, resources, and information through this discussion thread in the Virtual Learning Network.
• Hā o te Rā  – interactive language sessions with others online, a course delivered via webinar (for group sessions) and Skype for one-on-one sessions.

The theme is Taofi mau i au measina – Hold fast to your treasures.

The aims of Samoan Language Week are to:  

• Celebrate the Samoan language and culture in New Zealand and globally
• Promote the teaching and learning of the Samoan language
• Raise awareness of the Samoan language as one of the most widely spoken languages in New Zealand
• Promote the use of the Samoan language in every environment respecting each other’s situation – strong and respectful relationships
• Promote initiatives to maintain and grow the recognition, learning and use of the Samoan language in the home, in education, at work, in government, in the media, in sport, in the arts, in the church and in the community.

Use the Teaching and learning resources on Enabling e-Learning with your students »

A way to recognise your, and other's, good work. The Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards are now open for nominations, or direct entries. You might know someone or be interested in applying yourself. Take a look, check the criteria. The forms are on the website: http://www.pmawards.education.govt.nz/ . If you have any questions, email: info@pmawards.education.govt.nz .

There are five languages spoken in the Cook Islands. English and Cook Islands Māori are the official languages (except on Palmerston where only English is official). The other languages are:

• Pukapukan - from the island of Pukapuka, which is geographically and linguistically closer to Samoa
• Rakahanga/Manihiki - spoken on the islands of the same name 
• Tongarevan - spoken on the island of Penrhyn.

Teaching and learning resources»

NetSafe and the government's National Cyber Policy Office will launch the second week long awareness campaign to educate New Zealanders about improving their computer security.

They have developed a rugby themed set of messages called the Tight 5:

1. Think before you click
2. Update everything
3. Backup your files
4. Secure your wireless network
5. Use strong passwords

Find out more at NetSafe's Security central website .

Follow the week’s activities at www.facebook.com/netsafe .

View the webinar e-Portfolios in the classroom (14 June, 2012) just up in the Enabling e-Learning community. James Rae and Jacqui Innes from Russell St School lead this discussion sharing: 

• the pedagogy and purpose for e-portfolios at Russell St School
• how they are encouraging students to reflect on their work more deeply and the benefits to students' learning
• how they setup e-portfolios at Russell St School - software, documentation, staff expectations, and professional development. 

From the Webinar recordings page, you can view the webinar in Elluminate Live!, the PowerPoint  used in the presentation, and download PDF's of the  Russell Street School documentation  used with e-portfolios.

More information on e-portfolios and Russell Street School's story can be found on the e-Portfolios page within this website.

NetSafe is running New Zealand’s first Cyber Security Awareness Week in June and will be providing free advice at www.securitycentral.org.nz .

Cyber crime cost the country $625 million in 2011 (Norton Cyber Crime 2011 report) as more and more people use computers and the Internet for work and play.

More than 2000 adult New Zealanders are affected by cyber crime every day in the form of computer viruses and malware, credit card fraud, online scams, phishing and identity theft.

The key themes for this year’s programme are

• Update everything - Make sure your operating system and all software is up to date

• Back up your files - Make regular copies of important data and store it in several locations

• Use a secure wireless network - Choose a strong encryption setting and long passphrase for your router

• Use strong passwords - Aim for 15 characters and a mix of lower and upper case letters and symbols

Follow the week’s activities at www.facebook.com/netsafe .