ICT in Marlborough, New Zealand

ICT is alive and well in New Zealand. I have just spent two delightful days working with educators in Blenheim as part of the Marlborough Technology in Education Cluster. The cluster is made up of staff from two schools, Marlborough Girls College and Marlborough Boys College.
The two schools had a Teacher Only Day (TOD) to enhance the use of technology. What I found interesting was that many of the workshops on the PD day focused around technologies that children use in every-day life. For many teachers it was a chance to understand and try these technologies. While some of the session involved the use of Learning Objects, Inspiration and other classroom related software there was a strong focus on student technology.

One session focused on cell phones and learning how student text with cell phones, how to use calendars, upload images etc using the cell phone. Another focused on Flickr and how to put photos on line, while the use of iPods’ and how to find and download music was also a feature.
Teachers also had the chance to learn about Skype and how to communicate with family and friends using this low cost or free resource.
There was certainly a buzz around the schools, who jointly hosted sessions. Lunch was at the girls college and the opening keynote and closing drinks at the boy’s college, ensuring that there was no bias for locations.

The evening before over 40 educators turned up to a pre conference workshop that I delivered on the “World of Google” There was significant interest on how the different applications could be used in classrooms.

On the PD day, I delivered a keynote called “Webciting – What all the hype about web 2.0”. This was a chance to inform educators about the shift from web 1.0 to web 2.0 as well as share a range of new technologies being used in education. I followed this with reference to professional learning for educators and how the model is changing and then finished with some international research and of course some "wow" factor with some of the technologies of the future.
My first workshop focused on digital storytelling and it was great to see how excited many of the staff were who had not used this process before. Of particular note was the PE staff who are going to change the face of theory lessons with a whole range of multimedia. My second session was on web 2.0 tools, toonadoo, bubbl.us, freewebs, igoogle and more. Again there was a buzz in the room and at the end of the day, when all other sessions had finished, my group wanted to keep going. How webciting!

I also have to thank my hosts Sandy and Giles, who co-ordinated the conference from their respective schools. They were fantastic and the hospitality and the offers to go out of their way to look after me where greatly appreciated. From bbq dinners and take away, to chauffeuring me to and from the airport and school. Nothing was too much trouble, even though they had the weight of organising the event on their shoulders. Thank you.


So where are they headed. Certainly there was a good level of understanding of technology by teachers. There are the usual number of champions that I see in schools, however there was a far greater general ICT awareness and skill level as a whole staff, than in general.



With Sandy and Giles leading the way, I will expect to see some great educational outcomes coming from this school district.



(Photo: Blenheim District as my plane departed)

Who do I believe? Where can I get good advice?

Who do I believe? Where can I get good advice? How often do I hear this. Just last week I had to principals and a manager from an ICT cluster asked me the very same questions.
They were after independent advice on ICT purchases and planning and could never get an answer as everyone has a vested interest in some product.

To begin with, I am often asked. Which is the best interactive whiteboard. Promethean! Smartboard! Teamboard! How can you tell which is the best. Most consultants have a lean to a particular board as they know someone or have the chance to get commission or favours for their referrals.
I guess that makes me a little different. I do know someone that sells IWB’s, however I know someone that sells every different brand. When asked recently which board I preferred, I had to refer to the current election and say I was like a swing voter. My opinion changes as new features are developed.
I think the Teamboard is a great entry level board. They are slowly developing online resources and the boards have a much lower entry price. Sales and support is very good.
Smartboard has always had an advantage for me, as it allows children to touch and feel the board. To my way of thinking, children using the interactive whiteboard is where engagement happens. As my good friend Gary Stager has often said, “I think we have moved back to the dark ages of chalk and talk. Engaged teachers at the front of the class using the IWB, while students watch on with boredom glued to their face”. I see this all too often. There are times when teachers need to demonstrate using the board, but it should not become a screen for a data projector. It’s touching the board above the use of a pen enhances this experience for children.

But I did say I was a swing voter and the new ACTIVarena from Promethean has just jumped ahead for me. Built using technology similar to the I-phone and I-touch. For me, this is where real collaboration occurs. When students can use this technology to work together, to create, to interact and share ideas. This is exciting collaboration.
The technology will keep changing and my preference will move with it. The main thing I suggest with IWB’s is to purchase them with the built on projector and boom arm. Promethean and Smartboard both supply these and they reduce shadows, movement (out of sync) and much more.

Where do we get good advice? Should we have labs, should we disperse computers, should we have laptops and trolleys, should we be a laptop program? I could argue for and against all of these concepts. Each school is different and the vision, leadership, technical support, funding models, professional development needs, staff skill level, and classroom designs will be a key factor. Too often we have principals or administrators making decisions without really being informed about the best way to use technology and how children really use technology.
With children fully immersed in technology, this is not a time for schools to be playing games with children’s education. No wonder the disconnect with technology often occurs when students arrive at school. Engaged curriculum needs engaging learning environments.