Winding down into the last week of school, I’m spending two days at the Education technology summit. This was hosted by the NZ tech industry organisation who represent over 300 business and 57 000 employees in the tech sector. So obviously they have an interest in supporting efforts to increase the number of potential workers in their industry. Here’s some brief notes for the opening Keynotes:
Education Minister Hekia Parata gave a short speech announcing the inclusion of Digital Technology in the NZ Curriculum.
- Maori curriculum is not a direct translation of NZC
- Curriculum needs to be anchored in local context
- ‘Refresh’ of Digital technology part of curriculum
- PLD funding is around five themes- one being Digital fluency
- Associate Deputy Secretary Karl Le Quesne gave some detail on the inclusion. He demonstrated what it could look like by showing a Computer science unplugged video
Derek Wenmoth then closed the Keynote session with an overview of future focused learning.
- School as not only preparation for work
- Paradox between youth unemployment and talent shortage
- Ed tech: substitute what we already know vs new opportunities
- Shadow tech – students follow tech mentors. 3000 tech jobs required in Christchurch in 2017, 300 students on that career pathway
#techleadersnz @dwenmoth @coreeducation pic.twitter.com/mNPO2s24qq
— Joanne Robson (@eMPOWERedNZ) July 4, 2016
- Make connections with local industry
- School as an innovation hub
- Idea-priority one. Link with local schools
