To create lifelong literate learners who are confident and connected anytime, anywhere, any pace; ready for employment in tomorrow’s market and contributing positively to their community.

Description

In practice, this vision intends that every student from Years 5 to 13 within the Tāmaki catchment will have a wireless-enabled net device and the ability to access school-based internet services from their home and school. This approach supports families to achieve their aspirations for their children by enabling engagement with their children’s learning whilst encouraging knowledge and experience-sharing locally, nationally and internationally.
It  strengthens the school cluster approach and fosters knowledge sharing by establishing collaborative work spaces through technology that link schools and their community in a way that was not previously possible.

Background and Approach

This approach is for students who start already on the back foot with many barriers to learning.  The project has run a proof of concept that has shown this transformational approach to learning delivery works. The model engages all students (not just a select few) throughout the" Learn Create Share" pedagogy based on the Literacy Cycle.

Teachers raise their students’ capability in reading, writing, thinking, listening and speaking by publishing digital learning outcomes locally, nationally and internationally using web enabled technology. This means students across the whole community are driven to improve through audience feedback. This is different from traditional teacher-driven methods which are unable to engage students to the same extent as this technology-enabled model.

Results to date clearly demonstrate that students who are pursuing areas of study they are fully engaged in continue to achieve at higher levels than students who are less engaged in their learning. Most families within the Manaiakalani Cluster and the wider Tāmaki Catchment (average income $19,000 p.a.) do not have the resources to provide broadband and/or computers to enable their children’s participation outside of the school environment. Fibre infrastructure for Tāmaki appears unlikely in the near to medium term so the proposed wireless network enabling internet access becomes a viable alternative.  A priority goal is the inclusion the of  all schools and students within the Tāmaki catchment (11 schools, 2400 students).