The Fast and The Curious

"It is widely argued that current educational systems, structures and practices are not sufficient to address and support learning needs for all students in the 21st century. Changes are needed, but what kinds of change, and for what reasons?"   (Bolstad, Gilbert, McDowall, Bull, Boyd & Hipkins, 2012) In a report to the Ministry of Education, 6 themes were identified to develop a vision of what future-oriented education could look like for NZ students.  This inquiry will help with changing the script and rethinking learners' and teachers' roles in the classroom through the use of digital tools and collaboration, enabling students to partner with facilitators to create transformative engagement with their world.    'Our Code, Our Standards'  clearly outline that as a NZ teacher I must respect my trusted position and recognise the influence I have on learners.  Therefore, it is important for me to consider my audience and the messages I would...

What does success look like? Is it getting an NCEA Level 3 and a UE so mum and dad can say that their kids are a success and can go on to uni?  What about Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft), Steve Jobs (founder of Apple, NeXT Computer and Pixar, an instrumental force in shaping the landscape of modern culture), who both dropped out of uni but went on to be a massive success? Do you have to have success on such a grand scale? Is it because parents (and teachers) don’t understand the internet or the online world that our students have been born into… this is their world and we are still scared of them getting lost in it.  My own kids already know how to do more creative and incredible things on the internet, using video editing and app software that I feel embarrassed saying that I am the teacher!  Imagine how clued up they will be when they get to high school! Will teachers still be judging students on how well they can remember things they could easily lookup on the...