#EdchatNZ – How one ‘lone nut’ can change education.
I’ve just had the pleasure of doing two presentations at the first #EdchatNZ conference at the splendid Hobsonville Point secondary School (@hpsschool). If nothing else, it made me glad to be a Kiwi and celebrate not only a world-leading education system but the people who make it.
The conference was lead by Danielle Myburgh (@MissDTheTeacher), the original instigator of the Twitter chat #EdChatNZ. Her positive energy is infectious and her opening keynote focused on her status as a ‘lone nut’ in NZ education.
What followed was two days of inspiring workshops and talks from forward-thinking NZ educators who all showed passion in ensuring young kiwis would experience a 21st century relevant, collaborative and challenging education.
Some of the many points that were discussed
- Students should be involved in ALL aspects of education including planning.
- Community should be directly engaged to find knowledge and resources relevant to the students
- Learning spaces should be flexible and used to encourage different types of learning behaviours from social to reflective.
- Schools should be dismantling the traditional hierarchies and ensuring that all are seen as both teachers and learners.
- Challenges should be arranged around real-world situations and problem-solving.
- Technology is just one of many tools. Relationships are key.
- SOLO Hexagons help develop thinking
- Connected teachers are a powerful force for change.
- Messy play & hard fun are inclusive terms that encourage engagement.
- MOST IMPORTANT: A Grelfie is a group Selfie !
It’s exciting that a little country like New Zealand can have such a fast moving and inspiring educational community and I look forward to the next #edChatNZ (No pressure, Danielle :-)
Here’s a little poster I made about it:
