e-Learning in New Zealand

The e-Learning Fellowships of the Ministry of Education were awarded in December. They reflect the Ministry’s commitment to quality teaching, improving the professional capability of teachers, and increasing the use of effective e-learning strategies in schools and early childhood centres. Successful teachers are provided with up to a year’s release from their classroom duties in order to carry out a research project and explore the use of emerging technologies.

2007 e-Fellows include two Christchurch projects. Gavin Hewitt of Hagley Community College has a project "Learning through immersive 3D games development and play" that aims to explore the processes and procedures required to successfully enable students to create their own 3D immersive games that incorporate a sound educational philosophy with clearly defined educational objectives and content, which are not only compelling, but also engage the player in meaningful learning. Jonathan Parsons of Hillmorton High School's project is "Sharing urban Māori experiences in a 3D collaborative learner environment". It aims to explore shifts in attitude as well as the level of engagement and achievement when students are enabled to post their wharenui/school experiences of Māori kaupapa for others to interact with and reflect on their own situations.

The Library has books and electronic resources on Internet in education and computer-assisted instruction.

e-Learning sites

An e-Learning framework for the schools sector

The e-Learning Action Plan for Schools 2006-2010 outlines the key outcomes and actions for e-learning in the New Zealand school sector for 2006-2010. It describes the goals for e-learning in schools and the projects, tools, and resources that are being developed to address those outcomes.

Tertiary e-Learning in New Zealand

The Ministry of Education’s web page devoted to tertiary e-learning. On this page you will get a definition of what e-learning is. The Government’s overall vision and strategies for achieving its implementation in the tertiary sector are also outlined here. You can also find what the Ministry’s particular roles are in tertiary e-learning.

eLearn

This tertiary e-learning portal aims to facilitate the sharing of e-learning information in New Zealand. It will help people to access information about tertiary education providers and the e-learning courses that they offer, various tertiary education-related services, and digital learning objects. The portal aims to encourage collaborative activity between educators, government, communities and industry.

LEARNZ

LEARNZ is an online programme for students in years 4 to 10. It targets science, social studies, geography, and technology and enables students to take a virtual field trip to remote and inaccessible places and to meet people who have careers in these curriculum areas.