tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:03:36 +0000elearningvideo conferencingEngagementweb 2.0ICTPDTaraNetlearning onlinelearning communityvlnbloggingElthamStratfordcollaborationconference21st Centuryrandom stuffMoviesSt Joseph'sleadershiptechnicalInglewoodteacher resourcesED SchoolsflickrreadingssoftwareWaitarabandwidthcreativityonline learningresearchvirtual learningconnected studentsOpunakeadobe connectpodcastingLMSTokonetsafetyskypePitt IslandSchoolZonehighlightsinteractive white boardsschool visitslearning objectslearningatschoolpolicyGooglecoastalcurriculumfuture focusedlanguageslaptopsphotographysmartboardsLiteracyflashlearning languagespldrural principalsstmarysteachingvln primarywebchallengeJunior SchoolTaranakiartbroadbandchangeglobal educationpateapptarural educationrural kidsschoolingstudent voiceulearn06StudentsWomadadvocacyasia awarenesscollaborationscoolcultural connectionsdigital portfoliosdistance learningeteachinginternetmoodleprofessional learningprotopagesciencetuanz2007virtual schoolsMāorianimationappleasianzflexible learningglobalinnovationlearnersstrategytoolsulearn07virtual fieldtripvlncMaoriaccessauthentic learningcellphoneschinachineseconfucius instituteconnectivismcoolsculturecurriculum integrationedtalksedtechequityextensionfilteringflat classroomsieslearning choicesmandarin language assistantsoverthebackfencepersonalised learningplnpresentationprofessional developmentprojectsresourceresourcesrosmini collegeschoolsstudent achievementteinatuakanaufbisvlnprimaryAIHaweraMatatāNew ZealandSt PatricksYESastronomyawardsbardwiredbookmarkscharter schoolscolscommunitycorecurationdancedigistoredigital dividedigital storiesemerging technologiesevoface to facefontsfundingfuturegifted & talentedhealthhistoryict skillsiesnzinformationipadsiphonejoint initiativelearning designlearnzmathsmentoringmentorsnatural hazardnetworksnzcernzeioerotbfover the back fencepdpowerpointprimary schoolsrsssabbaticalself managementsharingspsjubilee07student advocacystudyteachersteachnztechnologythinkingtime4online07tkitomorrows schoolstwittervisionvln_primaryvpldwaikato universitywebinarsyou tubeProfessional reflections on education in NZ - Dancing on the shifting carpethttp://bardwired.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger655125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-4983691842205010786Fri, 31 May 2019 05:05:00 +00002019-05-31T17:05:33.437+12:00Matatānatural hazardscienceOver the last two days I have attended the Natural Hazards Research Forum. Although quite a departure from my professional educational focus, there is still a lot in common with my blog themes 'Dancing on the Shifting Carpet' and dealing with uncertain futures. I would say i attended, rather than participated. I would have liked to raise some questions during panel discussion, or in the case http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2019/05/dancing-on-shifting-carpet-natural.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-7964015379465174293Tue, 21 May 2019 05:18:00 +00002019-05-21T17:18:03.368+12:00collaborationconnected studentsrural educationrural kidsrural principalsAnother great camp with these cool schools and their awesome kids and teachers: <!-- Please only call https://embed-assets.wakelet.com/wakelet-embed.js once per page -->http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2019/05/rural-remote-schools-wellington-camp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-6007011212661271633Fri, 10 May 2019 04:05:00 +00002019-05-10T16:05:17.211+12:00accesscoolsequityfuture focusedonline learningvirtual learningYesterday in Parliament the Education Amendment Bill (No 2) went through it's 3rd reading and was passed into law. This officially means there will be no CoOLs (Communities of Online Learning) in New Zealand. Hon. Nikki Kaye argued to keep in place some provisions for online learning, and made an amendment to include a Review of Online Learning (which was not passed). Her argument was that you http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2019/05/its-official-no-communities-of-online.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-9199350934930653561Sat, 20 May 2017 10:28:00 +00002017-05-21T15:43:28.364+12:00learning onlineresearchvirtual learningWith Communities of Online Learning coming closer on the horizon NOW is a good time to determine a research agenda that will inform regulations for CoOLs and best practice for online learning in NZ. There is a body of local research I have written about previously here, and some of this research goes back two decades and is still relevant today. A thorough literature review and scope of the http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-research-agenda-for-online-blended.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-7120682223291284612Sun, 07 May 2017 08:33:00 +00002017-05-07T20:33:36.482+12:00coolsonline learningpolicyvlnIn April I was quoted extensively in this article by Education Review on the VLN Primary &amp; CoOLs. I discussed issues of sustainable resourcing, privatisation, competition &amp; accountability. This article stemmed from a discussion with Jude Barback (Ed Review) ahead of the release of the Education &amp; Science Select Committee report on the Education (Update) Amendment Bill. The report was http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/05/will-cools-give-virtual-learning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-7881111473092761633Mon, 01 May 2017 23:18:00 +00002017-05-02T11:18:03.013+12:00collaborationleadershiplearning communitynetworksschoolingCollaboration is a key theme in my research question and in my reading I have found it is closely linked and underpins effective school networks.&nbsp;Santiago &amp; Fullan (2016) equate effective networks with collaboration that deepens learning, grows professional capital and is a positive driver for system improvement. They say that on its own mandated collaboration (top-down) nor grass roots http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/05/effective-networks-collaboration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-5681958545047664793Sat, 29 Apr 2017 21:44:00 +00002017-04-30T09:48:05.634+12:00changecollaborationcolsiesrural principalsschoolingThe simple definition of collaboration can be a double-edged sword - working for the collective good or conspiring to change the status quo. This is a reflection of the current education climate where schools are being strongly encouraged and incentivised to form collaborative Communities of Learning. In the educational sector, some look at this from the view of No.1 (image below), and some see http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/04/collaboration-different-viewpoints.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-1892560095474459742Mon, 17 Apr 2017 08:11:00 +00002017-04-30T10:06:28.670+12:00advocacybroadbandcommunityinternetrural educationrural kidstechnologyA couple of weeks ago I was pontificating on a vision for connected rural communities and the benefits it would bring, even going so far signposting a Rural Renaissance! So it was interesting to read this article from the Taranaki Daily News about locals in the Republic of Whangamomona being divided on the need for internet or cell phone coverage in their district. Remote rural town divided onhttp://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/04/do-rural-communities-want-to-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-6483710757023609184Wed, 05 Apr 2017 05:52:00 +00002017-04-05T17:52:07.001+12:0021st Centurydistance learningMāorionline learningrural educationvirtual learningvirtual schoolsvlnIn my recent post&nbsp;NZ Research &amp; Articles - Online Teaching &amp; Learning, I commented on the similar themes coming up in the research from nearly two decades of learning online. To illustrate this, and just because history really interests me, I want to share this report. Te Pouaka Whakaako ki te Kāreti o Ngata Telelearning and Contexts of Awareness at Ngata Memorial College. Report http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-more-things-change-more-they-stay.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-4318422704265557505Tue, 04 Apr 2017 02:16:00 +00002017-04-04T14:33:26.546+12:00broadbandfuture focusedinternetlearning communityrural education&nbsp;In 2003 TUANZ led a National Broadband Applications Project where cross sector forums were set up regionally to discuss the potential of broadband and come up with some scenarios about what life would be like beyond dial-up. This was during the days of the roll out of Project Probe. We are now well onto the second wave of superfast internet with the roll out of fibre, 4 G networks and http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/04/fast-internet-drives-rural-renaissance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-3013739321903697201Tue, 28 Mar 2017 10:24:00 +00002017-03-28T23:31:53.420+13:00eteachingNew Zealandpolicyresearchvirtual learningAs part of my literature review I am collating as much of the NZ written/NZ based literature on online/virtual learning as I can find. Much of this I have read, and some I have contributed to, been a participant in, or even written myself. Some of it is before my time, but I believe our whakapapa and learning &nbsp;journey contributes to where we are today, and where we will go tomorrow. I also http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/03/nz-research-articles-online-teaching.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-7588582307847241370Sun, 12 Mar 2017 13:00:00 +00002017-03-13T02:00:26.962+13:00advocacyfundingpolicyrural educationFollowing on from an earlier post about Rural NZ - A great place to live and learn, here is some context of what is happening in the educational landscape at the moment. We are currently going through the process of legislative change and a funding review that will have the biggest impact on NZ schools since 1989 and the introduction of Tomorrow's Schools. For more on Tomorrow's Schools see http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-of-education-funding-systems.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-2048484688049674060Sun, 12 Mar 2017 07:47:00 +00002017-03-12T20:55:44.374+13:00advocacychangeonline learningschoolingvirtual learningvirtual schools Tomorrow the report from the Education and Science Select Committee, who are looking at&nbsp;Education (Update) Amendment Bill, is due. There are a raft of changes proposed in this bill, though the part that is most of interest to me is Part 3A - Communities of Online Learning. With my work at the VLN Primary School, I have been asking for something like CoOLs for a very long time. Here are our http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/03/cools-communities-of-online-learning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-778742615844511840Sat, 11 Mar 2017 20:47:00 +00002017-04-04T14:28:45.505+12:00This video from Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki/King Country, prompted me to think and write about my focus on Rural Education. Barbara is responding to this type of media report "Tough choices ahead for small-town New Zealand". These sorts of articles appear regularly in our media "Regions must adapt or suffer decline, says academic" or how about this lovely headline "Zombie towns looming, http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/03/rural-new-zealand-great-place-to-live.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-7324624002243058855Sat, 18 Feb 2017 01:13:00 +00002017-03-12T19:11:55.520+13:00collaborationresearchrural principalsvirtual learningSo here is my successful Research Proposal. I'm going through the process of preparing my Ethics Approval now and&nbsp;hope to be inviting participation in this research in about a month's time. &nbsp;Abstract/Summary Virtual learning has been taking place in New Zealand for two decades and pioneered in our rural schools (Barbour, 2011; Roberts, 2010; Wenmoth, 1996). “Small rural schools in http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/02/collaboration-across-new-zealand-rural.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-5971402887137155913Tue, 31 Jan 2017 09:45:00 +00002017-01-31T22:45:28.724+13:00accessbroadbanddigital divideequityinternetrural kidsrural principalsWe had our first staff meeting for this group of Principal's to make plans for the year ahead in our collaborative cluster of schools.&nbsp; So we got to talking about access to technology that is so important to providing the base from which we learn together. What do our children have available to them at school and at home in the form of computing devices and internet connectivity? We http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/01/how-accessible-is-internet-for-our.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-3717876902807647572Sun, 29 Jan 2017 00:41:00 +00002017-01-29T13:41:38.621+13:00researchsabbaticalstudyteachnzvln primarywaikato university Matata Beach at Sunset I feel very privileged to have received a TeachNZ Study Award to undertake some research this year. My thesis will be in my special area of interest - Rural Education; and expertise - Virtual Learning. I'll be on sabbatical for Term 2 &amp; 3, however I will still be working in a Governance role and doing all that is necessary to keep the VLN Primary School on track http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2017/01/teachnz-study-award.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-4983619122262251385Sun, 11 Oct 2015 07:28:00 +00002015-10-11T20:28:22.904+13:0021st Centurycollaborationconnected studentslearning communitylearning onlinevln primary Here is an article i wrote for the NZ School Trustees Association about the VLN Primary School. It gives a pretty good snapshot on who we are and what we do: "At a time when schools are increasingly stretched to find the resources to provide a broad and relevant curriculum for students, they are also being challenged to become more collaborative and future focused. We are on the cusp of major http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/10/vln-primary-school-in-print-sta-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-5428695210855010339Sun, 04 Oct 2015 02:47:00 +00002015-10-04T15:48:25.490+13:0021st Centurycollaborationconnected studentsonline learningrural kidsvirtual learning We're coming up to the downhill side of the 2015 school year and we are still not sure if we have got funding to continue our VLN Primary operations into 2016 and beyond. This is a real challenge! There is a strong need particularly among our rural schools to keep this collaborative, learning support happening for our students; there is a depth of experience that has been developed over the http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/10/vln-primary-school.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-3359569286396277726Wed, 02 Sep 2015 05:45:00 +00002015-09-02T17:46:30.987+12:00eteachingflexible learninglearning designlearning onlineThis afternoon i joined a Google Hangout session with Bill Anderson from DEANZ. Today's informal hangout was to provide an opportunity for DEANZ members to connect and 'talk or ask questions about any of the newsletter items such as the CRAM model; Creative Commons Clinics; the National Digital Forum; the Blended Synchronous Learning Handbook... or any of the latest items about DEANZ.' It was http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/09/cram-unpacking-model-with-deanz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-3518443145862058848Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:16:00 +00002015-07-21T11:18:04.517+12:00collaborationjoint initiativeleadershipnzeipldpolicy (Wordle based on the Joint Initiative Working Party Report) Today the NZEI released details of the Joint Initiative - a plan forward with the MoE instead of the IES that was rejected by the NZEI collective. Communities of Learning instead of Communities of Schools The aim of this initiative is to give more emphasis on collaboratively improving students achievement outcomes and less on the http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-joint-initiative-better-plan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-3792677948615539139Mon, 20 Jul 2015 08:04:00 +00002015-07-20T20:22:41.538+12:00advocacyfuture focusedonline learningpolicy The ICDE (International Council for Distance Education) met in Paris recently&nbsp;for a Global Policy Forum. The aim of the forum was to build on previous work&nbsp;such as recently&nbsp;in Bali&nbsp;and to ensure equity, access and quality learning outcomes. This was framed with some urgency around the area of higher education with the prediction that in the next 15 years there will be a huge http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-call-to-action-equity-access-quality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-1319409449054822847Thu, 11 Jun 2015 09:08:00 +00002015-06-11T21:11:14.729+12:0021st Centuryasia awarenesslanguageslearning choiceslearning onlinerural principalsvlnprimary May Update In our latest newsletter&nbsp;we update you on our recent AGM, talk about our small rural schools, share the buzz on Prince Harry's recent NZ visit, give you a heads up on whats coming up and a shout out for teachers to join us in teaching online.&nbsp; Read&nbsp;our newsletter.&nbsp;Subscribe. June Update In this newsletter we update you with a great story of online meets http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/06/share-celebrate-participate-vln-primary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-5025325325942934283Mon, 20 Apr 2015 02:58:00 +00002015-04-20T14:58:57.886+12:0021st Centuryconnected studentsglobal educationlearnerslearning communityLiteracypersonalised learningstudent voice In response to a FB discussion, my 2C worth: "Many of us are working hard to support our teachers and students with concepts and practices related to 21st century thinking.... MLEs, blended learning, student agency etc,etc. What comes next for schools?&nbsp;" I think keep extending on learner agency and push past the classroom walls &amp; school gates. Children will learn from many people and http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-vision-for-teaching-learning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263564.post-6866128507912999738Wed, 15 Apr 2015 00:26:00 +00002015-04-15T12:26:52.670+12:00artcollaborationconnected studentscreativitydigital storiesglobal educationphotographystudent voice ''My Story. Our Story. Your Story'&nbsp; The result of a year long project initiated and co-ordinated by the Ahuroa School Photography Club, and facilitated online via the VLN Primary School.The ProjectAn exploration of photography as a means of telling and sharing a story, for primary school aged children.&nbsp; “My Story” - individual journey’s of self discovery; “Our Story” - the combining http://bardwired.blogspot.com/2015/04/our-stories-exhibition-coming-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0