truly remarkable nzpf_vln_presentation

PROMOTING SCHOOLS COLLABORATIONS THROUGH ELEARNING

Rachel Roberts (Matapu School)

Virtual Learning Network (VLN) – Primary/Intermediate Initiative

“Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in a different time”

Industrial to Informational

“In the industrial age we went to school… in the information age school comes to us”

Virtual Learning – Derek Wenmoth, Revised LCO Handbook 2010

www.virtuallearning.school.nz

The Virtual Learning Network (VLN) supports the concept of classrooms without walls, where students and educators have the flexibility to connect with their classes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Where a rich and diverse range of courses, programmes and activities, from early childhood through to tertiary, are offered by New Zealand-based educators.

‘Tatau tatau e’

Participation in the Virtual Learning Network (VLN) Community is based on the Principle of Reciprocity.

In order to access learning opportunities, schools also need to contribute to or support learning opportunities.

The VLN is not a service or a product but a collaboration of schools & clusters of schools.

The VLN acts to support and broker those collaborations: Through MOE support and website services Through Virtual Learning Network Community

membership.

A developing trend in NZ

Expansion of curriculum

Shortage of specialist teachers

Small rolls

Introduction of new assessment regimes

Teacher workload issues

Connecting Learners through Video Conferencing

Student-Teacher face-to-face contact enables the

distance to dissolve

Online Learning Environments

Spaces catering for different interests

Tools for managingparticipation

http://moodle.minedu.govt.nz/taranet/

Sample Timetable

VLN Secondary Schools 2002 – 12 schools sharing classes

VLN Statistics February 2010        Current Total Schools:268 Current Total Teachers:170 Current Total Courses:234 Current Total Classes:258 Current Total Enrolments:1526

Common Goals & Outcomes

More choice & opportunity for students in subject selection

Student retention

Teachers – able to teach in their areas of speciality

Increased confidence & capability in elearning

Increased collaboration between schools

Common Issues

Logistics of a shared timetable

Technical barriers (particularly in the earlier years)

Staffing

Need for onsite student support

Sustainability

Success Factors

Leadership Vision Cluster culture Staffing Support

VEN Report on ELearning Communities

VLN – Primary/Intermediate

The potential is there to be able to provide all of our students in the Primary Sector with learning opportunities that we are not able to provide in our individual schools.

VLN – Primary - Purpose

Coordinate& grow existing programmes of learning;

Promote to & involve new schools;

Develop the languages programme as the ‘flagship’ of VLN Primary Schools

Widen focus to other areas eg:

connecting the more smaller, rural & remote schools,

engaging schools in elearning events such as digital conversations & virtual fieldtrips,

cultural exchanges (national & global),

extension learning, other specialist curricula eg writing, art, technology…

Liaise & participate in the wider educational networks eg VLNC, potential NEN, ICTPD network, Advisory support

Grow a Community of Practice of talented eteachers in the primary sector;

Provide professional learning support for schools in elearning pedagogies and using the technologies for online learning

Adobe Connect

video conferencing

desktop video conferencing

Audio Conferencing

Moodle and Web 2.0 tools

VLN – Primary - Purpose

www.virtuallearning.school.nz

http://www.v7.breezeserver.co.nz/Synchronous learning (Speaking & Listening)

Matapu Students in

German Class

http://primary.vln.school.nz/Asynchronous learning

(mainly Reading & Writing)

http://primary.vln.school.nz/Online learners and F2F learners = Blended

Learning Environment

UFB/RBI – Bandwidth the Silver Bullet

Increase ‘social presence’ through use of webcams instead of phone

Free up phone lines into a school Allow multimedia to run at same speed for all sites Enable students from distributed sites to interact on

an equal footing – when ‘real time’ means real time Ease access and interaction around supporting

activities & resources in Moodle. Possibilities for Primary Schools to join the NZEdNet

VC network through desktop VC – actively interact with the wider online community eg participation in Digital Conversations, teacher Professional Learning.

Where We are At

Starting with a small group of schools. Introducing more as successful classes are

established. Introducing new eteachers, developing shared

resources. Begin to grow a Community Of Practice Starting with a basic set of tools – aim to extend

eteachers in their use of these & Web 2.0 Aligning to the wider VLN community – make use

of existing structures & support. Developing a model that can be scalable and

sustainable.

“One of the greatest problems a rural school faces is access to teachers of specialist subjects. By being on the VLN, our students can be involved in virtual lessons delivered by any number of specialist teachers around the country…. As ‘virtual presence’ technology improves, all the best teachers will be able to teach those students who wish to learn through their own inquiries.”

Rick Whalley, Principal, Matapu School

Discuss….

What are the needs of my

students?

What strengths have we got to share with other schools?

How can online collaboration through the VLN benefit my

students and teachers?

Contact:

Rachel Robertsrachel@matapu.schoolzone.net.nz

Rick Whalleyrick@matapu.schoolzone.net.nz

Eddie ReischEddie.reisch@minedu.govt.nz

Would you like to participate in this initiative?