Archive for the ‘Groups offering learning options’ Category

Partnering with global festival, Remake Learning Days!

Friday, February 3rd, 2023

This year we are very excited to announce our partnership with Remake Learning Days, a network of learning festivals originally from the United States and sprawling across many regions from the 20th of April to the 26th of May, 2023. They have recognised what we’re up to here in Ōtautahi and are keen to help support our mahi – we’re excited for all the learnings this is bringing and becoming a part of this festival that connects us across the globe!

With 14 cities across the US and 3 international regions joining, this partnership gives us a fantastic opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other on a global scale. 

We will be able to utilise their brilliant system for registering events and to gather and share information for Ōtautahi Learning Days, check out our page here! If you’re keen on becoming an event host for 2023 and have all your event info confirmed you can also submit your event via that page.

Interested in hearing more about getting involved with Ōtautahi Learning Days 2023, 8th to 14th of May, and joining our global network of thinkers and change-makers? Get in contact with us at info@learningcitychristchurch.nz, we’d love to hear from you!

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RAD – Recycle a Device – 2022 at a glance

Friday, December 9th, 2022

RAD – Recycle a Device – 2022 at a glance… 

Check out their end of year report here

A message from Bronwyn Scott, Programme Manager:

‘Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ngā mihi nui e te whānau o Recycle A Device! The RAD kaupapa has reached some pretty impressive goals this year. Whether you’ve donated one laptop or several hundred, helped us with community engagement, fundraising, strategy or are thinking about how you’ll get involved in the future; we couldn’t have done it without you and we hope you are as proud as we are with the information shared here.

We are scaling up in 2023! Our goal is to gift 5,000 laptops into the community, which means our operating budget will hit $680k. At this level of growth and impact we will be asking for not just device donations, but also for a contribution to our bottom line, as without cash, we aren’t able to get laptops to those who need them.

At a cost per laptop of $196.90, Recycle A Device is a very cost effective, socially and environmentally friendly way to ensure more young people are able to actively participate in their education, the economy and everyday life. We want you to be part of this growing movement in Aotearoa, and together we will work towards empowering rangatahi to fulfill their potential!

Ngā manaakitanga, Bronwyn Scott, Programme Manager.’

We look forward to seeing all that RAD achieve in 2023 and continuing our support in their awesome mahi working to bridge digital inequity in Aotearoa.

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Learning Days 2023 – How can schools get involved?

Monday, November 28th, 2022
Learning Days is an Ako Ōtautahi Learning City Christchurch festival celebrating learning in its many forms across our city, our place. We explore themes of Equity, Access, Innovation and Curiosity, by connecting rich conversations, encouraging hands-on learning and focusing on future opportunities.
Our week of Learning Days celebrations for 2023 runs from May 8-14 and we are very keen to have schools, clusters and Kāhui Ako involved. Learning Days is supported by the Ministry of Education and Remake Learning and is a great way of bringing communities together to celebrate intergenerational opportunities and grow a region where learning is equitable, accessible and innovative.
Check out the below link to our brochure explaining a little about the festival. Bookmark the week in your calendars, reach out to our Learning Days Coordinator, Vic Nebbeling on info@learningcitychristchurch.nz and explore opportunities for connection.
 
More information regarding registration of events will be available early next year but we hope you will spread the word in Waitaha and that people will see the opportunities for 2023.

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Closing the Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Thursday, August 20th, 2020

“Closing the digital divide for all students is the only way to ensure equity of educational opportunities for all of our children, irrespective of ethnic background, socio-demographic status or location.”

Among other equity issues, the COVID-19 lockdown highlighted the importance of addressing the digital divide for children and young people. This means that students without a suitable device and/or internet connectivity were disadvantaged as they could not connect to their teachers, classes, or access the learning material being made available to them. While efforts were made to provide these students with physical resources in the mail to allow them to learn, inequalities in learning and digital access were put under the spotlight. 

Once New Zealand transitioned out of lockdown, and ākonga were back in face-to-face learning, Greater Canterbury Schools’ Network (GCSN) conducted a survey to investigate students, staff and whānau experiences with learning online during COVID-19 levels 3 and 4. 

10 recommendations were made based on the information in the report and reflect the data and specific contexts of remote learning under lockdown for schools in the Canterbury region:

  1. Focus collective efforts toward equipping schools digitally
  2. Engage with charities/funding bodies/government to secure resources
  3. Establish initiatives to close the digital divide for the few students still lacking access to a device and/or Internet
  4. Formalise plans for remote learning
  5. Engage more with online learning tools
  6. PLD for teaching staff 
  7. Create or review policies
  8. Stronger focus on independence and agency
  9. Recognition of adults and children supporting students 
  10. Enhance online communities

To read the full report, Closing the Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Student, Whānau and Staff Perspectives, click here.

Related story: Digital Learning 2025 – Dr Cheryl Doig

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