Northland DFI cohort is underway

 It's wonderful to have our kanohi ki te kanohi Manaiakalani Digital Fluency Intensive in Northland this term.   We have a wonderful group of educators in this cohort from across the Te Hiku and Kaikohekohe Clusters.  As with all our DFI cohorts they represent primary and secondary teachers, deputy principals and principals. The collective expertise in the room sparks rich learning opportunities and diverse conversations.   

Over the next nine weeks, we'll come together to understand the Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy; the workings of Learn, Create, Share.  One of the real highlights of my job is supporting teachers through this process and seeing them grow.  Often our kaiako are nervous with anticipation of what's involved in the course however, it soon becomes apparent just how worthwhile and useful this professional development is.  Not only will teachers' workflow improve but they will have the pedagogy to support teachers' practice for working in 1:1 digital environments.   

NCEA changes ACCORD at Tamaki College

 Last week I was fortunate to be able to join the team at Tamaki College for their Ministry of Education ACCORD training day.  This was the second ACCORD day for 2021.  The focus of this particular day was to unpack the changes being made to NCEA Achievement Standards in the coming years.  There are a number of modifications being made to the standards across all subject disciplines.  These will be phased over three years with new Achievement Standards for NCEA Level 1 in 2022, Level 2 in 2023 and Level 3 in 2024.  

There are four key changes which were noted as system shifts, they involve;  

• Well being
• Inclusion and equity - reflecting students identity 
• Coherence - Coherent Pathways Guidance Document
• Pathways 

Some schools are already underway with pilots for NCEA Level 1.  In 2021, pilots are being run in English, Visual Arts, Science and Religious Studies.  Bay of Islands College is undertaking 4 pilots in Level 1 NCEA Science.

It is recommended that the design of assessment reflects and reinforces the ways students have been learning. Collection of evidence for the internally assessed standards could include, but is not restricted to, an extended task, an investigation, digital evidence (such as recorded interviews, blogs, photographs or film), or a portfolio of evidence. See the full NCEA Level 1 - English Assessment Matrix 

For more information about changes to NCEA and further updates, you might want to bookmark the new home for NCEA. 

Weaving Māturanga Māori into the curriculum

The development and inclusion of Māturanga Māori in the New Zealand Curriculum is a significant milestone in education.  It's inclusion is believed to be foundational to our New Zealand culture which will lead to full participation, based on a system of values and beliefs.  To honour the mana of Māturanga Māori,  assessments will be available in English and bilingually.  

Things teachers need to consider is how can we weave Māturanga Māori into all our subjects, classrooms and the wider school/community?