DLC: Future Focussed Learning Report 2014

The world is changing and our kids need to be digitally competent if they are to participate successfully in a modern economy and society. A strategy needs to be in place from kindergarten to secondary school so a digital divide does not develop.

Digital technologies should:
Transform teaching and learning.
Make learning anytime, anywhere...
Motivate and connect learners.

10 Priorities:
1.  Meet needs 21st Century learners

• Learners need to be designers, innovators and creators - not just consumers. 
• This development will rely on the three concepts of ubiquity, agency and connectedness.
  Ubiquity: digital technologies are everywhere, involved in everything.
  Agency: learners have the skills and opportunity to make choices.
  Connectedness: being part of something bigger - e.g. planting with Kakariki Greening Project  
• Safe, legal and ethical behaviour on-line
• Programming skills are required to make technology do what you want it to!

2.  Equitable access to devices

• access to devices - BYOD, business sponsorship or leased devices
• quality internet connections & speed
• quality teaching - needs the teachers to be confident with technologies

3.  Invest in people and innovation

• develop thinking skills, collaboration, problem solving, 
• cross-curricular challenges to make develop knowledge
• teacher collaboration to support peers
• teacher PD to develop skills and new teaching methods - initial teacher training, further PD
• common vision within school culture
• regional hubs and support networks

4.  Future-focussed learning environments

• rely on fast Broadband
• Network for Learning N4L
• Link in other resources like KAREN & REANNZ

5.  High quality digital content

• Creative Commons Licensing so all created content can be shared
• Free up collaborative creation of resources

6.  Regional collaboration

• Government to support regional school networks so they can share in ideas, collective conferences and initiatives - like the Lincoln Cluster
• Mobilise expert 'future focussed teachers' to go out and support others
• Expectation of 'Teaching as Inquiry' approach 

7.  Robust evidence base

• Develop a co-ordinated education research approach
• Decision making based on empirical evidence, evidence best practice both local and international - in curriculum, policy and within schools
• Teacher research supported by post-grad study support

8.  Align curriculum, technologies, funding, infrastructure

• Develop a systematic plan
• Consultation with the sector

9.  Funding structure

• 
  

10. 5 year plan

• Long term goal with agreed goals and measurement set in place

Personal Response:
Well, I guess as part of the UNITEC - Post-grad Certificate in Applied Practise that I am helping make this happen as my skills, teaching methods and leadership are being developed to me the 21st Century Learner's needs.

Our school has a wide range of devices for students to use in class and are implementing BOYD from Year 4-8 so that the apps, learning and skills can be used at home or school so learning can take place anywhere or anytime.

Our Lincoln Cluster has collective conferences, TecFest where students come for an intensive two days training from experts within the cluster, SOLO focus groups, Early Years School Transition and G & T One Day schools programmes. We are in an amazing team but possibly the teachers themselves from the schools need to be more pro-active about creating our own support groups across schools. This needs the attitude of us taking the initiative rather than waiting for 'The Cluster' to do it for us!