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Eight Catholic secondary schools in the Wellington Archdiocese are participating in an inquiry project about enhancing students’ outcomes in technology.
The lead school in the project is Chanel College in Masterton.
The other participating schools are: St Patrick’s College (Silverstream), St Patrick’s College (Wellington), St Bernard’s College, Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt), Garin College, (Nelson), St Catherine’s College (Kilbirnie), and Bishop Viard College (Porirua).
The Teacher-led Innovation Fund (TLIF) had received 69 full proposals when the second round of applications closed on 13 May. The Selection Panel chose 46 projects to receive funding over the next 2 years.
The Catholic schools inquiry project about enhancing students’ outcomes in technology is the largest one in the second round.
What is the Teacher-Led Innovation Fund?
TLIF supports teams of teachers to develop innovative practices that improve learning outcomes – especially for students who are Māori, Pasifika, have special education needs, and/or come from low socio-economic backgrounds.
It allows teachers the time and opportunity to:
- inquire into ‘puzzles of practice’, with other eachers, to find ways of helping individual (or groups of) students to succeed
- work in partnership with experts, for example, academics, researchers, community and/or cultural leaders, innovation experts
- share what works with other kura/schools and educators across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Innovative projects involve inquiring into new practices, or applying existing practices in new contexts, and investigating in a systematic way whether they result in improved learning outcomes.
The Government has allocated $18 million over five years, 2015 to 2020 for The Teacher-led Innovation Fund.
It’s open to all primary and secondary teachers in state and state integrated schools, to support the development of innovative practices.
Skills Shortage
In a New Zealand Technology Industry Association (NZTech) study released last week, figures show there are 44,161 people working in high-tech manufacturing and 54,750 in ICT (Information and Communications Technology).
The study says there is a skills shortage.
NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says the New Zealand education system is not evolving fast enough to generate local talent to support its growth.
“Currently there are not enough students entering ICT study paths to supply the demand for skills by industry. ” he said
“New Zealand needs a skilled and innovative workforce in order to succeed in the global marketplace, for the tech sector to thrive and for all public and private sector organisations to perform.”
“NZTech recommends ongoing efforts to lift the responsiveness of the education system to the needs of tech sector employers. It is also critical for all children to develop skills to prepare them for the jobs of the future.”
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