Educators excited to apply expo teachings
MANY Otago and Southland educators will be returning to their classrooms today, inspired and eager to start using some of the latest teaching tools they have picked up from an education expo in Dunedin yesterday.
The Ministry of Education expo at Forsyth Barr Stadium aimed to arm the region’s ‘‘communities of learning’’ with new skills to personalise learning pathways for their pupils.
‘‘The education expo is about showcasing the significant change in the education system and bringing it to our educators,’’ Education Minister Nikki Kaye said.
‘‘We want to ensure that they have the best opportunity to understand new tools, changes under the Education (Update) Amendment Act, and Communities of Learning.
‘‘The expo demonstrates the best of kahui ako with an emphasis on personalised pathways and collaboration in practice.’’
Ms Kaye said it was part of a nationwide tour.
The education expo first ran at the National Cross Sector Forum in Auckland in March and received positive feedback from participants who attended.
Of those surveyed at the event, 91% said they learned something new that they would share with others.
As a result of its success, similar forums had been held across the country since then, and each had a regional flavour, she said.
‘‘It’s important that events like these get to places like Otago and Southland, and the emphasis is not just on Auckland and Wellington.
‘‘We want educators across the country to get the opportunity to visit the expo to see the best of education.’’
The tools and resources on display were available to teachers and principals in communities of learning, to support pupils aged 018.
Resources demonstrated included the Learning Progression Frameworks and the Progress and Consistency Tool which supports teachers in determining the progress their pupils are making at an individual level.