Kiwi Education Software In New York Schools.

EMBARGOED UNTIL 4AM 12 MAY 2007

New Zealand Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard today met New York
teachers using New Zealand-developed computer software to assess student
achievement.

Trevor Mallard today visited a Washington Heights Middle School in New York
City, one of 21 educational institutes piloting the Assessment Tools for
Teaching and Learning (asTTLe).

Developed by a team headed by Professor John Hattie from UniServices, the
research and technology company of Auckland University, asTTLe provides
feedback to teachers on what students know and don’t know, and what needs
to be taught next.

asTTLe is used in New Zealand in most primary and intermediate schools to
improve reading, writing and mathematics achievement.

Trevor Mallard said it was exciting that computer software developed in New
Zealand could assist US teachers to better understand student needs and
target any gaps in students' learning and address them through asTTLe, so
children had the chance to reach their full educational potential.

“This software is a good example of new thinking in New Zealand and the
capacity of kiwi firms to make innovative products and services of value to
people around the world,” Trevor Mallard said.

The asTTLe pilot is being evaluated by researchers from the Consortium for
Policy Research in Education, with results expected to be known later this
year.

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