Media Release:  20 February, 2009

Learning @ School:

Teachers gather for learning conference

The annual information and communication technologies professional development conference for teachers, Learning@School, opens next week at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua.
 
Christchurch-based not-for-profit educational research and development organisation CORE Education  is contracted to manage the Ministry of Education-supported conference.
 
Learning@School 09 (25 – 27 February) provides teachers with the opportunity to hear world-leading thinkers in the field of education and new technologies.
 
Keynote speakers include Andy Hargreaves (US), the Thomas More Brennan Chair of Education in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Andy will discuss inspiration, innovation and sustainability in education.
 
Another US educator, Wesley Fryer, will talk about the landscape of 21st century learning.
 
An intrinsic part of Learning@School is the networking and conversations which go on around the conference.
 
“It’s a chance for more than 1200 principals and teachers from around New Zealand to improve their knowledge of and expertise in new technologies by participating in the many workshop sessions on offer.  They pick up great ideas and strategies for integrating these technologies into the learning experience of students,” Conference Organiser Gwenny Davis says.
 
Senior Ministry of Education staff attending the conference update delegates about policy changes/direction and teachers get to try out the latest technological wares on offer from the 50 commercial exhibitors at the trade expo

“The key focuses of this year’s Learning @ School conference are to look at methods of implementing the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa through the use of e-learning; increase capability of teachers and principals to improve students' learning and achievement through e-learning; strengthen professional learning communities and increased collaboration within and across schools; increase e-learning leadership and ICT strategic planning capability of principals and teachers; and increase the understanding of the educational contribution of e-learning in school communities,” Gwenny says.

For more information, visit www.Learning@School.org.nz.
 
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