Using the Virtual Learning Network

Utilize the Virtual Learning Network (VLN) to share and contribute to professional educational discussions  – available to you 24/7.  Pose a question, contribute ideas/thoughts, share examples and develop an online support network.  

Why the Virtual Learning Network?

Check out this awesome POWTOON by Tessa Gray - National Blended e-Learning PLD Programme

How are we using the Virtual Learning Network?

We have joined groups:

Enabling e-Learning - A hub for ICT-related education resources and programmes in New Zealand.

Ipad/Ipod Users - A growing group discussing Ipad and Ipod Touch use in an educational context

We have created groups:

Blended e-Learning for Māori and Pasifika Learners

Gifted Pasifika Education

Pasifika Education Plan 2013 - 2017

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa PLD 2013

We have started discussion posts: 

Sharing success stories for our Pasifika learners

Pasifika Digital Stories

A refresher about what works for Māori Learners

And so much more...

Pasifika Education Plan Review

I have read many PEP plans over the years.  As a teacher I was present at the launch of the PEP plan at Auckland Girls' Grammar School when Howard Fancy was Secretary for Education.

What has stayed the same?

• The "compass" diagram continues to feature in the PEP plan to show the environments and contexts in which Pasifika learners find themselves and also highlights how the key stakeholders fit into the motivation and engagement of Pasifika learners.
• There are specific goals and targets in each sector.  These goals are set out in incremental stages to monitor accurately how each sector is expected to perform and outline what the expectations are.  
• For ECE the focus continues to be an increase with participation of Pasifika learners in ECE and life-long learning.
• For the compulsory schooling sector - the focus continues to be in increasing the levels of numeracy and literacy with all students gaining NCEA Level 2 as the minimum exit qualification in secondary school
• The tertiary sector continues to focus on participation, retention and completion of tertiary qualifications.

What seems to be different?

• The current plan compared to previous plans is that it is smaller - the length is such that it should be more consumer-friendly for schools to use.  
• There are actions within each sector that accompany the targets and goals.  These actions should give schools some idea about how MoE and their partner agencies are working together to transition these targets and goals into actions.  
• There is the inclusion of the imminent launch of the Pasifika Education Implementation Plan (PEIP) -  which states on the PEP Plan that it will be available from January.  At this stage, it will most likely be available from February.  The question then lies with what does this look like in individual schools?  Will the PEIP be the guide that gives exemplars, strategies, pathways and programmes for HOW to perform these actions?Once the PEIP is released and viewed in conjunction with the PEP Plan, we should have a better idea of the impact that it has for Pasifika learners in schools.
• A sector-wide focus.  This view shows the transitions between the sectors, how the focus is about improving "Pasifika capability" by introducing this concept into teacher training programmes and embedding the importance of Pasifika learners who are also identified as having special needs.
• There are statistics for each sector that show how Pasifika learners are tracking in comparison to Pakeha and Maori learners.

There is a vision: