Virtual Learning Network

What was important for us?

To engage parents and whanau of students transitioning to school through eLearning strategies based on;

(a) inclusion

(b) communication

(c) opportunity
(d) learning relationships between teachers, students and caregivers

What did we do?

Over the last year, we have been strategizing to improve upon ways to further involve our parent/whanau communities in eLearning within our schools. Although this is often an individual school's preference, we have found that strategies tested in a school that prove invaluable, are then shared with the entire cluster and adopted by all the schools. One example that we have reflected on and has been shared with our cluster is the Transitioning to School programme trialed at Mangere Central School. A Transition to School wiki was created - Link (screenshot)

What happened, as a result?

There has been an increased awareness of the importance of integrating eLearning into current programmes that involve parents/whanau, not just, Expos or Parent Information Events. By starting with the Transition to School programme, eLearning inclusion and communication with Parents/whanau becomes ubiquitous.

What have we learned?

We have learned that each school needs to provide access to computers for parents/whanau so that they can come into the school and access the same information as those parents/whanau who do have computers at home. At our trial school, mini-notebooks are made available in the office for parents/whanau to use if requested. Also, the computer suite is available for after school communications workshops for parents/whanau - these are facilitated by the AP. Here is a reflective video from the AP of Mangere Central School - Link

What are our next steps?

Our next steps are to record a snapshot of parents/whanau reflections regarding the usefulness of the trial.  Our plan is to video a sample group of parents/whanau and also to record their WallWisher post it notes.

We also want to monitor what works and what doesn't work for our parents/whanau in the rest of the cluster schools and work with them to improve the systems for access, inclusion and interaction. As part of the inclusion goal, we have discussed the importance of recording audio in a variety of languages typical to each school that explains the transition programme. The audio clips would then be available on the front page of the wiki as our schools are multicultural.

Iplus ICT Cluster comprises the following schools; New Lynn, Mangere Central, Mt Albert Primary, Kelston Intermediate and Kohia Terrace School. We are in the 3rd year of three year ICT PD contract.