You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Testimonials
Matariki and Navigation
The class were motivated and excited by the learning, as the field trip gave students the opportunity to strengthen their own identity and cultural connections/ whakapapa. In addition, I tried new ICT aspects linked to the field trip and explored the concepts of 'Cultural Narratives' and 'Social Mapping'.
Wendy Reid from Riverlands School
A lot of learning happened for my Year 3-4 class through the background pages and videos. The trip linked to NZC through Science, Maths, Literacy and KCs. Resources were easy to use, and good to have knowledge imparted by experts.
Hilary Lintott from Brooklyn School (Wellington)
It added significant context and background to our current Matariki study. The range of experiences, media and personalisation was great! My students really look forward to, enjoy and learn from LEARNZ field trips. Every one they have been on is remembered and has driven a huge amount of new learning.
Christine Hailes from North Street School
Meaningful and relevant content for students, pitched at an appropriate level for our multi-age classroom. Having the opportunity to interact and ask questions in real time was appreciated and is valuable.
Brenda Sutton from Waitaria Bay School
Content was perfect for our topic this term on navigators. The children's sense of belonging and dual heritage was reinforced as we discussed the videos and as our more able readers supported those less able in reading the background pages.
Hazel Halton from Witherlea School
All aspects outlined in the planning for this field trip were easy to connect to the NZ Curriculum documentation. The newsletters were informative and useful, but I also found what I needed in the online help. My students have already asked when our next LEARNZ trip will be.
Wendy Reid from Riverlands School
The field trip was a wonderful addition to our Matariki inquiry. The learning crossed several curriculum areas and students really enjoyed using different technologies to support their interests.
Tessa Hansen from Riwaka School
Topic relevant to students (and whanau). Videos well paced and interesting. Background pages provide an authentic independent reading activity. All of the key competencies are addressed through the various activities.
Caroline Arnold from Lepperton School
In the web conferences, I find the guest speakers and hearing the other schools' questions makes our learning authentic and relateable.
Sandra Wilson from Te Rerenga School
Fabulous trip; excellent daily videos that support teaching practice. The Māori aspect was particularly good with the lead up to our Matariki celebrations. Students loved taking part in the web conference, especially having their extra questions also answered.
Jo Dudley from Ilam School
Encourages thinking. Culturally responsive. Appropriate access to relevant and current topics for my Y10 Geo class.
Judith McKenzie from Craighead Diocesan School
Loved it! I have used LEARNZ field trips before but not with an ambassador, which just made it! This field trip was also incredibly empowering for our Maori and Pasifika learners!
Caitlin Buttle from Knights Stream School - Mingimingi Hautoa
A very integrated topic - you could could explore a myriad of Principles, Values and Key Competencies within it. LEARNZ trips are great - I like to participate in at least 2 every year and I love that I learn alongside my students.
Leasa Craw from Morrinsville School
It fitted in exactly with what we are studying, and my students really responded well to hearing information from different people and in different ways. The web conferences were particularly empowering and transforming for my four dyslexic learners, as their questions were chosen as "best and deepest".
Lauren Milnes from Ngatimoti School
My students loved it - it sparked lots of independent learning and sharing learning with whānau about Matariki. We fully participated in the web conferences, both as a listening class and as a speaking class.
Shona Willis from Mataura School
I could quickly look at background and ideas and use those suitable for my Year 2 class. Great for English (use sources of information e.g. videos, to identify form and express ideas), Science (PEB - Astronomical Systems - Matariki) and Social Studies (How the past is important to people | How places are significant to people).
Lynette Knappstein from Seddon School
This coincided with our Inquiry and the class were fully engaged with the content. The learning is accessible, with differentiated activities that allow the class to learn at their own rate. All the key competencies, principles, values and different learning areas were covered. Promoted inclusion of Māori students, who were encouraged to show their knowledge and share their views.
Kristina Sheppard from Ashburton Intermediate
BioBlitz
We have been focussing on collaboration so students used this unit to work together to find information and monitor their own learning. It was easy for the children to navigate and use the website independently.
Cheryl Moeau-Jones from Postgate School
It followed on very well from the inquiry we have been doing into the plants in our local native bush. The most noticeable impact was a increase in our classes' scientific vocab. Great opportunity to communicate and collaborate with others outside of our school.
Warwick King from Otatara School
It was really appropriate as we learnt how to do a Bio Blitz in our own backyard - which we did! Helped us in the key Learning Area of Science - provided extra information, motivation and a wider NZ focus on the environment. Also added to the kete of useful add-ons to make my teaching better.
Andrew de Wit from Fergusson Intermediate (Trentham)
Stimulated students to look at environmental issues and biodiversity in our local area. From a teacher's perspective it was a simple way to get children engaged in learning using a digital tool.
Kristina Sheppard from Ashburton Intermediate
It was an appropriate level of challenge, and was fun and engaging at the same time. My students are buzzing after this experience. and are excited about the next LEARNZ field trip.
Shona Willis from Mataura School
The content was pitched perfectly for Year 7 & 8 tamariki. As part of our unit of inquiry based around ecosystems & biodiversity, there were strong curriculum links. The word bank helped build our te reo Māori too.
Louise Wilson from Mt Pleasant School
Not only did my students enjoy this BioBlitz field trip, they were able to apply their learning to our local area. Having the ability to listen to the background pages being read to them is empowering for my lower ability readers. It means that they can still get the same information and complete the tasks.
Marcia Karaitiana from Ascot Community School
Helped my teaching practice, as this BioBlitz field trip was a helpful tool to differentiate my teaching. Students enjoy a different form of lesson delivery, too.
Sangeeta Chaudhari from Coastal Taranaki School