You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Teacher testimonials
Wetland Biodiversity
The field trips are informative, exciting and a great learning experience. Relevant to all learners because it used correct language for te reo maori and showed how LEARNZ value te ao maori through the concepts explored. The newsletters were also great, with lots of easy steps.
The field trip provided good enrichment activities with plenty of scope for differentiation. The classes were involved, interested and thinking. They were able to relate the videos to their own experiences and knowledge. The field trips are useful for working collaboratively with other teachers and also as a basis for an enrichment model of gifted and talented education.
Geohazards
Our topic this term is actually civil defence and I used this field trip as motivation. Living on the lower slopes of Mt Taranaki the volcano parts were our particular focus and as my class are year 2-4 we used the fabulous videos and the photos in the gallery. The class have gained a huge understanding even from what we have used. There was a lot of information they could access with a little guidance, and they really enjoyed it. It was also easily accessed by the special needs children with their teacher aides.
Up-to-date, relevant, interesting and provides a great framework for computer assisted research while at the same time students are developing social and cooperative skills. Particularly useful as we were specifically looking at Tsunami. Information is culturally relevant and there is a wide range of resources so all learners in my class can achieve, accomplish something.
Pitched to range of levels - many students are visual learners so the videos and photo gallery are especially useful. Ability to revisit info and to pace themselves as they read through the background notes is also good.
My class were hooked and the videos were great as they helped my kids understand geohazards better (visual). The class are now planning their next steps 'how to prepare'. I will use LEARNZ again as it provides interesting topics that affect my class and ensures they develop their own thinking/questions to explore (what now? what next?). Also oportunities for research, reading and exploring non fiction texts, science case and effect.
Childern learnt a lot about geohazards in NZ, other than just earthquakes. So easy to incorporate into the programme; can 'take' children to parts of NZ that we are too far away from; can access any time after the trip begins; has good range of material that engages children eg photos and videos and background pages...
Extremely valid topic for our students, given our locality. Having experts is powerful. The students enjoyed the virtual learning environment and gained skills in cooperation and collaboration. The opportunities to actually be in many of these places is too cost prohibitive, so this provides an authentic learning environment.
A neat and different way to engage kids.
My class will be studying the 1931 Napier Earthquake, so the background pages and activities were very useful for the Natural processes aspect. Other supplementary information was interesting and slighty connected to our topic. My class use online activities to supplement their book class work. A virtual learning experience is very engaging for students. It is also useful for them to revisit the recorded trip when revising for the exam. My students don't get many opportunities to go on actual field trips, this is the next best thing. Relevant.
It gave real life situations to our study. My Maori student liked the fact that the list of geothermal (Ngawha) terms were able to be related to the study. The videos were great - most enjoyable. Students gained skills in note taking as well as knowledge which they later used to write a report on the Tarawera eruption. We are going to the buried village for a class trip so the children are very excited about what they will see.
Enables chn to get experience of environments they may otherwise not get and interact with real scientists. Special needs pupils enjoyed the computer simulations. Maori pupils appreciate the Maori explanations of geo happenings.
As an introduction to the the topic, this was based at an ideal level. Students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were able to share new learning. Questions gave them a focus and they were directed to information that helped them build understanding. The programme is set up in such a way that all students were able to participate. The way it is formatted into sections removes barriers for students who would otherwise have found it difficult. Awesome way of extending understanding and knowledge about our country.
Great field trip, extremely relevant to our local area and the geohazards we have here. Was informative for my students to learn about the hazards and safety neccessary in our area. Learnt key competencies and also how to be well prepared in case of an emergency. They (LEARNZ virtual field trips) are fantastic and interactive for all that participate not just the students; they are in the now so very relevant for what is happening in our world.
Memorial Park
Student engagement in this media platform is apparent, they love it! From students who need support through to students who require extension, Learnz field trips have been able to be implemented in the classroom to meet all needs. There was parental involvement and interest in this topic, with more learning conversations happening at home. This programme will be picked up in our senior classroom because of the success and engagement from students in my Year 2-4 class.
This is by far the best learning experience we can offer 21st Century elearners. We use the iPads to follow the virtual field trip from go to whoa. This field trip definitely captured the interest of the boys in the class because it was technical, involving digging machinery, geology and archeology.
Takahē
This is a fantastic programme. The field trips are well organised and highly informative. The field trip catered to the learning needs and abilities of my diverse year 3 class. Special needs students were able to access the same information as their classmates, using listening tools and videos so that they could take part in class discussions. My higher ability students were able to complete their own online research.
LEARNZ field trips provide an inclusive blended elearning programme that has heightened student learning and enthusiasm for learning in my class. The information available to support planning and implementation of classroom programmes is amazing. The curriculum integration opportunities LEARNZ field trips presents has provided my students with a rich literacy programme. Parent feedback from our annual teaching and learning survey provided positive feedback about how effective and apparent the students learning is when participating on a LEARNZ field trip.
My Reading programme was never so engaging. The background pages provided a realistic context. I gave the class the Takahe 20 Questions before we began and then after the field trip - the improvement was quite amazing.
LEARNZ field trips are a good tool to provide a context to a Science programme at the Y7-9 level. Our topic was focused on L4 of curriculum looking at NZ birds with regards to conservation. Used one activity for national standard assessment.
Geospatial
Specific information on tools used in the field of earthquake science. Excellent visual resources are a vivid method of relating facts and information, particularly for special needs learners
Wandering Whales
Learning outcomes for the students are excellent. Curriculum based, level appropriate, supports e-learning. Students are focused and very motivated, with opportunities to follow own line of inquiry. Special needs learners are easily catered for within the levels provided - programme is flexible and can be easily adjusted.
Students loved it - really got into whaling debate. Loved the audioconferences. Great learning experience - we use SOLO and all students moved their learning.
It is an excellent way to get the children excited about a topic - especially when we can't physically go out and do it. They experienced learning in a different way - a way that otherwise we couldn't give them. Children learnt a lot about types of whales - and got excited to watch the next video update.
Northern Wetlands
As we were going to a local wetland for our own field trip it was really beneficial for the students to see another one first hand and then were able to make comparisons. The level pitched was right and the students were motivated throughout. Coverage is excellent, it is in kidspeak. Great to have the Maori perspective, vocabulary etc - we ALL used it.