Welcome to the 2009 Learning@School Conference!

Nau mai, haere mai, nga iwi o te motu

The Ministry of Education sponsors this annual Information and Communication Technologies Professional Development conference at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua, to be held from 25-27 February 2009.

 There will be a meeting and special reception for all of our conference presenters on 24 February.


CORE Education, the educational research and development organisation based in Christchurch, is contracted to manage the conference for the Ministry.
   

Learning@School 09 will allow you to:

• discover common ground through conversation and discussion with other teachers
• be inspired by local teachers and world leading thinkers in the field of education and new technologies
• improve your knowledge of and expertise in new technologies by participating in the many workshop sessions on offer
• get ideas and strategies for integrating these technologies into the learning experience of your students
• hear about policy changes/direction from senior New Zealand Ministry of Education staff
• try out the latest technological wares on offer at the trade expo.

See some of these activities in action in the conference promo video:

Conference focus

The key focus of the conference is to:

• implement the New Zealand Curriculum/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;
• increase the  understanding of the educational contribution of e-learning in school communities.

The conference helps to establish a cohesive network for the ICT PD clusters. It is a great opportunity for previous and  experienced clusters to continue to develop a wider network of contacts and contribute their learning to others. The conference programme reflects the best of what is happening in curriculum implementation in New Zealand and features research and development from overseas as well.

Programme

Over 300 workshops will be run by leading practitioners from current and past ICT PD clusters. Add to this the keynote and spotlight sessions run by leading national and international presenters and you have a programme to suit all groups.

Taking part in the conference as a presenter extends teacher learning and is a critical part of developing the professional learning community that emanates across New Zealand from within the ICT PD network.

Attendance

Clusters commencing in 2009 are strongly urged to attend. As a minimum the director and lead facilitator from each cluster should attend. Clusters often include principals and/or lead teachers and other key staff as a way of ensuring the cluster develops a strong common understanding. A shared vision is key in ensuring that cluster programmes have a productive start. We encourage you to use this exciting and very worthwhile opportunity. The on-signing contract payment is designed to assist your cluster with conference enrolment costs.

Invited groups

We welcome:

• aspiring ICT PD cluster school principals, facilitators and teachers as well as those already involved in the programme
• ICT PD Kura Kaupapa Maori and whare kura personnel
• school leaders and teachers from previous cluster projects
• MOE and government staff with ICT policy responsibility
• contractors to the MOE who work with schools
• technology advisers who work alongside schools
• researchers who work alongside schools.


There is a limit of 1200 attendees so early registrations are recommended and are available from October 2008.

Conference start time

The conference begins on Wednesday 25 February at 9 am with registration open from 7am. (Registrations will be open from 4pm on Tuesday 24 February and a powhiri will be held at 3pm for presenters and delegates who may wish to attend. However there is no formal conference programme until Wednesday 25 February at 9am).

Registration and costs


The registration fee is $550 + GST per person. Registrations are open now!