ABOUT TE RANGITAWAEA

Te Rangitawaea is the ICT strategy for all Ngati Porou East Coast Schools, from Potaka in the North to Waikirikiri in the south.

The strategy is a sub-project of E Tipu E Rea (ETER), the Te Runanga o Ngati Porou/Ministry of Education Partnership for schooling improvement. The overall aim of Te Rangitawaea is Integrating ICT in all curriculum areas. It's vision is to maintain Ngati Porou East Coast schools at the forefront of education innovation in ICT.

        


BACKGROUND

Te Rangitawaea was established in 2001. Te Rangitawaea takes its name from a significant Ngati Porou ancestral figure and is a carefully chosen play on words, as it can be interpreted to mean the ability to connect digitally. Other elements of the strategy have also been named after significant figures in Ngati Porou history to establish a strong sense of cultural connection and resonance.

In 2001/2002 new computer and digital technology was introduced to the schools. This was seen as a means of:

  • Overcoming the region's perceived isolation
  • Providing learning and professional development opportunities through distance learning for students and teachers
  • Bridging geographical distance and enabling schools and teachers in the region to work collaboratively in terms of planning and delivery of learning
  • Providing access to new tools and digital resources that could enhance learning outcomes

All schools received a suite of multi-media equipment and software, including computers, a video camera, scanner, a digital camera, A3 printer and editing software. A Ngati Porou wide computer network was also set up and all secondary schools equipped with video conferencing technology. Te Rangitawaea also provided Ngati Porou East Coast schools with comprehensive training and technological support. Two full time technicians and a learning technologies facilitator were employed to establish the network and train teachers and learners.

 

THE KEY GOALS OF TE RANGITAWAEA

  • Develop human resources (engagement and ICT capacity building of staff, communities and students)
  • Identify and acquire innovative software/hardware applications used to increase learning
  • Develop & provide appropriate learning resources for students linked to curriculum
  • Develop a tool box - set of basic IT skill competencies for Ngati Porou teachers and children
  • Maintain an ICT infrastructure to support all the above
  • Develop creative abilities in students across entire curriculum using ICT
  • Integrating ICT in the home and communities, broadening the learning environment, leveraging off schools
  • Develop ways to promote/acknowledge/celebrate success of children in IT
  • Ensure that Te Rangitawaea remains a key priority of the MOE by demonstrating IT impacting on curriculum delivery and learning outcomes.