You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Testimonials
Kids Restore the Kepler
Students were able to really get their teeth into this topic. With the local resources also coming to the party it was a great way to learn about our native flora and fauna. Allowed the students to feel like they were actually there on the trip!
Todd Brodie from Upper Moutere School
Hooked them in from the beginning - ambassadors/videos - high interest activities. Helped the children to focus on our concept of "taonga". Authentic learning that helps all children through the use of various learning styles. Great for helping to differentiate the programme for the wide range of children in my class.
Lynn Douglas from St Francis Xavier Catholic School (Whangarei)
Fits beautifully with our upcoming Term 3 inquiry as to how we can help in our community.
Jennifer Coyle from Edendale School
Related it to our small area of bush at school. So far we have set a trap, the same type as was in the video. Special needs loved the video presentations and gained from them.
Gail Blackwell from Hillcrest Normal School
The field trip was appropriate for my Year 7 class and the Year 10 class we worked with. History, tikanga and Te Reo included in background pages provided relevance to Maori students.
Elizabeth Haywood from Aurora College
The biggest benefit was being able to relate to it on a personal level and also to be able to follow up on it in our local community.
Jane Pearson from Hira School
Fantastic learning experiences for the students. Māori kupu were also used and enveloped in our vocabulary wall.
Trina Bennett from Finlayson Park School
Great info from fantastic experts guiding us through a real conservation/science issue. Fitted perfectly with our term unit on Native Plants and Animals. More from Chris on the VLN.
Christopher Wratt from Hanmer Springs School
We are looking at setting up tracking tunnels at school as we prepare for a lizard garden, so to see the kids here doing the same was hugely encouraging. It was great to discuss conservation issues and compare Kepler's challenges with our own.
Jennifer Kitchin from Weston School
It linked to our sustainability unit. We liked it because we felt we were there and the scientists connected with us.
Rebecca Bishop from Gladstone School
Well planned, organised, interesting, and good interactive stuff for the students.
Susan Dane from Elm Park School
The activities suited cooperative work. The māori perspective was relevant throughout. We loved the vocab lists on each background activity. Again learning in a real context for the children - of all abilities and cultures makes it truly meaningful.
Paulien Gray from Otonga School
I have a student who cannot read or write yet he was able to watch the videos as part of a whole class activity and orally contribute, just like everyone else. Engagement of the students, they said they did no real work watching the videos and completing the questions independently, however the level of understanding was higher than is typically observed from text based resources.
Frank Usherwood from Bethlehem School
Canterbury Earthquakes
Very helpful for my Overseas and distance students who are studying extreme natural disasters for NCEA level 1. Great videos, pictures and activities.
Carol Morgan from Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
Linked into our Bounce Back school wide theme. This project was brilliant for exploring how humans adapt to disasters. Awesome way to engage all learners, the activities, audio conferences, video diaries - just excellent!
Emma Watts from Upper Moutere School
Used with Year 11 geography. Explained the natural processes well.
Matthew Satherley from John Paul College
The questions were excellent and the short videos really helped to maintain the boys' interest. Because there are visual/ audio resources it meant that the learning was more accessible to everyone.
Katherine Field from Hereworth School
The students were able to learn a range of new things in relation to Earthquakes. I was impressed with their questions they came up with from the background reading pages. They were very much engaged, especially with the videos and audioconferences. It is a unique way of learning for the students.
Pax O'Dowd from Our Lady of Fatima School (Chch)
The way the scientist answered made the children feel valued and that he was very interested in their ideas.
Christine Meehan from Our Lady of Fatima School (Chch)
Such a simple way to support science and social studies in the classroom and audio conferences actively engage students with information.
Tracey Burgess from St Peter's School (Beckenham)
Provides access to areas that we can not just jump in a van and travel to.
Kelvin Hogg from St Paul's Collegiate
We are inquiring into how natural forces shape the earth so information about earthquakes as a force was very relevant The field trips deepen children's understandings and are a means of the girls making local connections to global situations.
Christine McGill from Queen Margaret College
Northern Wetlands
Andrew's videos were awesome. His interview questions and video shots provided a solid insight into the area and associated issues.
Ross Nicholson from Rangiora New Life School
Inquiry into a real location and environment in Aotearoa. Children liked the audio conference, videos, and having an ambassador! My first time so in future I will include the readings as part of literacy and use the field trip for persuasive writing.
John Davidson from Lincoln Heights School
For students, the 'big idea' that what they do does count. Fabulous 'virtual' trip for low decile schools. Great for English language learners.
Lillian Nathan from Roscommon School