You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Testimonials
Virtual Great Walker
For the Year 7/8 class I was working with, the field trip tied in perfectly with their camp (Borland Lodge). It worked well using the background pages as build up prior to camp, then using the audio-conferences the week following the camp.
Marcia Ferguson from Rosebank School Balclutha
Giving the students the option of listening to the background pages is fantastic! It takes away the fear of trying to read something that is 'too hard'. It also develops a familiarity with the LEARNZ teacher.
Marcia Ferguson from Rosebank School Balclutha
It was an excellent insight into exploring a new area that not a lot of children had visited before. The children came up with a lot of great questions, especially around saving native birds and the effect of a beach mast this year.
Jeffrey Burrow from Warrington School
Our class is studying ecology in the lead up to our annual camp so the information was very fitting in all aspects.
Nina Booth from Newbury School
Students are focussed and engaged. They have a purpose. "This is fun, I didn't know you can learn like this". During camp we studied the native birds and plants and compared them to the field trip. A great effort went into using our thinking skills to prepare for camp and doing the research.
Marne Hendriks from Rosebank School Balclutha
Children inspired to walk tracks and parents wanting to join them. Great topics, different way of presenting things in class, able to get involved through audioconferences. Differentiated readings and audio/video options meant all class could access information, including Special Needs children.
Hazel Halton from Rapaura School
The students had their own inquiry questions and enjoyed the freedom to move around the field trip. They are learning to refer to their evidence in their statements of writing, and a LEARNZ field trip is a great resource for doing that.
Suzanne Paice from St Bernard's School Brooklyn
We connected this field trip with an older one - Restoring the Kepler. By doing this, students began to look at ways that they can contribute in the wider community as well as our school community, working towards a common goal. Maori students in the class particularly liked the glossary - we also added more to our own one on the wall.
Marcia Ferguson from Rosebank School Balclutha
We thought it was brilliant! It tied nicely in with out Health, and Science topics. Kids loved the Ambassador and (the field trip) helped prepare for our own walks.
Stacey Vowles from Hillcrest Normal School
Definitely sparked some very valuable discussions on stewardship of our natural resources. Worked well in bringing the reality of the walk to students who are unfamiliar with these areas.
Gabriel Hawke from St Mary's School Hastings
From the start of the trip, the students were actively engaged - making connections with their own lives and new information they were receiving - even our hunters were interested! Throughout this year we are looking at environmental issues and what we can do to help - as individuals and as a school. This field trip aligned with this nicely.
Marcia Ferguson from Rosebank School Balclutha
Very engaging. Tied perfectly with our current inquiry into Hauora.
Courtney Wiedel from Ashburton Borough School
It (LEARNZ) is the best online learning community I know of for NZ students. Working with real scientists on real issues and practical matters such as preparing for a tramp really fired the imaginations of my students. It has been fantastic for my ESOL learners, particularly the videos and it is great to be able to listen to the text as well.
Sue Hodge from Elm Park School
Integrated reading and writing programme used to maximise the relevant, meaningful context offered by LEARNZ. Integrated PE fitness programme using our local environment. LEARNZ has provided spring board for further learning on local walkways, conservation issues, and planning our own expedition. Another great trip, catering for all learning styles.
Stuart Cooke from Methven School
Photos and videos were great! I have Year 1 and 2 children so I chose the activities etc that I though were most appropriate to support our virtual walk.
Stephanie Kitto from Clyde School
The children were enthralled by this trip. They all want to go and walk the Routeburn for real now! A great way to 'hook' the children in. So interactive and 'real'.
Joanne Mortimer from Weston School
Antarctica
The LEARNZ virtual journey to Antarctica was great because EOTC is not possible in Antarctica for a school classroom to do for real. The opportunity to hear real scientists talk to the LEARNZ representative, Shelley Hersy, was very valuable and also helped us form some of our science goals.
Dianne Morgan from Matakana School
LEARNZ is a great way to study a topic using a medium that is accessible to all, even my low vision student and those with poor reading skills. The Antarctica field trip supported the science and social studies areas of the curriculum and much more, such as the key competencies.
Carolyn Thelning from Weston School
Excellent presentation and a great learning experience for the students. Students really enjoyed a different approach to learning and it was good that the weaker readers were able to participate.
Susan Dane from Elm Park School
The field trip supported the development of Key Competencies, and provided up-to-date information relevant to Education for Sustainability.
Ruth Guy from Lincoln High School
It was in line with our learning focus for this year of being a fully digital classroom. Online help was all good.
Jennifer Barrow from Kaniere School
It was superbly rich with a wide range of activities to select from, to cater for differentiated learning in a class of individuals with multiple learning needs. LEARNZ Field trips have been an intrinsic part of my teaching aand learning programme for many years now. Extremely appropriate.
Graham Elsmore from Christian Renewal School
Students became very curious with lots of wonderings about Antarctica and they decided that science is really cool. The field trip made for fun learning and helped us use the i-pads and laptops more effectively for independent research.
Paula O'Neill from New River Primary
My curriculum focus was supported fully by the LEARNZ Antarctica programme and two NIWA scientists visiting the class in person helped no end to endorse what we had learned. Some students were able to really drive their own learning, while having the two levels for reading enabled some of my less able readers to participate more fully.
Valerie Moratti from Havelock North Intermediate
Catered to the needs of all students. Tasks were easily differentiated for all curriculum levels. Great opportunity for students to make connections with the wider community.
Christina Fortes from Hay Park School