You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Teacher testimonials
Whats the Plan Stan?
This trip was extremely uselful as our inquiry in Term Four is "Keeping Ourselves Safe". Insights from the experts were particularly effective for my class.
Very effective not only because of its relevance to the area we live in but also because it enables students to think critically and develop connections within our community. Using LEARNZ trips encourages me to leverage digitally into other areas of my teaching.
It was a good starting unit for our term theme of survival and sustainability. The web site structure allowed them to take ownership of their learning and explore. Overall, it was a good way for students to hear from an expert and gain knowledge and insight.
Explanations were clear and my classroom were buzzing all week about the content. Students were keen to research and find out more information, they also spoke to their families about emergency plans and kits at home. Awesome fit for our school inquiry "Keeping myself Safe and Healthy".
Fantastic resource that our class really enjoyed once again. Thank you. Great planning guide. Easy to use and informative.
This was effective, interesting and aimed at the students' ability, with interesting quizzes too. Students learned a lot and they enjoyed the videos, which generated a lot of discussion. It was good not to be the one imparting the information, to have experts explain how things happen.
Allowed us look at geology as well as Civil Defence. Appropriate and effective.
A LEARNZ field trip is such a great motivator. The visuals meant that all students could participate in this field trip during ShakeOut.
The background material was appropriate for my class and we asked a question in the live web conference, which was well answered.
I always enjoy the LEARNZ Field Trips. They enhance my teaching.
Complemented the Key Competencies like self-management and organisation in terms of thinking about your own situation, talking to family about advanced planning etc.
We gained valuable information from the experts. We practised 'Managing Self' while completing the web conference task sheets.
LEARNZ virtual fieldtrips are incredibly engaging. There is plenty of supportive material, the experts are effective communicators with a wealth of knowledge, and the experience really gets the children buzzing! Thanks for everything you do!
The children were engaged and enjoyed having their questions answered in real time. All the background material with links to NZC was fantastic and we could weave this in to our reading, writing, health and science learning.
Waste not Wasted
Highly valuable integrated learning. Inclusive. This field trip helped students develop knowledge and understanding of the 5R's of waste management, as they did not have this before, and to think about making a difference by reducing waste.
Children were highly engaged with the (e)learning. Having the children's own questions answered was so valuable and we loved the link to SOLO, supporting children going from surface to deep. We loved how the children could listen to the background pages not just having to read them. The unit was integrated so well across the learning areas of NZC.
I have been really surprised about the increase in engagement I have seen because we sent our class ambassador on the trip. The video and photo content made the experience accessible to all of my Year 3-4 students. Overall it was great for NZC: Vision - sustainability and environment, Values - community and sustainability, Principles - Community engagement and future focus, Key Competencies (all five), Learning Areas - English and Social Science (but could be linked to any other).
We really enjoyed being a speaking school. We used all the components of the field trip web site - Background pages, Interactive Activities, Photos and Captions, Māori Keywords, Videos, Web Conferences, Ambassadors.
Dual heritage - Shared future
This field trip was highly engaging for our akonga/students. Once I understood how to use the site better, it was a terrific teaching resource. It provided what I feel was a "living" experience. Akonga could explore their learning, in a way, as they would if they were there.
I really enjoy the experience of using the LEARNZ field trip as it adds to classroom experiences by being relevant, authentic and with experts adds real value to the children's learning. I use the field trips when the topic is relevant to one that I am already completing with my class, rather than add in as an extra.
Appropriate, as it added to the class learning on our topic of Explorers. The field trip allowed for independent work such as reading background pages and completing activities but it also enabled me to have authentic extension reading activities for my top reading groups.
This field trip beautifully complimented our work on Tuia 250. Really good for Treaty of Waitangi, Māori history - te Ao Māori, and Social Science.
Ahuahu Great Mercury Island
The field trip created opportunities for our Maori students to share their new learning with their whanau and ask questions to deepen their own understanding of important places for their iwi and whanau.
The learning in the field trip fitted perfectly with our Social Science focus for the term and was an appropriate level for my Year 7/8 class. It also linked in with Science Fair work - so helped keep students engaged.
My students enjoy being able to read and listen to the background pages so they can all do the interactive quizzes, which is also a great motivation for the boys in my class as it brings out their competitive nature!
Map my Waahi
I used the background pages with my class, as they fitted really well with my unit plan.
Rail Safety
My students were able to relate to the content easily. Material naturally provided support for reinforcing the Key Competencies - Managing self and Relating to others. Cost effective way to bring authentic learning and experts into the classroom.
Natural Hazards
The live web conference was an excellent experience for my students to connect with experts. It has sparked more curiosity for the students and has led well into their scientific inquiries.
This provided our students with experts in their fields. It allowed us to connect with them more easily. It made direct links to the learning of their world around them and connections to where they are from.
Great for student centred learning, Māori content and access to experts. Always a range of technical terms and information that can be adapted to suit my Y12 Geo class.
Sustainable Seas
Year 10 students used it as part of an inquiry topic. Students enjoyed exploring an area of NZ that most had not visited.
People and Water
Hand-picked videos for my senior science class to show practical applications of theory. They help link an NCEA chemistry topic to the real world and show participation of science in the local community.
Matariki and Navigation
Fantastic background information for my students; they all really enjoyed it. Great resource that all students and teachers should use.
We were able to relate this field trip to our learning around literacy, science, social science & the arts. The setup of the material encouraged students to work both collaboratively & independently.
This field trip lent itself so naturally to exploring space in a NZ context. Students loved learning about our sky & our history as navigators.This was powerful for my Māori learners as it showed sophistication they were not previously aware of.
It integrated well with the NZ Curriculum i.e. Thinking, Managing self, Relating to others, Participating and contributing, High expectations, Treaty of Waitangi, and Future focus.
Appropriate as my class was investigating this topic. This is another way to connect my students' learning to a wider community and it let my students see that other kids ask similar questions.
Good background and build-up to Matariki. Prompted cultural awareness and discussions.
Students really enjoyed it and were really engaged. They feel able to connect with their history and it has opened up discussions about our own past.
As this was about Matariki and Navigation, it was of interest to my Maori and Pasifika students and showed them that we valued their stories. Excellent opportunity for all my students to learn in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible and from people they can't access locally.
I have found the LEARNZ website an invaluable tool to support the learning needs of my class.
This coincided with our Inquiry and the class were fully engaged with the content. The learning is accessible, with differentiated activities that allow the class to learn at their own rate. All the key competencies, principles, values and different learning areas were covered. Promoted inclusion of Māori students, who were encouraged to show their knowledge and share their views.
A very integrated topic - you could could explore a myriad of Principles, Values and Key Competencies within it. LEARNZ trips are great - I like to participate in at least 2 every year and I love that I learn alongside my students.
Encourages thinking. Culturally responsive. Appropriate access to relevant and current topics for my Y10 Geo class.
Topic relevant to students (and whanau). Videos well paced and interesting. Background pages provide an authentic independent reading activity. All of the key competencies are addressed through the various activities.
Meaningful and relevant content for students, pitched at an appropriate level for our multi-age classroom. Having the opportunity to interact and ask questions in real time was appreciated and is valuable.
Relevant topic and info that fully engaged my students.
Engaging, motivating, easy to use, great resources, tailor-made for busy teachers to implement. Resources fully support an integrated approach. Thoughtfully curated. Children loved the digital content and videos. Rankings via quizzes very motivating for my class.
Love it! There are connections to all of the Key Competencies and Learning Areas as students become engaged by the 'Real People' behind the information. Also gives students an opportuntity to connect with others in an authentic digital experience.
Our focus this term was "Exploration" and this trip linked beautifully with this. We have many Pacifica students in our class and it enabled them to make connections to their heritage, culture and history.