Technology: What's it really doing to our kids? - NZ Herald

A recent article by NZ Herald's science reporter, Jamie Morton, investigates how the increasing prevalence of digital technology is affecting child development.

The article includes comments from Professor Stuart McNaughton, director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education. Professor McNaughton mentions Manaiakalani and the research into digital devices within education which Manaiakalani and Woolf Fisher have been working on together.

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Nanogirl writes about Manaiakalani

Nanogirl (Dr. Michelle Dickinson) is a science & technology columnist for the New Zealand Herald. In a recent article Dickinson talks about the changing state of education as the world becomes increasingly digital and the challenges this brings for children who lack access to the internet and other digital technologies. Manaiakalani is featured in the article as an example of an initiative that aims to help children in New Zealand by bridging the digital divide.

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World-Class Auckland: Dramatic learning aid leads the way nationwide - NZ Herald

As part of a series on World-Class Auckland, Manaiakalani Education Trust Chair, Pat Snedden, speaks to the NZ Herald about Manaiakalani.

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Keeping pace with today's technology

Last weekend the NZ Herald ran an article questioning whether our schools in New Zealand are keeping pace with current technology.

The Manaiakalani Programme was quoted as an example of a group of schools ensuring that our young people do get to learn using the technology of today.

Glenbrae School's principal, Lesley Elia was also interviewed and spoke about the impact of the Manaiakalani Programme in her school.

Read all about it here.

This is an idea adopted by a dozen Auckland schools, which have signed up to the Manaiakalani Education Programme.
This promotes new teaching and learning approaches in a growing cluster of decile 1 schools in the low-income communities of Tamaki — the East Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Panmure and Pt England.
Glenbrae School in Glen Innes is part of this programme. Parents can pay for netbooks in instalments, equivalent to less than the price of a cup of coffee per week.
For about $3.50 a week, the computer can be bought over three years. The price includes internet access from home and technical support.
Glenbrae principal Lesley Elia says another benefit is that teachers' job are made easier because the devices are all the same.
"We have also had huge support from Telecom, which has helped a great deal.
"These devices are vital and without the Manaiakalani Trust we would never have enough money to cover something like this."
The Government was looking at the initiative with a view to introducing it throughout the country.
"Principals at schools in other regions are now coming to take a look at what we are doing."

Graeme Aitken: Focus on social inequality will aid teachers - NZ Herald

The Manaiakalani Digital Teacher Academy was referred to in an article in the New Zealand Herald in response to the Prime Minister's announcement about upcoming changes to education. Professor Graeme Aitken, Dean of Education, University of Auckland, says; 

"We have recently developed a post-graduate programme with the Manaiakalani schools in Tamaki to support the digital learning, community-based programmes they have developed across their cluster.

Each of these initiatives requires the university to work differently and flexibly - to itself be humble about that fact that we learn as much from working with teachers as they learn from us and that together we will advance knowledge."

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