Classroom furniture has evolved over time from fixed desks facing the front to maintain order and control to a range of flexible furniture types to encourage student-centred pedagogies. This article reports research that applied a socio-material approach to explore how furniture is used in a flexible learning environment. Data were gathered from…

A primary task for refugee families and children who are resettling in a new country is to develop a sense of belonging in that place, time and context. This article theorises the "powhiri," the traditional Maori ceremony of welcome or ritual of encounter, as a metaphor for refugee families and children coming to belong in Aotearoa New…

In the past 10 years Aotearoa/New Zealand, the educational landscape has experienced a significant shift towards Innovative Learning Environments (ILEs). The paper discusses the perceptions of 79 Aotearoa/New Zealand teachers who work with students with high and very high needs in mainstream Innovative Learning Environments (ILEs), and the aspects…

Ten Auckland schools piloted a school carbon calculator between June and November 2021. The pilot aimed to build knowledge about: (1) how schools can use a School Carbon Footprint calculator to understand their school's carbon emissions, build knowledge about climate change mitigation, and take steps to reduce their school's carbon footprint; and…

The inclusion of games in mathematics programmes is widely believed to foster the enjoyment of mathematics. The focus of this paper is on fluctuations in emotional climate during the playing of whole-class mathematics games. A multimethod approach drawing on the sociology of emotions was employed to explore changes in the classroom emotional…

This study explores four 1.5-generation Korean-New Zealanders' perceptions of bilingualism, heritage language (HL) competence, and identity. Drawing on interview data, the study shows that the participants were strongly connected to their ethnic group and strove to accept and strengthen their hyphenated Korean-New Zealander identities through…

Like language teachers everywhere, Deaf teachers of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) had to suddenly move classes online when COVID-19 restrictions were implemented from March 2020. NZSL is conventionally taught through a direct immersion, communicative approach, so adapting instruction to a remote mode required NZSL teachers to develop new…

Rangahau Matauranga o Aotearoa | New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) began working with Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission in mid-2019 to evaluate Sorted in Schools, Te whai hua -- kia ora. As well as 3 years of evaluation, NZCER has undertaken research to support and develop a sustainable professional learning and…

In this article, we offer a survey of histories of education in the region commonly known as 'Oceania', which broadly encompasses the subregions today known as Australia, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. The first part of this article addresses 'the history of education in Oceania' as a topic of both interest and…

Following a report from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child Monitoring Group in 2017 noting that in Aotearoa New Zealand children's views were not being sought in matters regarding their school, play and feelings of safety, the Children's Commissioner conducted research with school-aged children seeking their related…

The School Strike 4 Climate New Zealand (SS4CNZ) movement have organised and led four strikes between 2019 and 2021. With each successive strike, adult support for students' demands increased. Their most notable achievement was garnering sufficient support to pass Aotearoa New Zealand's Zero Carbon Bill into legislation. However, tensions with…

A range of structural, interpersonal and individual factors contribute to the extent to which people can access higher education and experience inclusion and equity once there. This paper considers the experiences of parents in higher education settings, and examines the extent to which universities in two countries support parents' inclusion…

Literature shows that navigating transitions from traditional single-cell classrooms to innovative learning environment (ILEs) calls for careful considerations. The importance of professional learning and development (PLD) in supporting teachers to thrive in educational transition has been continuously emphasised. Even though the key role of PLD…

Both the United States (US) and New Zealand (NZ) have been resettling refugees since the Second World War. As such, and because of several international treaties signed by both countries, they must concern themselves with the education of resettled refugee students in their nations. In this study, the researchers examine the international…

Background: Individuals with Down syndrome are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are recognised as significantly immunocompromised. Yet their voices regarding their lived experiences of pandemic lockdowns have not been sought or heard. Aim: This study aims to describe the lived experiences of people with Down syndrome during the…