Exciting developments for New Zealand education have provided opportunities recently for teachers and other educators to express their professional aspirations in assessment. The mantle of fostering teachers' professionalism through strong relationships across the education sector and relevant stakeholder groups, and the provision of timely…

This opinion piece aims to grow awareness of a range of technological initiatives that are supporting Maori language regeneration. These initiatives have been chosen because they have communities of users. This piece could be useful to educators who want to learn about the options that are available in this area, or students of Maori language for…

Averil Coxhead is widely known for developing the Academic Word List, a list of 570 word families associated with great frequency in academic texts. This list has been particularly useful to teachers of English as a Second Language as well as independent learners in tertiary education. She has also developed a Science-based word list (Coxhead and…

Eddie Reisch is currently working as a policy advisor for Te Reo Maori Operational Policy within the Student Achievement group with the Ministry of Education in New Zealand, where he has implemented and led a range of e-learning initiatives and developments, particularly the Virtual Learning Network (VLN). He is regarded as one of the leading…

The Beijing olympics prompted educationalists to develop new curriculum resources. These resources focus on the socio-cultural elements of the games, olympism and olympic values, the moral and ethical aspects of sport and select geographical, historical and social dimensions of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. Typically produced as…

This article presents the authors' critique of lessons proposed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The authors initiate a discussion about content that they hope will play out in schoolhouses and statehouses across the country. They take on a different task: they present a handful of lesson ideas from P21 that could enhance studies…

Examines the use of planning studies in the new seventh-form geography syllabus. Focuses on relationships of planning to geography. Recommends that a syllabus should emphasize student application of knowledge and critical thinking techniques in geography to the management of social issues. Provides guidelines on how such studies may be organized.…

Focuses on the state of mathematics as exemplified in New Zealand schools rather than the level of mathematical understanding of students. Regards the picture of mathematics presented in curriculum documents as healthy with respect to mathematics, but criticizes implementation of the curriculum. Suggests teaching by presenting a wider picture of…

Critiques Mahner and Bunge's disjunction between the religious convictions and the scientific work of scientists. Discusses the historical background and the current positive interaction between science and theology. (Author/JRH)

The 1970 International Educational Achievement (IEA) survey had placed New Zealand's nine- and fourteen-year-olds first in reading achievement in comparison with all other participating countries. By the time the 1990 IEA survey took place, however, mean achievement levels had slipped somewhat, and by the mid-1990s New Zealand's reputation was…

In many countries throughout the world, efforts to articulate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of workers have translated into the development of organizations with the specific charter to establish industry-based skill standards with attendant new and/or expanded forms of certification of competencies. The new emphasis on skill…

Explains the importance of teaching a developmental planning course for secondary students. Reviews the rationale behind good planning strategies and states broad planning objectives and outlines how a secondary planning project could be developed. (BR)

Offers a brief overview of school restructuring, describing the levels at which it can occur, fundamental shifts required, and three lessons learned from school restructuring in New Zealand. (SR)

A commentary that refutes teachers' loss of control, autonomy, and professionalism in New Zealand is criticized, using evidence of rapid redefinition of the teaching profession in both New Zealand and Australia. In addition, the commentary is seen as dangerous if accepted by teachers, offering false hope and suppressing important issues.…

Outlines nine research findings that led to the conclusion that teacher-librarians can markedly improve the school's teaching environment. This study of the educational impact of the appointment of full-time trained teacher-librarians was conducted for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research/Ministry of Education by Geoff Lealand. (EA)