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HOD Support – June/July 2006

Following on from the successful national day held prior to the TENZ 2005 conference, a series of four support days for technology HODs took place in 2006, in Christchurch on 19 June, Hamilton on 28 June, Wellington on 29 June and Whangarei on 27 July. Each followed the same format, outlined below.

The support day opened in Christchurch with Grant Miles, Adviser in Technology at Christchurch College of Education, and at the other venues with Kris Blewett, from the University of Auckland. They focused on the role of the HOD and outlined the opportunities to shift the focus of activity of the HOD from one dominated by routine administration and organisation to that of developing the department as a professional learning community.

The opening speaker was supported by Brian Woods, who demonstrated how the professional learning community within the technology department at St Margaret's College has been evolving with the support of the Beacon Practice project.
In the next session Vicki Compton updated the group on the development of the Technological Knowledge and Nature of Technology research project and discussed some implications for teachers. These findings will inform the next stages of the writing of the 'Essence statement' for technology.

After lunch, Geoff Keith, the Senior Adviser for Technology at the Ministry of Education shared his vision for technology with the group and outlined current Ministry priorities in technology education.

Cliff Harwood then focused on the Level 1-3 external achievement standards in Technology. Cliff emphasised the common messages from the 2005 Chief Assessor's reports which are now on the NZQA website, and examined the place of skills in technology education.

In the final session, Glynn McGregor outlined the development process for the new range of support materials for technology education that are being published on the Techlink website – the importance of ongoing feedback from teachers in the quality assurance process emphasised.

Despite some inhospitable weather, the programme attracted 20 teachers from the Canterbury and Otago regions. Comment at the end of the day indicated that the national perspective presented effectively supplemented the regional clustering which is in place.