Ministry of Education Overview
Technology is described in The New Zealand Curriculum (2007) as intervention by design: the use of practical and intellectual resources to develop products and systems (technological outcomes) that expand human possibilities by addressing needs and realising opportunities.
Technology was introduced as a new and exciting area for student learning in 1995. This was a critical addition to the New Zealand curriculum, allowing students to keep pace with and understand social and technological change. Since then, the need for learning in this curriculum area has become even greater as our population has become increasingly diverse, technologies have become more sophisticated, the demands of the workplace have become more complex and New Zealand continues to need innovatively focused social, including economic, transformation.
Twenty-first century New Zealand needs students who are lifelong learners, confident and creative, connected and actively involved. To be successful citizens of the present and the future, they need interactive experiences in keeping with the technological communities of practice which are currently informing and developing our future. As young New Zealanders, they also need to know about their technological past and that of other societies and cultures. This allows them to develop an awareness of the impacts and influences of technological developments on environments and societies, and vice versa.
New Zealand's future relies on encouraging young New Zealanders to pursue careers with a technological focus. Technology education not only gives all students a level of technological literacy, but also provides senior secondary students with an educational foundation for technology related careers.
The technology curriculum in The New Zealand Curriculum (2007) is a dynamic and future focused framework for teaching and learning in technology. It gives students challenging and exciting opportunities to build their skills and knowledge as they develop a range of outcomes through technological practice. They bring together practical and intellectual resources in creative and informed ways to engage with the many technological challenges of today's world and of those in the possible future.
Technology education in New Zealand has a strong research foundation and the technology curriculum in The New Zealand Curriculum (2007) is internationally recognised as 'leading the way' when it comes to clearly describing the knowledge, skills and practices required for students to develop a comprehensive technological literacy. It allows teachers great flexibility, breadth and depth to develop learning opportunities that meet the needs and potential of their school communities and students. Opportunities can be aligned with teachers own skills and knowledge, and with the expertise of outside experts and mentors who act as catalysts for deeper learning and engagement of students.
The Ministry of Education supports a vision for technology education to provide 'seamless quality learning opportunities in technology for all New Zealand students as part of their compulsory schooling, and to further support technology programmes for students in years 11-13.'
Geoff Keith
Senior Adviser Technology
Ministry of Education
