TENZ November 2015 Update

From t-news issue 83, November 2015

TENZ Chairman’s Biennial Report for 2014-2015

It is my pleasure to present the TENZ Chairman’s Biennial Report for 2014-2015. As this is the fifth biennial report I have presented I reflect back on the changes seen both in TENZ and in Technology education.

The council is proud to work with the Waikato University in the development of the TENZPLP (Technology Education New Zealand Professional Learning Programme) We are very excited about the launch of this programme at this conference. The Guiding Principles of the programme are to:

Address stakeholder (school managers, recipient) needs
Align to TENZ Aims and Goals
Offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for years 1-13, including an opportunity for upgrading qualifications
Emphasise the NZC (Ministry of Education, 2007) and Technology’s place within it
Provide flexibility in the mode of delivery.

Earlier this year the council appointed Moira Patterson, previously from Auckland University as the TENZPLP facilitator. Moira has worked tirelessly to develop programmes of work enabling teachers access to needs based professional development with pathways for upgrading qualifications to masters level. TENZ is very grateful to the University of Waikato for their willingness to work with TENZ to develop such a programme. My sincere thanks go to Professor John Williams of the University of Waikato, Cliff Harwood council member holding the PD portfolio and Moira for their work on this project.

This year the MOE undertook a review of the positioning and content of digital technologies in the New Zealand curriculum. As TENZ chair, I was invited to be a member of the advisory group for this project. The advisory group included people from a range of sector groups including PPTA, NZEI, Digital Industries, Universities, Teachers Associations, Technology / science award winning students, and other interested parties such as the Royal Society. This was the first time the MOE had used the approach of inviting a range of sectors to discuss and debate issues at the same series of meetings rather than individually. The outcomes of the review process will be known by the end of this year. I continue to be hopeful that digital technologies remain within Technology Education for several reasons. Students working in digital technologies are engaged in technological activity and therefore this is a logical home for digital technologies, and I believe that Technology education is enhanced and strengthened with the inclusion of digital technologies.

During the first semester again as the TENZ representative I was invited to attend the MOE’s advisory panel for the Technology Review and Maintenance Programme (RAMP) project. During the series of four meetings panel members from the Technology education sector including teachers, ITE educators, NZCER, NZQA, investigated and discussed the resource materials used to support senior secondary Technology programmes. The overall purpose of the review is not to make immediate superficial changes to support materials but rather to inform the MOE as it determines the longer-term support and guidance needed for teachers of Technology. The final report for Technology is due to be completed in early 2016.

2014 saw the publication of the first edition of the Australasian Journal of Technology Education and we now look forward to the second publication due later this year. Research in Technology education is vital to the ongoing development and strengthening of the Tecnology curriculum in New Zealand. Currently we are world leaders in this area, and ongoing research and development are needed if we are to maintain this position. The ability to publish local research in the international forum is an exciting development in this area. My continued thanks go to Professor John Williams for his work editing this journal.

TESAC group has continued to meet twice a year over the last two years. This group is a powerful advocate for Technology education throughout New Zealand. I find our discussions empowering and useful in building a strong professional community of Technology educators.

The TENZ Council made Glynn McGregor an honorary member of TENZ in late 2014. Honorary membership to TENZ has only been awarded once previously, to Professor Alister Jones and is for service and contribution to TENZ. The criteria for this award are as follows:

be a regular and on-going member of TENZ
have made significant and on-going contribution to policy and organisation of TENZ at either national or regional levels
have consistently promoted the profile of TENZ with the wider Technology and education communities
have demonstrated forward thinking and innovation for the enhancement of TENZ endeavours
have demonstrated leadership within the TENZ community.

As a recipient, Glynn received an Honorary membership trophy, free TENZ membership for the life, free registration to Biennial TENZ Conference and free ticket to TENZ Awards Dinner. Below is the citation for Glynn.

Glynn has been the driving force behind the t-news since the late 1990s when publication began. Glynn’s deep-seated passion for Technology has meant the Technology community has enjoyed a quality resource for over a decade. Glynn sources and usually writes most of the material for the t-news and recently has overseen the development of the newsletter to become a major feature of the Techlink website. Glynn’s enthusiasm for Technology has inspired and encouraged many teachers, during what has been a challenging road to the establishment of the curriculum in New Zealand

Wendy Fox-Turnbull awarding Glynn McGregor TENZ Honorary Membership, Sunday 19 October 2014

The Regional Chairs from five of the six districts throughout the country continue to play a very important role in facilitating and implementing TENZ goals. It is my hope that all regional chairs be supported by committed people who will assist in organising regional professional development sessions and activities for members. One sadness that I have is the inability to find a chair and establish a regional committee in the Central Districts and Hawke’s Bay region. Last year regional conferences were held in Auckland, Christchurch for Nth South Island, Wellington and Dunedin for Sth South Island. I would again like to thank the organising committees of all of these conferences as they are a critical part of TENZ in which relationships are facilitated and professional development occurs. Moira Patterson in her role as Regional Coordinator in the Council has put considerable time and effort into keeping the regional chairs informed and included in the on-going work of the council. Regional Chairs, your work is very much appreciated as you are the “coal face” of TENZ and our growing membership can, in part, be attributed to your hard work. Thank you. Moira steps down from this role at the end of this year; however I am hoping to find a new person equally as passionate about our regional network as she has been.

It is with sadness that the Council accept this resignation of Moira from the role of Regional Coordinator and from the TENZ Council. As Moira moves on to many new exciting adventures in her retirement I would like to publically acknowledge the role she has played as regional chair coordinator and as the first TENZPLP facilitator. Many thanks Moira and best wishes for your retirement.

Finally, my continued thanks to fellow council members, for their support and their work for TENZ and the council. Best wishes to Bruce Granshaw who rolls off the council this year, but he has indicated to me his intention to stand for re-election. Bruce I have appreciated the work you have done in the membership portfolio. Good luck with your re-election.

I would also like to thank other Council members for their contribution to what has been a very busy year for TENZ: Glynn McGregor, Cliff Harwood, Cia Winter, John Williams and Randall Grenfell (from afar). Randall has been on leave from the Council this year, but we look forward to his return next year. My final thanks to TENZ Trust board member Alister Jones for his continued support and guidance to the council.

Best wishes for the year’s end and for 2016.

Wendy Fox-Turnbull
TENZ Chair