Visual Communication Research 2019

Chipchase, Jan. “Free Public Talk: Research Methods.” Studio D, Massey University, Wellington, 6 Jun. 2019, Guest Presentation. This was a really inspirational and insightful talk, I found myself excited but also slightly overwhelmed by the world of research and the extent that ethical effects can have. However it was also interesting to hear a blunt and experienced viewpoint that goes against some of the teachings at Massey. It was refreshing to hear about the 'moral grey area' from someone who's clearly very experienced in the subject.  Some of my favourite quotes from the night: "If you can describe what you're doing, then maybe you aren't pushing yourself" "Constantly question your impact, and always adapt." "If you do interesting things, and surround yourself with interesting people, then interesting projects will come." "The nice clean world we think we live in, isn't really that clean." (referring ...

NCEA fees scrapped, literacy and numeracy benchmarks brought in “NCEA fees scrapped, literacy and numeracy benchmarks brought in.” 1 News now, news, 13 May 2019, tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ncea-fees-scrapped-literacy-and-numeracy-benchmarks-brought-in Key Points: Level one of the NCEA will stay, and the number of credits required to get each level will drop from 80 to 60. students will not be allowed to resubmit assignments unless they are trying to improve from a fail grade. There will be a new externally-marked 20-credit literacy and numeracy benchmark.  The standards would be externally graded, to avoid increasing teacher workload and to guarantee credibility,  There will be fewer achievement standards for each subject, but each would be broader. "This is worth celebrating in itself, but also as a signal that the system priorities are shifting back towards student experiences and outcomes in practical ways, not just on paper," said  NZSTA Preside...

The current Website: There's a lot of content in a small space. There's little visual hierarchy making it a little confusing to navigate at first. The colours are very muted and withdrawn, it tends to feel more professional and authoritative rather than supportive and welcoming. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz The current information support: Same observations as above. NZQA has put commendable effort into making clear and succinct content to fully inform readers about their system, however the tone it's communicated in could be redesigned to be more effective. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/understanding-ncea/how-ncea-works/ The current NZQA App: Similar observations to the website. Excellent content, improvable visual communication.

There are definitely some overlaps between what I've found in my own primary research, and to what the Ministry of Education has identified as their key issues. So this brings me to ask, should I be focusing on the issues that might be slipping under the ministries priorities, or choosing what is clearly the most urgent problems validated by both myself and MoE? Overlaps:  Support beyond schooling, I.E life skills and workforce preparation. Structural change of curriculum. New, more diverse teaching resources. Support for teachers and students to change attitudes. Stopping abuse of the credit system, getting the purpose back to learning, not passing. Differences:  Focus on individual learning styles/ specific class teaching approaches. Subject prejudice (STEM) Propose idea of making credits achievable through different avenues, IE, you have to get x literacy, x numeracy, x arts, x life skills (could be problem solving, could be ) x physical ...

Contact info with Ed Strafford: Notes from conversation + context of event On Thursday I went to the NZ GovTech Hub launch party at Creative HQ, there I had the good fortune to bump into Ed Strafford from the Ministry of Education. We had a great chat about how entrepreneurs can fit into the education space. Ed was an excellent connection to make. I also passed on some details from my peers also working with projects in education, and he's been able to link them up with colleagues from his network too. I plan to keep in touch, and will be having another quick chat with Ed next week.

Robinson, Sir Ken. “Bring on the Revolution.” Ideas Worth Spreading, TED, Feb. 2010. https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution#t-1058205

Student Survey: Teacher Survey: Parent Survey: Recent Graduate Survey:

Whitcroft, Aimee. “The Speaker Series: Our City Tomorrow.” Smart Capital, Wellington City Council, 14 Mar. 2019, City Gallery Wellington. Speaker Series.

Nimue Strivens is a recent graduate from Waora Montessori High School, and she gave me a new perspective on an NCEA alternative curriculum.

Feedback from this presentation: Too broad! Choose an audience- need to be specific. If you're choosing a school, are you being specific to public/ private/ gendered/ religious schools?

In the most watched TED talk of all time, educationalist  Sir Ken Robinson  FRSA claims  that  “ schools kill creativity ”, arguing  that  “we don't grow into  creativity , we grow out of it. Or rather we get educated out of it”. Yet to  Robinson , “ creativity is as important as literacy and we should afford it the same status”. https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/rsa-blogs/2018/04/do-schools-kill-creativity

"Our world is changing so fast, we all feel it. To prepare today’s learners for tomorrow’s world, our systems need to evolve. Innovation in education requires the courage and creativity to take leaps at some of the most entrenched 'truths' we hold — the very premise of how our institutions are designed. The curriculum, spaces, tools, roles, infrastructure all offer an immense opportunity for design to make a difference." - SANDY SPEICHER PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, IDEO SAN FRANCISCO Learning Design Principles: What principles guide the design of learning? Learning should be personalised. Learning should be authentic. Learning should be connected. Learning and design of learning should involve collaboration (between teachers and with students). Learning should address dispositional development. http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Online-blog/Learning-design-principles Universal Design for Learning (NZ Guide) Introdu...

Subscription Based Informal Learning: (Private businesses selling educational interactive products) Kiwico : Kids craft in a box, delivered to you. (0-16 year olds) STEM Delivery Boxes:  Hands on science experiments, delivered to you. (7-10 year olds) Teaching Resources: (Supplementing teachers curriculum) Game of Awesome : A card game helping literacy and creativity (Targeting young boys) Child/Youth Enterprise Groups: (Encouraging creativity/ innovation/ entrepreneurial skills) Young Enterprise: Multiple programmes- eg, business/ innovation challenges, enterprise study, etc.  (High School age) Venture Up: 4 week design sprint. (17-23 year olds)