Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko in the National Curriculum Liz Cleary, Programme Manager STEM Ruakiri Fairhall, Lead Advisor Te Reo Māori Early Learning & Student Achievement 8 September 2016

Background How we teach and learn digital technologies / hangarau matihiko has changed rapidly since The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa were enacted. A series of representative workshops were held throughout 2015. Stakeholders from education and industry, representing both English and Māori medium, sent representatives discuss what the positioning and content of digital technologies / hangarau matihiko could look like. Attendees were invited to submit and discuss proposals Following the representative workshops, all advice, feedback and discussion was gathered and synthesised for the Ministers’ decision.

The result of the review On 5 July 2016 the Minister announced: Digital technologies will be strengthened within the existing Technology learning area Hangarau matihiko will be recognised within the Hangarau wāhanga ako and integrated across all wāhanga ako Digital technologies and hangarau matihiko will be fully integrated into The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Matauranga o Aotearoa from 2018

Design Approach for the National Curriculum Principles The objective will be achieved when: The change is conceptualised as connected with current thinking in curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning Digital technologies and hangarau matihiko sit coherently and distinctly within the Technology Learning Area and the Hangarau Wāhanga Ako Digital technologies and hangarau matihiko sit coherently within the wider curriculum, vision, principles, values, and competencies of the curriculum. The essence of digital technologies and hangarau matihiko is clear, accessible and usable to teachers and leaders The change has drawn on new thinking and good practice.

In a nutshell... The proposed design will focus on conceptual progressions that will enable: increased clarity of the key conceptual ideas of digital technologies and hangarau matihiko, with clear sign posts describing a learners increasingly sophisticated understanding and use of knowledge and skills in digital technologies and hangarau matihiko space for teachers to innovate on teaching and learning approaches The design will ensure the curriculum expectations of digital technologies and hangarau matihiko are clear, so it is easy to grasp the big ideas and design rich learning tasks in relation to these. 

The teaching and learning of Hangarau Matihiko and the inclusion in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa will: support the ongoing growth and sustainability of te reo Māori; support the teaching and learning of Hangarau Matihiko guided by tikanga Māori; provide pathways for Māori-medium learners to experience success; support the contribution of Māori-medium learners to their whānau, hapū, iwi; enable the successful participation and contribution of Māori-medium learners in a global world; contribute to the ongoing growth of mātauranga Māori; linkages to other wāhanga ako e.g., maths, science, literacy, tikanga ā iwi.

How? The Design Process identifying the “big ideas” and the essence of digital technologies and hangarau matihiko mapping the key aspects and significant learning ‘signposts’ testing this mapping with school and industry stakeholders developing rich tasks and student responses psychometrically testing the progression engaging with sector and industry throughout

What about Early Childhood?

ECAC and the Digital Technologies Hangarau Matihiko Curriculum Reference Group The Ministry of Education invited a representative from ECAC to join the Digital Technologies Hangarau Matihiko Curriculum Reference Group as we develop, design and implement the new digital technologies / hangarau matihiko curriculum content. The Reference Group is made up of peak body, education sector, business sector, the Ministry of Education and other representatives. The Reference Group is not implementing changes to Te Whāriki, or providing any advice about changes to Te Whāriki.

Why we need ECAC expertise New digital technologies / hangarau matihiko curriculum content is for The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa but advice from across the learner pathway is important. We’ve invited a representative from the early learning sector (and the Tertiary Education Commission and business) to join us on the Reference Group so that transition points into (and out of) the National Curriculum are included. We know there’s a range of teaching, learning and play around digital technologies / hangarau matihiko that students experience before they enter school and kura, and evidence collected to support this digital technologies space in Y0 by experts such as yourselves. It’s important that early learning lead discussions about this transition and other connection points.

ECAC representative Lyn Granshaw was nominated by ECAC as the ECAC representative She attended the inaugural Reference Group meeting on 30 August We are looking to Lyn to feed ECAC’s views into meetings, and feed the views from the rest of the sector back to ECAC. This is an exciting opportunity to have such a diverse group in the room, putting the learner and their pathway front and centre.