Our Digital Immersion Programme gives students in our cluster of lower-decile Northland schools equal access to online learning so they are empowered to become actively engaged digital learners.
We do this by making sure personal-use devices are affordable for every participant. Chromebooks purchased through our Digital Immersion Programme cost $500. This is an interest-free sum that can be paid off by whānau over a time frame that suits them, be it one, two or three years. The money paid by families on our programme is then reinvested to buy more Chromebooks for the next round of children.
But we know access alone is not enough for students to succeed. We believe a student’s combined learning environment shapes their ability. This is why our programme utilises a three-pronged approach that encourages students, their whānau and their educators to work in collaboration.
Our students are successful because they are supported by a core learning network of people who participate, collaborate and engage fully with the curriculum – at home and at school.
Students
Taking full responsibility of a personal device is an integral part of the Digital Immersion Programme.
A device gives students the ability to take their learning home and access online tuition from our qualified educators at any time.
The burden of care increases engagement as students develop a sense of ownership, not only of their device but their learning pace, pathways and, ultimately, their futures as they interact with their learning world in a whole new way.
You think having access to a laptop would make a kid isolated and game themselves silly but it completely doesn’t – Kelly Tilby, parent
Whānau
We have a dedicated Whānau Support Coordinator who holds workshops for whānau to understand their responsibilities in their tamariki’s online learning, how to keep their child safe online, and the correct care and use of the device.
Our coordinator is also available to guide whānau through the device sign up process and answer any questions along the way.
There was a time when we thought these devices were out of our price range and having them in our home wasn’t even a thought. The trust has bridged that gap so everyone can learn equally – Michelle Toko, mother of participating student
Educators
The e-learning curriculum is unique and our teachers are fully trained and certified to deliver our Digital Immersion Programme. They are supported by our dedicated Digital Immersion Facilitator, who provides professional development support to keep them up-to-date with the fast-paced world of online learning.
Our digital classrooms adopt the Flipped Learning model of learning, where teachers make lessons available to students to be accessed whenever and wherever it is convenient for the student; at home, in class, on the bus, or even from a hospital bed. Teachers deliver this instruction by recording and narrating screencasts on their computers.
Our cluster also has its own Rumaki and Reo Rua Facilitator to support our Kaiako Māori to become digitally immersed in their classrooms.
It is constantly growing and changing as new tools come on board. You can do anything, it really just depends what teachers want to pick up and run with – Karen Hinge, e-learning Teacher
Backed by Research
We engage Auckland University’s Woolf Fisher Research Centre to track the learning outcomes of our Digital Immersion Programme.
Inspired by Manaiakalani
The Taitokerau Digital Immersion Programme is based on the highly successful Auckland-based Manaiakalani Education Programme.
More than Digital Technologies
Digital Technologies Hangarau Matihiko within the New Zealand education cirriculum is about teaching students the theory of how technology works, and how they can use that knowledge to solve problems. Our programme’s focus is broader, incorporating digital technology within every area of learning.
