TENZ News and Information
Webinar: Effective Community Engagement for a Diverse Tech Workforce

A Practical Guide to STEM Community Engagement in Aotearoa

Call for Research Participants
Can you make time to talk to us?
Do you feel strongly about the transition to online teaching during the global pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Were there implications for how you taught technology education?
If so, researchers from the University of Waikato would love to hear from you! Liz Reinsfield, Andrew Doyle, and Sarah Washbrooke are interested in the recent media coverage (1News, 2022) promoting a need for innovation in New Zealand schools, which implied that such practice involved the use of digital tools for teaching and learning - rather than technology education. We are also keen to explore how New Zealand technology teachers found the transition to online teaching, particularly in terms of the practical aspect of the subject. If you are interested in participating in the research project, entitled “Innovative approaches to learning in technology education during the global pandemic: Secondary teachers’ technical and technological perspectives and practice”, you will be asked to:- partake in one Zoom interview (which will be recorded) in April or May 2022 (30-40 minutes);
- share teaching and learning resources that were developed during the lockdown(s) (15-20 minutes);
- review your interview transcript to confirm that it is a true representation of the interview discussion (30-40 minutes).

Are you a teacher or graduate considering postgraduate study?
Will your proposed study have a positive impact on the learning and teaching of technology education?
TENZ welcomes applications from teachers or graduates enrolled in postgraduate study that will enhance any area of the technology curriculum or improve access to technology education.Technology Education in New Zealand: A guide for teachers

Purchase via https://www.routledge.com/9780367418953.
This book aims to develop understanding of technology education in New Zealand. It is New Zealand’s story of technology education in the 21st century and will assist teachers and teacher educators in developing technology education programmes. It explores the philosophy of and rationale for technology education and the relevant theory underpinning technology education. The background to recent changes to the technology curriculum are outlined and aspects of Technology in The New Zealand Curriculum are explored, including sections on the technological areas, strands and components of technology. The process of planning a unit of work is explained thoroughly and modelled to assist teachers who are new to teaching technology in New Zealand. The authors take a unique, dual narrative approach to explore two students’ journeys through their technology education. This is complemented by teachers’ commentary, making explicit links to teacher thinking and theory, and explaining planned student practice. Wholly dedicated to the New Zealand context, this is essential reading for preservice and qualified teachers alike.Best Practice Advice for Re-entry to Specialist Spaces
Tama Whiting brings Māori world view to landscape design in New York City
Te Ao Māori News
2:26pm, Friday 25 June 2021. By Matiu Hamuera
Māori landscape architect Tama Whiting's fascination with indigenous, black and minority culture extends well into his career.
Now he's taken that to the Big Apple, landing a job at a major firm that encourages his passion for injecting minority cultures into landscape projects valued in multimillion dollars.
“Being from a small population in New Zealand and coming here and trying to influence some of the indigenous groups that are here I try to share some of my knowledge and understanding - New Zealanders are very forward thinkers in the way we approach landscape architecture in terms of the world,” Whiting says.
Asked if he gets to input any Māori design into the work he does in the US, Whiting said it’s something he’s not interested in doing because “that's kind of what the Western world has been doing, just plonking their narrative on other landscapes.”
Jewellery Making Workshop
2021 TENZ Design Competition
Tākaka Living Wood
Auckland Balms and Lip Balms
2020 Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize Winner

We are delighted to congratulate Sarah Washbrooke on winning the 2020 Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize.
Sarah is a highly valued member of her school and also the wider Wakatipu community, bringing her expertise in the Technology Curriculum to the forefront. She has taught technology for the past 23 years, 17 of those being in New Zealand.
She has taught at Remarkables Primary School in Queenstown since 2016 as their technology specialist teacher, supporting the development of students within the world of science and technology. Her key focus is the Year 6 – 8 age group.
Sarah is a member of the TENZ Council and in 2019, she received the TENZ Outstanding Technology Teacher Award for continued excellence in Technology teaching.
You can read more about Sarah's award here.Creating a Spark for Artificial Intelligence
Beginning AI foundations for Educators
View, download or print details below.
Register here: https://www.mymindsparklearning.org/ibm-ai-education-creating-a-spark-for-ai-tenz
More information from: Sarah Washbrooke [email protected]
2020 Top Tech Resource Winners
The TENZ Regional Professional Learning committee are pleased to announce the following resources as finalists in the TENZ Top Tech Resource competition. Resources were selected based on their link to the NZC Technology Curriculum, depth of skills/knowledge learned by students, and the resource's ability to be undertaken at home by students, thus encouraging development of skills and understanding of technology.Winners
ECE to Year 2 - no winnersYear 3 to Year 5 - no winners
Year 6 to Year 8 category
1st place: Joy Woolley, Hastings Intermediate - Nature of Technology resources
2nd Place: Ann Paterson, Breens Intermediate - Nature of Technology - Time resource
3rd Place: Shobek Singh, Fruitvale School - DDDO - developing a game in Minecraft to improve Te Reo
Year 9 to Year 10
1st Place: Susan Wells, Diocesan School for Girls - Soft Materials Mandala & Sashiko kit
Year 11 to Year 13 - no winners
Winners will receive:
1st = $200 pressie card
2nd = $100 pressie card
3rd = $50 pressie card
Our congratulations to all winners - keep up the good work.
Weta Workshop Experience
TENZ 2020 Writers' Retreat
[Wellington Food Hui
2020 Top Tech Resources

Teacher Lockdown Resource Competition 2020
Throughout 2020 teachers of technology education across NZ have put their expertise on display in the flipped classroom. TENZ wants to reward your hard work! During Terms 3 & 4 TENZ is asking teachers to submit a digital resource, lesson or activity. These teaching and learning resources can be anything that you have developed to teach Technology or STEM online. Teachers are asked to submit a lesson plan that illustrates your take on an activity.Description:
The resource lesson or activity should include the following:- teacher name and school
- lesson title
- target year level
- time required for lesson/s
- achievement objectives/indicators of progression and/or progress outcome links
- materials required
- instructional steps
- assessment strategies
- differentiation strategies
ENTERING THE COMPETITION:
Please fill in this form to submit your entry: Link to Lockdown Resource submission form.Conditions:
Entries must be submitted based on the NZ curriculum only. Due date for all entries is December 4, 2020. You may enter more than one resource. See link to judging rubric above to help with your submission.Prizes:
Categories: ECE to Yr 2 Yr 3 to Yr 5 Yr 6 to Yr 8 Yr 9 to Yr 10 Yr 11 to Yr 13 Prizes for each category: Treat yourselves with... 1st place: $200 prezzy card 2nd place: $100 prezzy card 3rd place: $50 prezzy card TENZ goody bags as spot prizes (drink bottles, bags, cups, notepads, pens, stickers etc )TENZ - who are we?
Technology Education New Zealand (TENZ) is a professional, collaborative network for supporting teachers in New Zealand. We promote and support all levels of technology education - from Early Childhood Education (ECE) through to tertiary, across all learning areas within technology. Should you wish to learn more, or join TENZ today with your school - visit tenz.org.nz/join-tenz/Winners: TENZ 2020 Techo Challenge
A big thank you to all teachers and students who entered the first TENZ Techno Challenge. Students from Year 1 - 10 were invited to design, model, test and evaluate an outcome designed to help with a need they had identified whilst at home during COVID-19 lockdown.Doodle a Design
(aimed at younger students Y1 - 3) Congratulations to:First Place
Second Place
Highly Commended
Model Manufacture
(aimed at Y4 - 7) Congratulations to:First Place
Joint Second Place
Joint Second Plaee
Highly Commended
Iterative Inventions
(aimed at Y8 - 10)First Place
Joint Second Place
Joint Second Place
Very Highly Commended
Highly Commended
Esther Ide, Year 7, Remarkables Primary school Bethany Argyle, Year 8, Remarkables Primary schoolAlso, thanks again to our sponsors who donated prizes for the TENZ Techno Challenge:
Learning Developments OfficeMax Phoenix Technology MOTAT Mrs Priestley ICTand to the judges who gave up their own time to read and check over 60 entries:
Catherine Johnson Ruth Lemon Julie Baker Wendy Fox-TurnbullTESAC Advice: Re-entry to Specialist Spaces
TENZ 2020 Techo Challenge
Ready for a HANDS ON authentic & creative learning experience for your students to take part in during the COVID-19 lockdown? Encourage your learners to take part in the TENZ 2020 Techno Challenge! We are proud to present this nationwide competition for Years 1 to 10, encouraging tamariki to innovate at home through the Technology curriculum.Three competition categories:
- Doodle a design (aimed at younger students Y1 - 3)
- Model Manufacture (aimed at Y4 - 7)
- Iterative Inventions (aimed at Y8 - 10