Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a bigger part of our lives, so understanding the ideas behind the technology is more important than ever. If you’re looking to get your head around the basics of this developing tech and how to discuss it with your students, check out Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and He Kōrero Whakataki ki te Atamai Rorohiko. These new resources were developed by TENZ, DTTA, and the Ministry of Education. They support existing guidance on using AI tools in schools and kura, and help Years 4-13 kaiako teach about this important field.

They include:

• common terms used in AI, outlining some of the basics
• opportunities for some possible positive impacts AI can have across society
• possible risks from AI technology that we should be aware of
• next steps in your learning journey if you’re interested in exploring AI further, including some suggested learning activities and links to further reading.

Click here to jump straight to the resources:

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

He Kōrero Whakataki ki te Atamai Rorohiko

For guidance from the Ministry on using generative AI in schools, click here:

Generative AI – Education in New Zealand

TENZ has received guidance from the MoE around 92012 – Develop a Materials and Processing Technology outcome in an authentic context (Materials and Processing Technology 1.1)

Read the guidance document here.

Click here for other Achievement Standards Information

Government to rephase NCEA Change Programme

Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford has today announced a delay of Level 2 to 2028 and Level 3 to 2029.

“The coalition Government is making significant changes to the NCEA Change Programme, delaying the implementation by two years, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today.”

“During this time key actions will support the more effective implementation of our National Qualification;

• A review of the new NCEA Level 1 will be undertaken by the Education Review Office documenting key learnings
• Additional review of other aspects of the NCEA Change Programme, including the methods for external assessments, periods of study leave, and moderation practices
• The senior secondary curriculum for Year 11-13 students will be developed
• An implementation plan will reflect learnings from ERO’s evaluation of Level 1
• NCEA Level 1 (revised) and NCEA Level 2 will be fully implemented by 2028
• NCEA Level 3 will be fully implemented by 2029 “

Read the full beehive press release here:

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-rephase-ncea-change-programme

Visit the Tāhūrangi website here: https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/

MoE Notice – 23rd February

Tāhūrangi has been designed to house content that supports effective teaching and learning across Te Whāriki: He Whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and The New Zealand Curriculum.

Tāhūrangi is full of the features you would expect of a modern online curriculum hub, making it easy to find, organise, download, and share curriculum content.

We’re currently moving content from more than 70 different education websites onto this new ‘one-stop-shop’ for curriculum content, teaching resources, and news.

As we move content, we’re undertaking a peer review to check it is fit-for-purpose, relevant and adheres to accessibility criteria as much as possible.

As we move content onto Tāhūrangi, the website that previously housed the material will no longer be publicly available. Teachers will still have access to relevant and up-to-date content – it will simply change location and be housed on Tāhūrangi. Some things may look or feel a little different, but we think you’ll find them easier to use.

The good news is that, once content from our 70+ websites has been moved, all the quality teaching resources you need will be right here.

Read more here

After enquiries from members about the new cellphone policy and how that impacts NCEA Subjects that require large quantities of photographic evidence. Building, Hospitality, the new NCEA Achievement Standards, and more all require photographic evidence, and in previous years ākonga would use their own cellphones to take regular evidence.

When looking on the Ministry of Education guidance there is (as of 1 February 2024) a list of what must be in the rules. This includes “a teacher requires students to use phones for a specific educational task or purpose (for example, for a class assignment)”. As the Ministry’s guidance is that this must be in the school rules, all kaiako should have the ability for ākonga to use their cellphones for this valid and necessary specific educational purpose.

https://www.education.govt.nz/school/digital-technology/cellphones

From the MoE Website

What must be in your school rules

The regulations require that schools must ensure students do not use or access a phone while they are attending school, including during lunch time and breaks. This includes students who are on a school course or visit outside the school grounds.

This must be in effect no later than the start of Term 2, 29 April 2024.

Schools must allow students to use or access a phone when:

• a phone is needed for health reasons (for example, to monitor insulin levels); or
• a phone is needed to help a student with a disability or learning support need (for example, to assist with impaired communication); or
• a teacher requires students to use phones for a specific educational task or purpose (for example, for a class assignment); or
• the principal decides that they are needed for special circumstances (for example, the student is a teenage parent).