TechWeek22
New Zealand’s technology and innovation sectors are growing rapidly and Techweek fosters that growth by providing the national ecosystem with a week-long opportunity for connection and collaboration.
With over four hundred virtual and face to face events taking place over six days across New Zealand, it was fantastic to have AWS, and EdTechNZ’s Council member Matt McCulloch host a webinar with AWS colleagues in New Zealand and Singapore offering insights on the support AWS offers the EdTech Start-up community to accelerate their export growth. It was also a treat to hear from New Zealand EdTech Ed Potentials GM – Charlie Tomlinson who shared the company’s journey of success, support from AWS, and recent acquisition by global EdTech giant Education Perfect.
EdTechNZ also hosted a highly interactive panel with diverse and passionate voices from across the education ecosystem. From our ‘digital native’ young people, EdTech companies, Educators and Government the panel explored Digital Citizenship, what it means and how we must all collaborate to navigate this ever evolving, fast moving and often difficult digital environment for our tamariki, rangatahi, and everyone connected to them. More hui and korero to come, we know, on this critical topic. In case you missed it, you can watch our webinar here.
From our Executive Director, Alison Mackie:
Kia ora EdTech community,
It has been a pleasure to have been warmly welcomed into the EdTech community as the Executive Director over the last two months. I am very familiar with the NZ Tech Alliance, as I am also the director for LocationTech, BlockchainNZ and IoT Alliance. My role, at its heart, is to help connect, promote and advance the work our community does and to support our council and members in growing the EdTech ecosystem.
Although I have a range of experience in other technologies and industries, my background is in anthropology and teaching – I was in the third cohort of the Master of Teaching and Learning programme at University of Canterbury in 2017, graduated with distinction for secondary learning in social studies. This often turns heads as how does a background in education and social sciences lend itself to technology? But I think we can all agree that when technology and innovation focus on people first, it can help make our lives connected and more equitable, to ensure our communities thrive – and at the core of that is education.
I look forward to continuing to learn with you all and to help grow the EdTech community within Aotearoa.
Spotlight on an NZ EdTech start-up
Maths Adventures | Founder & Director Ian Stevens | Confidence in mathematics in today’s world is vital. Maths Adventures makes learning maths an exciting and successful adventure for students at the primary school level. ‘We do this by developing apps and games to help students learn and understand the key concepts needed for success.” says Ian Stevens Founder and Director of Maths Adventures.
“We believe by playing games, with the right mix of education and technology, students learn and deepen their understanding of key maths.”
For example, Math Slide, Maths Adventures most popular iPad app, has been downloaded thirteen million times by schools in New Zealand and around the world. With a collaborative mode, students learn maths and teamwork together.
“We know we don’t want students on devices all the time or that learning online will automatically improve things.” says Ian. “So, the challenge is creating technology that develops critical thinkers who are creative, resilient and can communicate and work together while understanding and using maths.”
The Maths Adventure team focus on the maths they know is problematic for many students and their teachers and provide professional learning and development for teachers and school leaders.
‘We are experimenting with developing digital tools that give teachers information for all students to be successful. Tools to assess students next steps quickly and easily, and support teachers’ pedagogical knowledge.
Ian and his team want to help solve the big challenges of underachievement and equity in education.
‘Good technology can support teaching and learning and has the potential to solve the underachievement and inequity we have in education, giving every student the opportunity to develop to their full potential.”
Great work Ian. Critical mahi that matters for our learners and their teachers.
The EdTechNZ Team
