Maker-y

The Kootuitui cluster of schools in Papakura functions in a one-to-one digital environment with the pedagogy of learn, create, share. This pedagogy champions independent learning and whanau engagement to lift achievement and prepare students for further education and employment in an increasingly digital world. To encourage young innovators, Kootuitui supports the introduction of makerspaces and creative digital technologies into schools. We call this 'maker-y'.

‘Maker-y’ ideology champions learning and innovation through making, testing and sharing knowledge. Enabling schools access to new creative digital technologies allows students to be ready for the new workforce interacting with the internet of things and supports the development of resilient problem-solving in our youth.

Auckland Council Libraries provides a centralised service to offer technology and support directly to schools to assist implementation of maker-y. As this service is user-pays, Kootuitui is pleased to receive some funding from local organisations and trusts to enable schools to take advantage of the programme at no cost to them. Building maker-y capability in schools aligns with funding priorities by supporting students to prosper and thrive through the provision of more diverse digital literacy and process-driven problem solving experiences, which fundamentally lay the foundations for an innovative and entrepreneurial Papakura.

Although this is a school-based service, there is a community-wide benefit for Papakura. The school-based programme enables the public library to increase its outreach and support of youth and education and will be offering free use of the technologies in the libraries during the school holidays. A strong whānau involvement designed into the programme broadens the outcome reach into the wider community.