Leveraging Digital

'Digital' is used instead of 'technology' to signal that the focus is not on the tools themselves, but on the role that interaction with digital can play in enhancing deep learning experiences. Effective use of digital facilitates Deep Learning partnerships with students, whanau, community members and experts - regardless of geographic location - and supports students' capacity to take control of their own learning both within and outside the classroom walls.

We have two partnerships that support our leverage of digital tools. Te Reanga Ipurangi Ōtaki Education Trust (TRIO) and Manaiakalani Education Trust (MET).

(TRIO) works in partnership with Ōtaki College, schools, and kura (schools immersed in Te Reo, Māori language) in Ōtaki. The Trust was established to strengthen educational opportunities in our community. In 2013, the two kura initiated a discussion on ways to make digital devices available to their learners. To support this initiative TRIO was created. The trust, whose establishment was sponsored by the Ōtaki and Porirua Trusts Board, was set up to enhance educational attainment in Ōtaki. Today, TRIO continues its interest in developing a localised curriculum and helping financially to enable students in need to have Chromebooks.

We are very fortunate here at Ōtaki College to be part of the Manaiakalani Outreach. The Manaiakalani pedagogical approach of Learn - Create - Share aligns well with the Deep Learning course design, so when it comes to 'Leveraging Digital' we have a head start here in our kura. Manaiakalani enables all students to have Chromebooks and grow their digital citizenship skills through the Cybersmart learning. It also provides professional development for staff through the Digital Fluency Intensive (DFI) and other courses, online toolkits, and in-person and online hui.