VLN – Primary

The potential is there to be able to provide all of our students in the Primary Sector with learning opportunities that we are not able to provide in our individual schools.

VLN – Primary - Purpose

Coordinate& grow existing programmes of learning;

Promote to & involve new schools;

Develop the languages programme as the ‘flagship’ of VLN Primary Schools

Widen focus to other areas eg:

connecting the more smaller, rural & remote schools,

engaging schools in elearning events such as digital conversations & virtual fieldtrips,

cultural exchanges (national & global),

extension learning, other specialist curricula eg writing, art, technology…

Liaise & participate in the wider educational networks eg VLNC, potential NEN, ICTPD network, Advisory support

Grow a Community of Practice of talented eteachers in the primary sector;

Provide professional learning support for schools in elearning pedagogies and using the technologies for online learning

Adobe Connect

video conferencing

desktop video conferencing

Audio Conferencing

Moodle and Web 2.0 tools

VLN – Primary - Purpose

Current Status

The VLN Primary Initiative has so far been strongly focused on the provision of Y7/8 Learning Languages. There are currently running two French classes, a Spanish, German, Japanese and Te Reo classes between several schools nationally. There are 50 students from 10 schools enrolled in these classes. As the VLN Primary community grows we expect to be able to broker a wider range of classes to participating schools. Current participating schools are: Matapu, Auroa, Kaimata, Cambridge East, Tiniroto, Motu, Waipaoa Station, Waerenga-O-Kuri Schools, South Westland Area School and Coastal Taranaki Area School.

Our Schools

www.virtuallearning.school.nz

Although only small we use VLN enrolment tools to keep a record of participation from the very beginning & in the future with potential growth to be able to manage the enrolment process.

http://www.v7.breezeserver.co.nz/Synchronous learning (Speaking & Listening)

Matapu Students in

German Class

http://primary.vln.school.nz/Asynchronous learning

(mainly Reading & Writing)

http://primary.vln.school.nz/Online learners and F2F learners = Blended

Learning Environment

UFB/RBI – Bandwidth the Silver Bullet

Increase ‘social presence’ through use of webcams instead of phone

Free up phone lines into a school Allow multimedia to run at same speed for all sites Enable students from distributed sites to interact

on an equal footing – when ‘real time’ means real time

Ease access and interaction around supporting activities & resources in Moodle.

Possibilities for Primary Schools to join the NZEdNet VC network through desktop VC – actively interact with the wider online community eg participation in Digital Conversations, teacher Professional Learning.

Where We are At

Starting with a small group of schools. Introducing more as successful classes are

established. Introducing new eteachers, developing shared

resources. Begin to grow a Community Of Practice

Starting with a basic set of tools – aim to extend eteachers in their use of these & Web 2.0

Aligning to the wider VLN community – make use of existing structures & support.

Developing a model that can be scalable and sustainable.

“One of the greatest problems a rural school faces is access to teachers of specialist subjects. By being on the VLN, our students can be involved in virtual lessons delivered by any number of specialist teachers around the country…. As ‘virtual presence’ technology improves, all the best teachers will be able to teach those students who wish to learn through their own inquiries.”

Rick Whalley, Principal, Matapu School