FarNet

FarNet was one of the Ministry of Education’s first Digital Opportunities projects.  It was launched in September 2001 and involved 10 schools in the mid – far North. 

Its primary aim was to create an online collaborative teacher community and bilingual learning resource centre, and to support the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into the classroom.  The project involved the production of bilingual resource material encompassing all curriculum learning areas.

The project had a strong emphasis on the sharing of information and resources between teachers, and to a lesser degree, students and teachers. 

The increased levels of equipment available to students in the FarNet schools through the project, and the facilitatory support to assist teachers in upskilling in the use of the new technology in their subjects, had significant positive impacts on students. Participating school, Taipa Area School noted in a survey conducted in 2002 that “90 percent of students reported increased motivation in using computer technology for both accessing and presenting their work.”

The technology partners included Telecom, IBM, Compaq and ITAS/Renaissance.  Between them they provided servers, laptops and PCs, datashows, high-speed internet and SmartTools software. 

Initially 150 laptops and PCs were connected to high-speed internet and a year later a further 70 laptops and PCs were connected to the hosted FarNet server.  This allowed for easier access to and sharing of resources.

Schools’ were responsible for creating space and arranging ongoing technical support for servers and other hardware, and for developing teacher training programmes which were supported by FarNet Coordinators Birnie Duthie and Nancy Groh.

A highlight for the FarNet project was to be nominated as a finalist in the education section of the Stockholm Challenge.  The Stockholm Challenge recognises ICT projects that are innovative and benefit the environment and community.

Click here for a Farnet Case Study.
Click here for Kerikeri High School's FarNet Case Study.