Project Activate participants were personally congratulated by the Education Minister, the Hon Steve Maharey, for having the project’s first year findings into the use of Promeathean Interactive Whiteboards successfully published in the academic journal, Computers in New Zealand Schools.
Speaking in Rotorua at the project’s first professional development session for 2006, the Minister said the publication of the 13 articles was an “outstanding achievement,” and provided educationalists, researchers and other interested people with a rich research resource.
“I like the fact that you are producing good research. It’s up-to-date, nice and fresh from the point of view that people can use this, and it’s accessible.”
The Minister also praised Project Activate for the strong relationship built up between the teachers in the classroom using the IWBs, and the project’s lead researcher from Massey University, Professor Ken Ryba.
“If you’re a person in the classroom trying to get on with things, it can all seem a bit daunting if it’s so difficult, and cutting edge and hard to apply. So keeping the connection (between user and researcher) is extremely important, and I know that’s what you are doing. I know what Ken is providing is the background work, which is essential for a project like this to succeed.”
Project Acitvate’s November special edition of Computers in New Zealand Schools has created interest nationally and internationally, and resulted in an invitation to project lead teacher and principal of St Mary’s School, Paul Engles, and his colleague, Janet Yelas, to speak at the International IWB and Schooling Conference in Sheffield, UK, this April.
As yet Paul and Janet are undecided on what aspect of the project they will speak about but Janet says there is no shortage of excellent material to choose from.
The journal’s publisher, Otago University Press, says interest in the edition has been exceptionally high, and they are deciding whether to do a reprint.
“We printed more than we usually do and there are about three copies left! More than 200 copies have been sent to the UK, and there is strong interest now from the US. We’re just doing the figures on the possibility of a reprint.” says Otago University Press publisher, Wendy Harrax.
Paul says having the Minister come and speak to participants at the start of Project Activate’s second year set the 2006 agenda off on a positive note.
The PD day welcomed two new Project Activate participants, Waikowhai School from Mt Roskill, Auckland, and Hauraki Plains College, located between Tauranga and the Coromandel.
For a copy of the Project Activate special edition of Computers in New Zealand Schools, phone Otago University Press on 03 479 8807 or email university.press@otago.ac.nz
