The New Zealand Tech Alliance is a group of independent technology associations from across New Zealand that work together to ensure a strong voice for technology.
Visit Tech Alliance
NZTech Update – Creativity & collaboration in education
Hi Readers,
With business as usual, I have been able to return some of my energy to the new Digital Technologies curricula due to be launched in 2018. This change, if well implemented, provides New Zealand’s education system with an opportunity to evolve.
The World Economic Forum recently released its Human Capital Report 2017, Preparing People for the Future of Work. The report states that “many of today’s education systems are already disconnected from the skills needed to function in today’s labour markets.” It goes on to underline how schools tend to focus primarily on developing children’s cognitive skills within more traditional subjects, rather than fostering skills like problem solving, creativity or collaboration.
This should be cause for concern when looking at the skill set required already for jobs: Complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity are the three most important skills a child needs to thrive, according to the Future of Jobs Report. Fortunately, the new Digital Technologies curricula has been designed to support the development of complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity across all ages.
Unfortunately however, I keep hearing from teachers that “the curricula is already too cluttered” or that “digital technologies are a tool to enhance and transform learning, not a separate part of the curriculum”. So as you can see, there is still plenty of work to be done to ensure we provide our kids the best opportunities in this rapidly advancing world of technology. Whenever you can, please help by advocating for the importance of this positive change to our education system.
Have a great week.
All the best
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech
Market Measures closing soon
Join us this month in Wellington
Pre-order copies now!CONNECT
Join the AI Forum of New Zealand at their Wellington Connect Event on 18 October. Register for the FinTechNZ Connect Event on 24 October in Auckland.
Join NZVRARA for Digital Realities: Making the Value Real, 11 October in Wellington and 18 October in Auckland.
Register for NZSA’s next networking event, Culture and Performance – Lessons from Trade Me, 10 October in Auckland.
PROMOTE
Massey University presents Surviving Automation: Skills for the Future on 17 October in Auckland, 18 October in Wellington and 19 October in Christchurch.
Calling all hi-tech companies ready for investment. Don’t forget to register for the China New Zealand Hi-Tech Summit on 16 October in Auckland.
Join NZTech Women on Ada Lovelace Day, 10 October in Wellington for their screening of Code: Debugging the Gender Gap.
ADVANCE
Entries for iSANZ 2017 close today. The MFAT survey of New Zealand Services Exporters also closes this week.
Attend the NZBio Annual Conference 12-13 October in Wellington. The ACPA is 16-18 October in Hamilton.
Applications for the 2018 Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator open today. Applications close 1 December.
Want to know more? Sign up for the NZTech weekly update, it’s free and will take less than a minute!
