Thank you for this. In so many ways "building ideas in a deliberate sequence, so later learning feels like a deepening, not a reset, offering multiple ways into complex concepts, so different ākonga can find an entry point that makes sense for them"a nd ensuring access to learning is inclusive, accessible, affordable and does discriminate - is what teaching is all about.
This is a tall order. We need to make sure that along with content, it's what teacher education is also all about and that this is supported and enhanced by education policy. Cooperation, consultation, and strong theory/practice linkage are critical
I am an experienced educator and teacher trainer based in New Zealand, with teaching experience across East Africa, the South Pacific, China, and Australia. From this global perspective, I feel that teacher education has not kept pace with the rapidly changing needs of our learners and workplaces. I hope the new science curriculum will open doors for teachers to try out a few project based experiences to entice learners.
STEAM learning is happening, but too often only in isolated classrooms as a token shift rather than a systemic approach. Many teacher training institutions still do not provide strong project-based preparation, and young teachers are not sufficiently encouraged into STEAM pathways. Too many leave within seven years or fall back on compliance-driven traditional methods - and that is a loss for our students and our profession.
I believe we should explore initiatives to attract experienced tradespeople and industry professionals into schools for short teaching placements (one or two years), supporting VET pathways and authentic project-based apprenticeships while students are still in high school.
If others are interested, let us connect and consider forming a working group to move this idea forward.
I am currently recovering from quadruple bypass surgery and have time available to communicate with like-minded educators.
I trained in PN in the 1960s and those courses were available. Our neighbour with a farming background trained for a year and taught primary school for many years
It is getting harder to train and then retain Science maths teachers in NZ and NSW Australia.
There got to be some incentive for them otherwise schools will be without STEAM /Science /maths teachers.
Thank you for this. In so many ways "building ideas in a deliberate sequence, so later learning feels like a deepening, not a reset, offering multiple ways into complex concepts, so different ākonga can find an entry point that makes sense for them"a nd ensuring access to learning is inclusive, accessible, affordable and does discriminate - is what teaching is all about.
This is a tall order. We need to make sure that along with content, it's what teacher education is also all about and that this is supported and enhanced by education policy. Cooperation, consultation, and strong theory/practice linkage are critical
Kia ora colleagues,
I am an experienced educator and teacher trainer based in New Zealand, with teaching experience across East Africa, the South Pacific, China, and Australia. From this global perspective, I feel that teacher education has not kept pace with the rapidly changing needs of our learners and workplaces. I hope the new science curriculum will open doors for teachers to try out a few project based experiences to entice learners.
STEAM learning is happening, but too often only in isolated classrooms as a token shift rather than a systemic approach. Many teacher training institutions still do not provide strong project-based preparation, and young teachers are not sufficiently encouraged into STEAM pathways. Too many leave within seven years or fall back on compliance-driven traditional methods - and that is a loss for our students and our profession.
I believe we should explore initiatives to attract experienced tradespeople and industry professionals into schools for short teaching placements (one or two years), supporting VET pathways and authentic project-based apprenticeships while students are still in high school.
If others are interested, let us connect and consider forming a working group to move this idea forward.
I am currently recovering from quadruple bypass surgery and have time available to communicate with like-minded educators.
Kia kaha
Melvin Din
STEAM Teacher in the Making
Lake Taupō
I trained in PN in the 1960s and those courses were available. Our neighbour with a farming background trained for a year and taught primary school for many years