Barbour, M. K. (2013, April). Virtual learning in New Zealand: Examining systematic change. A presentation to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning’s research committee.

1. Virtual Learning in
New Zealand:
Examining Systematic
Change
Michael Barbour, Wayne State University

2. New Zealand
• two main islands separated
by the Cook Strait.
• closest neighbor is Australia
(over 1200 miles away)
• 4.4 million people in 2006 (1%
increase from 2001)
o 67.6% European
o 14.6% Maori
o 9.2% Asian
o 6.9% Pacific Peoples
• three official languages:
English, Maori & New
Zealand Sign Language

3. Virtual Learning Network
VLN Primary
Te Kura
Several tertiary's

4. Primary and
Secondary e-
Learning:
Examining the
Process of
Achieving Maturity

6. Research Purpose
To capture, in a range of ways, information that
will contribute to the knowledge base about the
development of virtual schooling in New
Zealand, in particular, how the Learning
Communities Online Handbook is being used
to assist and inform this development.

7. Research Questions
1.(a) What common barriers do e-learning
clusters face in their development towards
maturity and sustainability?
(b) How have mature and sustainable clusters
overcome those barriers?
2.What are some examples of how networked
schools are emerging in the New Zealand
context?

8. Research Visits

9. Research Visits
• 9 current or emerging clusters
• 3 VLN-related projects
• 13 schools
• 1 health school
• Te Kura
• 9 tertiary institutions

10. Data Collected
• Interviews
– 10 current & former ePrincipals
– 8 Principals & Deputy Principals
– 12 eTeachers, eDeans & Facilitators
– 18 Students
• Observations
– 12 video conferencing session
– 10 asynchronous work locations
• Document Analysis
– reports, courses, data, school newsletter, cluster info, etc.

11. Learning Communities Online Handbook, 2011

12. Research Questions
1.(a) What common barriers do e-learning
clusters face in their development towards
maturity and sustainability?
(b) How have mature and sustainable clusters
overcome those barriers?
2.What are some examples of how networked
schools are emerging in the New Zealand
context?

13. Common Obstacles
• Lack of vision
• Funding, resources
and the role of the
ePrincipal
• Lack of inter-cluster
and intra-cluster co-
operation

14. Research Questions
1.(a) What common barriers do e-learning
clusters face in their development towards
maturity and sustainability?
(b) How have mature and sustainable clusters
overcome those barriers?
2.What are some examples of how networked
schools are emerging in the New Zealand
context?

15. Wenmoth (2010)

16. Pockets of Innovation
• Changing teacher
practice
• Opening classrooms
• Mentor teacher
• Considering student
learning space

17. Moving Forward
• E-Learning Clusters
– coordinate activities between
clusters
– examine the role of VLN
leadership & whether there is
geographic or like-minded
rationalisation that can occur
• Ministry of Education
• continue services
• create content repository
• fund regional leadership

18. CORE Education
White Paper: The
Future of Virtual
Learning in New
Zealand

20. LCO Handbook Proposal

21. VLN Business Case
• Establish the VLN as a
business unit within the
MoE
• Establish the VLN-C
Trust as an independent
business unit (company)
• Establish the VLN Trust
as a professional
organisation

22. CORE Education White Paper Proposal

23. Future Research
• a national survey of
distance education
activity & processes
– # of students
– # of teachers
– # of courses
– which courses
– resource model
– technologies/software
• include VLN clusters,
Loops, Te Kura, health
schools, tertiary groups

24. Your
Questions
And
Comments