Ask the Connected Learning Advisory

How The Connected Learning Advisory Can Support Communities Of Learning

As Communities of Learning are set up, the Connected Learning Advisory can provide advice and support around integrating digital technologies in students’ learning journeys, as well as wider support so the community can operate efficiently through the use of technologies.

Through both online and face-to-face ‘light-touch’ mentoring, the advisory can guide community leaders to make appropriate decisions in relation to using digital technologies.

The advisory can offer support to Communities of Learning in the following eight areas:

Finding Best Evidence And Building Beliefs And Understanding

• The advisory can help communities understand the research evidence supporting the use of digital technologies as part of inclusive, learner-centred learning environments to improve outcomes for students, teachers, leaders and whānau.

Establishing Challenges, Interventions And Targets

• The advisory can support communities as they develop their strategic goals, particularly around understanding the potential for digital technologies to help address teaching, learning and assessment challenges.
• Implementing the cluster action plan and then monitoring, recording and evaluating progress
• The advisory can provide advice on understanding how technologies might help communities gather student achievement data and monitor progress in implementing agreed teaching strategies.

Collaborating As A Network

• The advisory can support communities become a more powerful, digitally connected community of practice who promote multiple channels for communication and consultation with students, teachers, school leaders and their communities through social media – both formal and informal.

Gathering And Analysing Data

• By recommending appropriate tools, the advisory can help communities gather assessment and soft data that is internal or external to the cluster, from a range of stakeholders.

Accessing External Expertise, Resources And Opportunities

• The advisory can facilitate communities access and use of key sources of expertise and resources to support their key organisational frameworks such as the seven principles of learning, the “spirals of inquiry”, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the e-Learning Planning Framework (eLPF/MMeLPF).

Achieving An Efficient Use Of Time And Resources

• Consider how digital technologies can enable efficiencies in learning design made possible through inter-school collaboration.

Managing Operations And Communications

• The advisory can help communities use technologies to increase operational efficiency.

Contact The Connected Learning Advisory:

The advisory is supporting hundreds of schools as they make strategic decisions related to learning with digital technologies.

If your Community or school has a query about integrating technology with teaching and learning, or you want to suggest a topic for this column, contact the Connected Learning Advisory on:

Phone: 0800 700 400
Online form: www.connectedlearning.org.nz(external link) or www.tearawhitiki.org.nz(external link) (Māori-medium)