Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Computational Thinking in Junior Classrooms in New Zealand(Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (FLANZ), 2020-12-15) Irons JMM; Hartnett MFrom 2020, the New Zealand technology curriculum will include computational thinking. The new curriculum content is being introduced to students from five-years-old onwards. In preparation for its introduction, online resources have been developed for teachers, including junior teachers (who teach new entrants to year three), that contain progress outcomes, lesson plans, exemplars and assessments. However, it is unclear whether New Zealand junior teachers are sufficiently prepared to teach computational thinking and what factors influence their preparedness to teach the new curriculum. This research explored the experiences of a small group of junior school teachers in the year prior to the official introduction of the technology curriculum. Research findings highlight that factors including professional development, assessment, schoolwide support, and time availability influence the uptake of the computational thinking curriculum by teachers in New Zealand junior classrooms.Item How have MOOCs been portrayed in the New Zealand public media?(Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (FLANZ), 13/02/2020) Rowan Y; Hartnett MReports of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) hit the news media from 2012 with messages of disruption to existing higher education systems. However, several years on their role is still evolving. Given the power of media to influence acceptance of new ideas, this research investigates New Zealand news media representations of MOOCs to the public. A document analysis of twenty seven newspaper articles published in New Zealand mainstream media between January, 2012 and December, 2016 revealed similar results to overseas research, in that MOOCs are predominantly reported as a catalyst for necessary change to higher education, with higher education commonly discussed in commodified terms. Previously published research focuses on the association of MOOCs and elite universities, whereas this research reveals that MOOCs are considered experimental within New Zealand’s higher education system. While New Zealand media present a more balanced perspective than previous research, dominant themes of MOOCs as revolutionising are likely to foster the public’s acceptance of radical changes to existing higher education structures.
