Activity 6: Contemporary issues or trends in New Zealand or internationally

Identify and evaluate at least 3 contemporary issues or trends that are influencing or shape NZ or international education which you find most relevant to your practice. 

The first issue that I believe is influencing NZ education is the identifying how we as educators can nurture the cultural identity of learners whilst develop them as global citizens. Sir Ken Robinson briefly touches on this in his RSA video, and to be honest, I had not thought of this until I was watching the video. Cultural identity and engagement plays a massive role in helping students discover who they are. I teach in a school where majority of students are Pasifika and Maori, and  cultural identity plays such a significant role. Aiming to teach Maori as Maori, and Pasifika as Pasifika is essential, because I believe that this plays an important part in learners being able to engage as global citizens. When we are comfortable in our cultural identity, we are equipped to share and contribute to these communities. Resources and initiatives such as Ka hikatia and the Pasifika education plan play a central role in the effort to enable students to be successful as citizens with a strong cultural identity.

Another global and NZ specific issue that I identified was the standardised education system that was designed for a previous age. Sir Ken Robinson discusses how we our current education system was designed for the industrial age, and how we "Batch Process" students through school. Standardised testing promotes and almost enforces conformity. Robinson calls for a paradigm shift where divergent thinking is promoted, and where students are able to develop at a rate that fits their learning needs. Our education system needs to adjust to align with the global changes that are occurring economically and culturally (Pearson, 2013) (KPMG, 2014). I believe that in NZ, particularly tin the primary sector, there are shifts occurring. We as a school recently made the call to teach in composite year 7/8 classes, and start to move away from allocated seating arrangements. I do understand that these are small changes in the bigger picture, but I do believe it is a start. It  enables learners to not have to conform to a set expectation of how to learn, but rather enables them to discover how (and Where) they learn best in specific contexts. 

References:


Education Review Office (2012). The three most pressing issues for New Zealand’s education system, revealed in latest ERO report - Education Review Office. Retrieved 5 May 2015, from http://www.ero.govt.nz/About-Us/News-Media-Releases2/The-three-most-pressing-issues-for-New-Zealand-s-education-system-revealed-in-latest-ERO-report

KPMG Australia. (2014, May 22).

Future State 2030 - Global Megatrends. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im5SwtapHl8

Ministry of Education

Pearson. (2013, April 26). Global trends: The world is changing faster than at any time in human history. Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZiTQy3g1g

The RSA.(2010, Oct 14). RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U.