Shifting to 21st Century Thinking

Act III cast

Speakers and facilitators

Fiona Beals Rocking from the mighty West Coast, Dr Fiona Beals works as an Education Advisor at Global Focus Aotearoa (formally the Global Education Centre). Fiona completed her PhD in education in 2006 and is now aiming to get a PhD from the streets (which is proving quite hard). Aside from Deschooling Society, Fiona’s favourite texts include Matt Groening’s philosophical cartoon book School is Hell and the 1960′s film Fahrenheit 451.
Sarah Beresford Sarah develops visual literacy resources at NZCER, has a background in anthropology and journalism, and completed a Masters in Visual Culture Research in 2008. She is currently developing resources that focus on interpreting visual texts, through deconstruction and critical analysis. Enabling students to access multiple layers of meaning, and to give subjective but logical interpretations, in which students draw both on the text and their prior knowledge and experiences.
Rachel Bolstad Rachel is a senior researcher at NZCER, avid blogger, and keen participant in web 2.0. Since joining NZCER in 2002 she has undertaken research in a wide range of areas including environmental education/education for sustainability, education for enterprise, school-based curriculum development and innovation, and the role and potential of ICT, multimedia, and e-learning in education. She is enjoying the creative thinking that the shifting thinking conference planning demands! Read blogs by Rachel
Ally Bull Ally is a senior researcher and resource developer at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. She has experience at all levels of primary school, in pre-service and in-service teacher education, as a resource teacher of learning and behaviour, and in distance education. Read blogs by Ally
Bob Frame Bob is Principal Scientist (Sustainability and Society) at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research in Lincoln. After training in Scotland as an engineer and research physicist, he lived in China and India working as a manager in international aid, and now, once again, does research. He now works outside formal disciplines with a strong interest in ways to imagine the future. The South Island holds many attractions for him.
Rose Hipkins Rose used to be a science and biology teacher but now she is a chief researcher at the NZCER with specific responsibilities for building links between research and practice. As a proud grandmother, Rose is keen to see real change in education and in ways we look after the natural world. We’ve only got one planet! Thus, understanding and working with the complexity of both natural and social systems has a compelling personal and professional urgency for her.
Billy Matheson Billy trained as an Industrial Designer before working for 8 years in the tertiary education sector. During that time he completed a Masters in Adult Education looking at the role that narrative and identity play in adult learning. Billy is currently working with the Enviroschools Foundation developing a learning network for ‘young changemakers’.
Hugh McCracken Hugh is the Web Co-ordinator at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. His current projects include Drupal redevelopments of both the corporate web site, and the NZCER intranet. He will be helping us to use Twitter leading up to and during the conference, sharing some of the potential that it offers. Prior to his time at NZCER Hugh worked as a polytechnic lecturer, developing and delivering online IT courses, with a key interest in Web Design and Web 2 technologies. He is also a self-confessed train-obsessive, an interest which he selflessly shares with his children, family and workmates!
Sue McDowall Sue McDowall is a senior researcher at NZCER where she works mainly in the areas of literacy and English. Her current projects focus on: literacy in e-learning contexts; literary engagement; and the integration of the key competencies and reading. Prior to her time at NZCER Sue worked as a primary school teacher for eight years.
Lorraine McKay Lorraine currently works as a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour and has background experience as a primary teacher, maths advisor and pre-service lecturer. She has particular interest in the relationships that are developed between home and school and how these relationships contribute to decisions made about learning environments that personalize learning.
Diana-Grace Morris Diana-Grace (dg) is currently the Team Leader for Te Papa Education Te Ipu Kähuirangi DG loves: learning, change, colour, educational theory, primary teaching, whakatauki, Central Reds, peoples coffee, and sustainability to keep all that going! Her best most exciting project at the moment is developing video conferencing programmes for schools enabling accessibility by distance to Te Papa’s exhibitions, collections, and specialists. Big question at the moment is, what does inquiry based learning look like in a video conference?
Stephanie Pride Stephanie works in strategic foresight at StratEDGY and has a particular interest in developing tools and processes for people to build their own futures capability. Born in a small Yorkshire mill town where the sun rarely shines, she came to Wellington via Oxford University and has been a committed New Zealander ever since. She has led futuring in a range of organisations and sectors, including establishing a learning network of futures practitioners, and enjoys working in the intersection of research and practice. Most recently, as Chief Advisor at Secondary Futures, she worked with the Education Sector to identify the systems changes needed to deliver 21st century education. She is particularly excited about the potential provided by the future principle in the New Zealand Curriculum to bed futures literacy into the education of every New Zealander.
Josie Roberts Josie is a senior researcher at NZCER and is interested in how formal education systems might greet the possibilities and responsibilities of the 21st century. She has worked in areas such as education for sustainability,education for enterprise, futures thinking, and youth development. Most recently her imagination has been captured by the potential of the future focussed issues in the New Zealand Curriculum—sustainability, citizenship, globalisation, and enterprise.
Perry Rush Perry Rush is principal of Island Bay School. His was formerly foundation principal of Discovery 1 School in Christchurch and founded Tawa School City Site in Wellington’s CBD. He is a proud dad, keen mountain biker and serious coffee drinker.
Juliet Twist Juliet is researcher and resource developer at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. Her research interests include literacy (including ESOL), curriculum and resource development, assessment, and key competencies.