Virtual Learning Network Primary School

What would Aotearoa New Zealand look like if there was equal access to learning, no matter who and where you are? What would it feel like for all our tamariki / young learners, especially those in remote rural areas? These are the questions we ask ourselves when we set out to make a difference for our learners. Our kaupapa, goals and vision are to enable & empower 'Connected Passionate Purposeful Learners'. We want our children to be connected, confident, digitally fluent, global citizens; have equitable educational opportunities; and to broaden their learning opportunities by participating in flexible and dynamic virtual learning classes that extend beyond the traditional classroom setting.

The VLN Primary is a growing organisation operating with limited and uncertain funding from the government. In 2017 we had approximately 1200 NZ students from 50 schools participating in our online programmes & projects. The exciting programmes that students could choose from include: Te Reo Māori & Kapa Haka (550 learners), Programming, French, Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Astronomy, Extension Maths, Afrikaans, German, Korean, Italian, Japanese, Visual Arts, Rural & Remote Schools Project, and the Over the Back Fence Project (OtBF). Classes are run through Zoom web conferencing and supported with anytime, anywhere access to our WeLearn student portal, and Google classrooms. Online learning in our context is not about software, or platforms as such, but about real people - teachers & learners, connecting through technology.

We are seeking funding to strengthen our capacity to develop programmes that would continue to provide opportunities to a growing number of learners.

Funding assistance would enable us to provide:

* an elearning support role for students and teachers to assist them to develop their digital capability to be able to access and engage with online learning;

* Kaupapa Māori lead role to ensure that te reo Māori programmes are strengthened and extended to the wider school community and to support and engage Māori learners & Kura;

* administrative support role to ensure that programmes are coordinated and run smoothly;

* laptops for online teachers;

* technology & communication costs.

We invite you to find out more about how we work with learners across Aotearoa New Zealand and consider how you could support us to ‘unleash potential through learning’ for them.