Professional learning

Oaklands School has engaged Rob Clarke for a number of years in a variety of roles. In 2019 we have participated with Learning Architects in a PLD programme as part of the MOE funding scheme. All of our teaching staff participated in a professional development programme on writing within the… Read more “Professional learning that built teacher capacity”

Rob has been a big help in assisting our staff, students, and parents, as we strive to develop capable and responsible digital citizens. He has run parent workshops, staff meetings and worked in classrooms with our teachers and students. Rob provides professional learning in digital citizenship that is practical, a… Read more “Professional learning that is practical, real, and supportive”

Victoria has worked with Waipawa School over the last 12 months in Digital Technologies PLD. She connected with staff and made an impact from day 1. Victoria sets high expectations and supports and guides teachers to reach these expectations. She is highly knowledgeable and collaborative in her practice. Victoria personalises… Read more “…set our school up in a sustainable way”

Kia ora, my name is Emma Ranui and I am Deputy Principal here at Pyes Pa School. We’ve been fortunate having Victoria Macann deliver a workstream of professional learning for all of our staff around digital technologies and in particular focusing in on computational thinking, we’ve enjoyed the ease of… Read more “Focusing in on computational thinking”

Shona is a vastly creative and experienced practitioner who has helped our staff navigate through the complexities of 21st-century learning concepts and the exponential increase in access to digital technologies. As a result, we are a school with a strong sense of direction and philosophy around our learning culture, especially… Read more “Shona is a vastly creative”

Working with Shona has been brilliant. She has a strong grasp of the new Digital Technologies Curriculum and provides fantastic support. However, it is her ability to see the bigger picture within a schools infrastructure, ethos and vision to cater professional learning to our specific situation, with the foresight to… Read more “Strong grasp of the new Digital Technologies Curriculum”

It has been inspiring working alongside Shona as we develop the DT Curriculum for the Junior School – Years 0-2. She has excellent curriculum knowledge and she has a passion to see DT integrated into all areas of the curriculum. Shona is able to work effectively 1:1 with staff, work… Read more “It has been inspiring working alongside Shona”

I have to admit I was a bit sceptical at the beginning of how Computational Thinking would fit into our programme with the range of learners I have, however, I shouldn’t have been because it has been great. Shona unpacked the Digital Technologies Curriculum with us and supported us to… Read more “incredibly creative ideas to help implement the DTC”

Our college is integrating the DTHM curriculum across our junior Ignite Programme. We wanted a PLD partner with a broad knowledge of all curriculum areas and expertise in cross-curriculum project-based integration to support us with our implementation. Our team has come away from our first session with a clear understanding… Read more “confident in where we are going with the DTHM curriculum”

Tabitha is an exceptional coach, supporter and teacher. She has worked alongside our staff to enable them to become more confident with the use of technology to make their lives easier and to utilise more effectively in the classroom. I would strongly recommend Tabitha if you are needing someone who… Read more “Tabitha is an exceptional coach”

The staff of our school have certainly appreciated and benefited from the professional development around the Digital Technology Curriculum provided by Victoria this year. Victoria brings everything from a teaching perspective and each session has included direct tangibles for teachers to be able to use the next day in their… Read more “Outstanding professional development delivered from a teaching perspective”

Matt is supporting us in a variety of ways that align and support our culture and kaupapa – team teaching, growing leadership, making connections and gathering learner voice. We have been lucky enough to work with Matt Richards for almost 5 years around project-based learning and learner agency as part… Read more “Innovative learning… digital fluency”

We worked with Victoria at the Makerspace classroom and again with the introduction of the new Digital Technology Curriculum. Victoria has worked closely with teaching staff on progress outcomes, and how to include these into their classroom practice. I can’t speak highly enough of how Victoria has developed sound professional… Read more “…decodes the Digital Technology Curriculum”

Victoria is an enthusiastic, passionate and encouraging facilitator of the Digital Technology Curriculum. As one of the lead teachers of the Digital Technology Curriculum at Tauranga Intermediate School, I’ve had a lot to do with Victoria. She is extremely supportive towards not only myself but members of my team who… Read more “…I’m really grateful I get to learn from her as it’s making me a better teacher…”

I had a great day with Victoria today. I was feeling a little apprehensive about how this would work for my class (NE in a play based setting) but I am walking out feeling inspired and keen to try out the great ideas we have been given. Victoria has a… Read more “Inspiring professional learning in digital technologies!!”

I came to this PLD today very unsure of what was expected of me. I have been so surprised at the ease of learning and the knowledge I feel I have now after this professional learning with Victoria. It has really made me keen to have a go in my… Read more “Amazing professional learning in digital technologies!!”

Victoria has delivered highly engaging Digital Technologies professional development that our staff was able to take straight back and embed into their classrooms. Being a former teacher, Victoria is able to communicate clearly to ensure teachers have clarity and understanding about what they are learning

I have been privileged to work with Rob over a number of years now since Learning Architects were brought on board to support our School moving to cloud-based Systems – most notably Google. Rob has supported the different levels of computer literacy in our team as we moved to Google… Read more “…increased our understandings of ourselves individually as leaders while enhancing our collective leadership…”

Rob has an amazing knowledge of the Google Suite, and his tips and support will most certainly make a positive difference to a principal’s or office manager’s daily workload by managing emails and providing tips that are in place daily. Rob is well worth considering if you want to put… Read more “Amazing knowledge of the Google Suite”

…fantastic! He really makes me and think about the deeper issues facing our school and is supporting us to strengthen the teaching and learning across all aspects of the curriculum. His insight into leadership is helping to develop a stronger and more future-focused leadership team.

Learning Architects has helped Ararira Springs Primary start our journey as a learning community. When helping set up our Google systems to getting our website live, Rob has listened to our ideas and helped facilitate a solution. Google Hangouts, online support tools and face to face meetings have been used… Read more “Responsive, Creative and Considered”

I have appreciated the expertise and professional experience that Rob has brought to the work he has done with us. This coupled with a willingness to listen and problem solve together has seen us achieve results that are collectively owned. Kāhui Ako o Wakatipu is well set up to collaborate… Read more “Expertise and professional experience”

I have worked with Rob through our Kāhui Ako to develop the digital communication systems. Rob’s ability to listen carefully, ask relevant questions and then develop systems collaboratively with our large Kāhui was greatly appreciated. His knowledge and expertise were highly valued, together with his ability to connect with all… Read more “Helped us to develop a system that is working very well for our Kāhui Ako”

The Puketeraki Kāhui Ako Leadership Team employed Learning Architects very early in our development. We were aware that to connect leaders and teachers across seventeen schools we needed some form of digital communication system. Rob Clarke sat in on our early management discussions and was able to co-construct a google… Read more “Knowledge of how schools work and how to blend possibilities with technology is unique”

Learning Architects continue to positively support our CoL | Kāhui Ako, especially in our establishment phase. We look forward to building on our communication systems/website/PLD needs while supporting and informing our collaborative journey.

Often when new ideas come into a school we are rushed or pressured to do this one and this one and this one. You gave amazing advice yesterday when you talked me through blogs and web pages, etc… You said that I don’t need to do them all that to… Read more “You gave amazing advice yesterday…”

The opportunity to work in real time – i.e. not just listen and try to remember.
The time spent on ensuring we could use a feature rather than bombarding us with the whole range available.
The feedback from experience about which apps are really useful in the education… Read more “Time spent on ensuring we could use a feature…”

Rob catered so well for our staff with the wide range of experiences and confidence using computers and familiarity with Google. He inspired staff and since the day we have had staff that are keen to try things and are using their computer so much more than they ever have.… Read more “Built leadership capability within our school…”

Please keep in touch and we will work with you. The work you did has helped transform the way we work.

I tried several times to get my head and my staff across the line in using google doc’s and google sites. Having contracted Learning Architects to work remotely in a support and mentor role I achieved this and more. Beyond the technical expertise, what really helped was the strategic, feet… Read more “A partnership, a mentorship and a great on going decision…”

Thanks so much for the fantastic presentation you gave on using Google Drive within the classroom. I came away with knowledge, skills and confidence and am buzzing with the possibilities for the classroom!

The course was practicable, hands on, pace suited the participants as you could work as fast or as slow as you were capable. It has given me the opportunity to practice and to see the possibilities of what Google Docs can do. Certainly a tool that can be used both… Read more “See the possibilities…”

Being out of our own environment, uninterrupted and able to totally focus on particular areas. To think about how we operate, looking at the bigger picture of our jobs and learning new methods to apply.

Just wanted to say thanks and that I got a lot out of my day yesterday. It was probably some of the best PD time/money ever spent. Natasha, Judy and I are all buzzing about it today.

Your G Suite for Education and Hāpara presentations help to reaffirm that our school is on the right track. As always there was so much to take in but your excellent follow up notes have allowed me the opportunity to review the presentation and continue to learn ‘after’ the fact.… Read more “Well pitched for our school and where we are at…”

I have had Learning Architects training through my school and for a BOT I was on so I consider myself to be fairly au fait with Google Suite. In saying this I always learn heaps with Rob ie deeper understanding of apps I use, tricks and tips, and apps I’ve… Read more “Flexible and suited to each individuals context and needs…”

Small group, great people, learning lots of little trick to make working easier, great to know that others had the same concerns, “You know your stuff” enthusiastic presentation, good pace, good content. I didn’t feel brain dead at the end of the session but couldn’t wait to share what I… Read more “Lots of little tricks to make working easier…”

Course content all totally relevant to job and Rob is very knowledgeable about what he is teaching. I have been back at school one week of term and have already put some of what was covered into practice ie short keys with emails, so is testimony that course provides tools… Read more “Improve practices in the office…”

I really enjoyed the day and your facilitation of it. Thought the delivery was really relaxed but knowledgeable. Great to see you sharing your expertise but also being a learner, not knowing all of the google pathways but problem-solving to get there. And your follow up has been outstanding!

I really enjoyed the day and found it very worthwhile.
It was particularly beneficial to have the course catered to meet the needs of the individuals and the group. Great one-on-one support. It was good that people came from a range of backgrounds and prior knowledge …. I had… Read more “Catered to meet the needs of the individuals and the group…”

The course was well thought out and relevant to what had been advertised. There seemed to be a wide range of knowledge and capabilities within the group which were well catered for in the presentation. I came away feeling very informed and wanting to learn more! Plus it was fun… Read more “I came away feeling very informed and wanting to learn more!”

Was great to meet other people who work in the same environment as myself. Good to learn how to sort my emails into priority and save time. Was a great course and I would attend one again.

The programme was multi level. Found out new uses for the systems we are currently using. It was great to learn new ways ( e.g gmail) to organise and streamline documents. Variations and limits for sites and blogs was extremely helpful. Explanation of ways to use shared notes and shortcuts,… Read more “Great resource for teams and students…”

Rob’s help, at the end of the phone and by clever use of Google Hangouts, for both small and complex technical support with getting the most out of google apps has been helpful beyond explanation, many times. Rob knew my technical strengths and limitations, and provided instant assistance with my… Read more “Helpful beyond explanation…”

I attended a three-day workshop called Empowering the Digital Office, led by Rob Clarke. Being in the administration area of the school, I find it difficult to find really good professional development. This workshop was ideal for everything that I needed. It was a full day for the first day… Read more “Streamline processes so that they are efficient”