Long time - no posts... Where did we go?

In 2009, Learn-Now found itself diving into the throws of ELLINZ online and since then, it's been heads down, with a great deal of midnight oil burned. Learn-Now went quiet on the marketing and access front, to split its energies between ELLINZ online and Learn-Now itself.  A team of Y4-6 students kept Learn-Now alive at Solway Primary, and a team of Y7-13 year olds were engaged in ELLINZ online, involving up to 25 schools to date.

What, or who is ELLINZ online?
ELLINZ (English Language Learning in NZ) online is an online programme and community, for Y7-13 refugee and migrant students in schools, who have no specialist or qualified ESOL teachers to support them.  Language for Learning (L4L) Consultants in Auckland, led by Jenni Bedford, took on a MoE tender, to design and develop what's become the intervention model. In 2009, L4L adopted the experience of Learn-Now in an advisory/consultative manner, to help turn the curriculum material designed, into an online learning reality. 

What came of Learn-Now?
Four phases of development later, in as many years, ELLINZ online is now in Operation Mode. Alongside, we've an NZCER team compiling both quantitative and qualitative data, set to inform the nature of 'Roll Out', in 2014. But what came of Learn-Now?  It became the testing ground for most of what morphed with ELLINZ online. We adopted Elgg as a platform for our eClassroom equivalents, and upped our ante even more with Google Apps, VoiceThread, Spelling City SpiderScribe, Raz-Kids, Adobe Connect, Skype and staff training, to name a few. Before adopting each edge with ELLINZ online, Learn-Now teams tested all. Our view? If 8-10 year olds could handle the edges, so too should 11-18 year olds. 

Stronger than ever...
Despite the relatively quiet presence of Learn-Now, it's become stronger than ever during its more nationally-based absence. What became apparent more than anything, was the ducks-to-water edge the 8-10 year olds had with their programme. While ELLINZ students and new eTeachers were adjusting to not only their curriculum material but also the tools and support services involved, Learn-Now students were designing their own communities, venturing into international circuits, running their own enterprise projects on far grandeur scales and strategically designing their own learning pathways. 

Learn-Now: What's afoot?

A growing interest in Learn-Now as word of mouth is once again spreading the synergies. We have a stunning advocate, namely Gail Marshall, Principal of Solway Primary, Masterton, who's keen to see more students involved - not just within her school... All good! Our role with ELLINZ online is less intensive - we no longer burn the midnight oil nor volunteer 2-3 days a week or more... (too few of us on the ground for the amount of work necessary) - so inspired by customer interest, we're ready to go in guns blazing.


Frontup4Impact.com 
For now though, Learn-Now's even more well equipped to go forth and multiply... We're operating now, out of Frontup4Impact.com - where students join to 'front up to make an impact', and have just resumed classes for the year (we operate Term 2-4 only). We have an ePrincipal role with ELLINZ online, coupled with a more flexible edge now to also implement our own Learn-Now programmes with great gusto. We'd like to encourage you to join us on the journey...in either project!  Be that via an increased blogging presence, or as a member of our programme. 

Our blogging presence?
From a blogged perspective though, only the Learn-Now edge will be recorded. Until the NZCER research team have complete their study with ELLINZ online, the Ministry of Education aren't keen for us to delve any further details, til August-September. The exception to the rule though? We may open the flood gates however, with a school keen to enrol... 

Next post: What's up in Learn-Now 2013...
Ka kite ono! :)