TEFANZ Newsletter Number 9
March 31, 2021
Kia ora koutou, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
This is a quick panui to update TEFANZ members about Executive Business since we last reported on this in November, 2020.
The executive met on 18 March – by zoom. The chair’s report noted a successful TEFANZ Research Hui last November, with thanks to the organisers and speakers. Following the research hui an account of Prof. Macfarlane’s keynote was published on the TEFANZ website along with a couple of other presentations. Take a look if you haven’t managed to see those research presentations: https://www.tefanz.org.nz/2020/11/tefanz-seminar-day/
TEFANZ FORUM – 22nd July – Save the Date!
We are keenly anticipating a forum this year where we can continue to network, share research, and contemplate ITE issues together. Emily Nelson and a team at Eastern Institute of Technology have generously agreed to host our forum. The theme is Mahi Tahi: Growing Great Teachers Together. It will be held on 22nd July, online. Please keep an eye on the TEFANZ Website for further information.
Hui involving teacher educators and TEFANZ, first quarter 2021
The three months leading to the March executive meeting was a quiet period but 2021 events were beginning to happen: an ITE provider hui with TCNZ over professional growth cycles occurred in February. The MoE met with us to talk about forthcoming NCEA changes (see information attached – please circulate to teacher educators in your organisation who may be interested). ITE approvals under the new requirements continue. Three hui that are planned for the end of April where TEFANZ is attending are: a day with NZEI and NAMSA discussing prospective ITE developments those organisations would like to advocate for; a stakeholder meeting with TCNZ|Hapori Matatū as they work on their strategic planning with the profession; and the first of our NZEI-TEFANZ networking hui for 2021 where leaders in primary and ece ITE from member organisations meet with the Union to discuss items of mutual interest. We will report on these activities in forthcoming newsletters and/but if you want an update, please contact Alexin the first instance: alex.gunn@otago.ac.nz
Ongoing TEFANZ Business – What we’ve been working on in a nutshell.
- Bev Cooper is discussing with some original TEFANZ folk, the possibility of writing a TEFANZ history given the organisation turned 20yrs old in 2019.
- A revamp of criteria for making TEFANZ awards selections possible is being led by Hiria and Eunice, we look forward to trailing these in 2022 when we next call for nominations for the Sustained Excellence in Teacher Education Award and Emerging Teacher Educator Award (see here: https://www.tefanz.org.nz/tefanz-awards/ )
- Rosina Merry and a small working group are progressing some policy positions around TEFANZ’s climate change and sustainability responsiveness that we plan to present at this year’s AGM.
- Fiona continues to work with colleagues at the University of Canterbury on working up some findings for publication produced from the TEFANZ Beginning Teacher Preparedness Surveys data. We look forward to an executive summary of any publication the team produces with a view sharing this amongst the membership.
- We are ready to update the TEFANZ Research Publications and ITE Related Research Projects page on the TEFANZ Website if folk will send updates to Alex (alex.gunn@otago.ac.nz). Please check your entries, make amendments on a screenshot or similar and send them along: https://www.tefanz.org.nz/what-is-tefanz/tefanz-members-te-research-and-publications-updated-feb-2020/
- The question of how to action our constitutional provision for people to become TEFANZ Fellow’s has been raised and we are beginning to look a procedure for this to be ratified by the membership at a future AGM.
- A series of international webinars (the second and third of which are coming in April and May) may be of interest to folk. Please see the flyer for each below and consider registering.
Finally, information about the executive members and the organisation more broadly can be found on the website, please take a look if you’re interested to find out more here: https://www.tefanz.org.nz/
Ka mihi nui ki a koutou,
Alex Gunn (as chair and on behalf of TEFANZ exec.)
The newsletter aims to keep our members up to date on TEFANZ activities and the national ITE landscape more generally. It will also be used to advertise opportunities to participate in policy or research activities that are offered to or generated by TEFANZ. We welcome contributions by member organisations who would like to connect with other members through this medium. We hope you find it useful and are happy to receive feedback (via Fiona Ell, f.ell@auckland.ac.nz).
TEFANZ is a climate conscious organisation. TEANZ strongly encourages purchase of carbon offset for all travel associated with TEFANZ business and events.
Want to find out more about carbon offset?
https://www.orataiao.org.nz/offset_your_emissions https://ekos.org.nz/ https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/sustainability-customer-carbon-offset
Teacher Education Webinars – March, April and May 2021.
NCEA Update Information.
