Today I published the following article to our community. It is a celebration of creative excellence at Te Huruhuru Ao o Horomaka Hornby High School. The bulk of the text was provided by Mr Uai Lie, our Head of Faculty Technology, and the leader of the project.
The 'Taro Project' is a collaborative project that uses Science and Technology to provide an opportunity for Pasifika youth to grow tropical vegetables in Ōtautahi Christchurch city.
Students have engaged in building hi-tech cupboards that use sophisticated technology that monitors the growing conditions, with a fully automated watering system, lighting, and a cooling fan, to control the environment.
Students have been involved in the design and construction of the environments to grow the taro. They have designed and created component parts using 3D printing and laser cutting technology. They have used electronics to build monitoring and control systems that will regulate air flow, and automatically water the plants, to create the best possible growing conditions.
The project provides this unique opportunity to connect traditional knowledge from elders with modern technology from our students to enhance cultural capability.
The taro project is a collaboration between Clark Williams of the YMCA Makerspace and the Hornby High School Technology Faculty, and is a wonderful example of the impact of our school vision to be a centre of creative excellence. It is also a great example of the application of our Manaiakalani 'Learn, Create, Share, pedagogy to improve engagement and learning.
How does amazing stuff like this happen in kura generally? It happens when you have creative, committed, dedicated staff, staff who have vision, staff who are prepared to take risks. This example is not unique at Hornby High School.
I would also like to think it happens because we try hard to empower staff, to give them the freedom to try new things, to take risks. If you don't, you don't get top keep the types of staff we have in our kura. I think they'll simply vote wth their feet if they feel disempowered.
And this sort of activity helps to create the deeper knowledge which is also I think a necessary ingredient of creativity. I think it's reasonable to suggest that this ought to simply be good teaching and learning. And you'd probably be right. It is, and by ensuring that we have a consistent pedagogy (learn, create, share), and. our focus on creativity (remember our vision 'a centre of creative excellence') we support that good teaching and learning. This amazing project also rein forces that point that 'create' in our Manaiakalani context does not just mean creating digital 'artefacts'. Yes there was a wide range of digital 'making' involved in the project, but the final output is 'anything but'.
Let's not forget of course that underpinning this has to be good behaviour management, direct teaching.. yes, all of those things that cause learning. And right now across the motu I think that we all face challenging behaviours. Is this the answer? No. Is it a part of the answer. I believe so.
Congratulations Robin - to you and the students and co-workers at Hornby HS and the YMCA! This is a wonderful project - I really love both the simplicity and sophistication involved! The resources used are well within reach of pretty much any secondary school which just shows that innovation such as this doesn't require massive investment! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKia ora Derek
DeleteAll absolutely true, and all the result (I think) of allowing staff to 'have their head'. Often I think we need to get out of the way of gifted educators, we need to trust them, and we need to TELL them that we trust them.
Talofa Robin, this had to be shared. Wow!! A wonderful example of CREATE and loved your comment that it doesn't always have to be a digital artifact. How does this stuff happen ... it starts with deliberate and intentional leadership, and as a result ... boom! A wonderful example of creative excellence, resulting in motivated and engaged learners. Fa'afeta lava!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have seen the series Different Strokes with young actor Gary Coleman whose catch phrase was "That's what I am talking about Willis". This is an exemplar and encouragement to Do It. It shows what happens when people understand the resources need to engineer ,create and innovate are now widely available. What do we put in the ingredients pot to achieve this: Enthusiasm, access to knowledge, risk taking, design, purpose. What do we get out wonderful and empower young people oooh and something to munch on.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool project, well done Uai, Robin and team!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing. I have visions of growing pawpaw and mangoes and all my tropical favourites. What a fantastic example of what can be achieved through creativity.
ReplyDeleteKia ora tatau - My Name is Mark Treadwell and I write a lot about education. I am VERY impressed with the work you all of you have have achieved under the guidance of Mr Uai Lie and the dedicated team of students. This is a significant piece of work, and hopefully, it will trigger other schools to create technological other creations based on the Technology curriculum. I would be very keen to make reference to your work and provide a link to other schools both locally and internationally. mark@work.co.nz
ReplyDeleteKia ora Mark
DeleteThanks for commenting. I have followed your own work for a long time now, and am flattered that you have chosen to connect. As you say, this is indeed a significant piece of work. It is representative not only of the the work that Uai is leading, and which the team generally are creating, but also of the wider creative ethos that we are trying to build. We still have 'a ways to go', as they say, but I am daily excited by the work my colleagues bring to our rangatahi. More than happy for you to reference this work, and yes we are always keen to connect with other kura.
Kia ora Robin. So delighted to see students having the opportunity to experiment and create. It takes a team to get to the creative ideas going and then becoming achieved. Additionally, it is culturally appropriate. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKia ora Robin. So delighted to see students having the opportunity to experiment and create. It takes a team to get to the creative ideas going and then becoming achieved. Additionally, it is culturally appropriate. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTalofa Robin, the immediate thought that springs to mind is that this is the type of news worthy story you would see on a news broadcast or a current affairs show on TV. This truely is purposeful, authentic learning that speaks to students involved. This really does harness the power of Learn, create, share. The problem solving and research would have been powerful and I'm sure this is an experience your students will remember for a life time. Well done to everyone involved! What a fantastic opportunity!
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