Kia ora Readers,
Right now I’m really looking forward to Techweek, which starts on Monday 20 May. I block out the whole week as there are so many great events to choose from and it’s impossible to fit them all in!
If you don’t have this in your diary already, get to the Techweek website ASAP and decide on what events you are going to attend. There is something for everyone, with events in every region of New Zealand, and even one in Rarotonga. Techweek culminates with the NZ Hi-Tech Awards gala dinner on Friday 24 May. This is a stand out event and one of the highlights of the year for the tech community.
EdTechNZ will be hosting an event on Techweek TV about reinventing education for a tech future and addressing inequality. We know that inequality, as well as equity, are imperatives that need addressing right now and EdTechNZ and our larger ecosystem has a key part to play in this.
There is also a Techweek19 School Series with a number of online sessions, as well as in-person events, aimed at children of all ages (and us “older kids” may attend too!).
TechWomen’s award-winning mentoring programme ShadowTech is back for 2019 and launches during Techweek19, with the Gisborne event kicking things off on 23 May. ShadowTech provides girls (years nine to eleven) with the opportunity to experience what working in a tech job could be like by shadowing a tech professional for a day. We would love you to help inspire more girls into tech by signing up to be a mentor. While this is a TechWomen initiative, men are welcome to be a mentor, as long as there is a female staff member who can interact with the girls on the day.
That’s it from me this month, I hope to see many of you at Techweek events.
Haere rā
Shane Kerr
Chair
EVENTS AND NEWS
Join EdTechNZ and TechWomen on 13 June in Wellington, 20 June in Auckland and 26 June in Christchurch to discuss how diversity can be achieved in the technology sector. Registrations open soon.
Learn why some New Zealand parents are calling for evidence-based guidelines for screen use in schools.
Applications close on Friday 17 May for the Screenrights 2019 Cultural Fund. Last year’s winners included an app to increase access for culturally significant Indigenous material; and a collaborative live experience to tour schools with interactive content.
Six EdTech trends you should be excited about.
Could remixing old MOOCs give new life to free online education?
Scale-Up New Zealand, a Callaghan Innovation initiative to strengthen ecosystem maturity, launched last week. This is a free online platform connecting innovative New Zealand businesses, investors, incubators and others, with each other and the world. We encourage you to place your organisation’s profile on Scale-Up, so it easier to attract funding.
Travel to EdTechXEurope 2019 in London, 18 June. Connecting over 900 investors, innovators and influencers from education companies globally. Later that month attend London EdTech Week 18-25 June, 2019.
The Tycoon Games National Schools Competition is happening next month. Run by the Joy Business Academy, the Tycoon Game series has been created to immerse school students in the act of building their own business in the virtual world.
Check out #ISTE2019, 23-26 June in Philadelphia.
EdTechNZ members are eligible for a 10% discount on registrations for the STEAM Education Summit, 28-29 May in Auckland. Email us for the discount code.
What robots and AI may mean for university lecturers and students.
Sign up before 31 May to receive the earlybird discount to the uLearn 19 Conference, this October in Rotorua. This year’s themes include Citizenship, Disruption and Innovation.
The New Zealand Productivity Commission is calling for submissions on its Technological change and the future of work issues paper. Submissions are due 5 June.
Congratulations to EdTechNZ member Xero who have been named as a finalist in two Hi-Tech Award categories; Managing Director Craig Hudson in the Inspiring Individual of the Year category, and teaching platform Xero Learn in the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service. Secure your tickets for the Gala Dinner on 24 May in Auckland, during Techweek19.
Researchers at the University of Auckland are seeking participants for a multimedia science public communication study. Complete the 15 minute survey to go into the draw to win a $100 gift voucher.
Entries are open for the James Dyson Award, an international design competition that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers.
Do you use a voice activated assistant? A new poll has found that nine in 10 parents of young children say they or someone in their family interacts with a voice activated assistant.
Save the date for the Canterbury Tech Summit on 12 September in Christchurch.
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