To mark 25 years of virtual learning in New Zealand we have compiled a collation of research and reports that focus on the policy and practice of online, flexible and distance learning in New Zealand schools.

Research supports the premise that online learning can be effective for learners in a variety of ways. However, it does depend on how online learning is designed, taught and supported. Also important to practice is strong policy that supports it. Policy surrounding virtual learning in New Zealand has been sadly lacking over the last 25 years. Perhaps in the next 25 years policy directions will be more future focused and supportive of online, flexible and distance learning in New Zealand schools. What will our research agenda be looking forward?

Lindsay, L. & Whalley, R. (2020) Building Resilience in NZ schools through online learning in Teaching, Technology, and Teacher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stories from the Field. Ferdig, R.E., Baumgartner, E., Hartshorne, R., Kaplan-Rakowski, R. & Mouza, C. (Eds). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved July 29, 2020 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/216903/.

Whalley, R. , K. Barbour, M. (2020). Collaboration and Virtual Learning in New Zealand Rural Primary Schools: A Review of the Literature . Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 21 (2) , 102-125 . DOI: 10.17718/tojde.727983

McRae, J. (2019) Virtually connected. Ako the Journal for Education Professional. Winter 2019. Wellington: New Zealand. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/34bPf3S

Cognition Eduction (2018) On-line distance education research final report to the Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/3478prS

Whalley, R. (2018). Collaboration across New Zealand rural primary schools: A virtual learning perspective (Thesis, Master of Education (MEd)). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/11975 

Ali, A. (2017). The development of the learning exchange schools in New Zealand: An actor network theory and complexity theory analysis. Victoria University, Wellington: New Zealand. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/DXshr7 

Kwok-Wing Lai (2017) Pedagogical practices of NetNZ teachers for supporting online distance learners,Distance Education, 38:3, 321-335, DOI: 10.1080/01587919.2017.1371830

Ministry of Education (2017) Grass Roots Project Report: Wairakei School - Connecting to Expert Teachers Virtually. Wellington: New Zealand. Retrieved http://bit.ly/2UdJePR

Tolosa, C., East, M., Barbour, M., & Owens, H. (2017). CoOL or not CoOL? Learning an Asian language online in the context of communities of online learning. The New Zealand Language Teacher, 43, 51-62. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/34heQZs

Williamson-Leadley, S., &Pratt, K. (2017). New Zealand teacher educators’ knowledge of and attitudes towards online and blended learning (pp. 724–726). Presented at the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/177875/

Alexander-Bennett, C. (2016). Keynote: FarNet Ten Years on—The Past, Present, and Future for Distance Learners. Journal of Open Flexible and Distance Learning, 20(2), 24–31.

Barbour, M., Davis, N., & Wenmoth, D. (2016). Primary and Secondary Virtual Learning in New Zealand: Examining Barriers to Achieving Maturity. International Journal on E-Learning, 15(1), 27–45. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/345ZZRs

Whalley, R. (2016). Supporting Student Independence in Virtual Learning within New Zealand Primary Schools: Investigating the role of the School Based Support Staff (Dissertation, Master of Education (MEd)). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/345LHjH

Whalley, R., & Khoo, E. G. L. (2016). Supporting primary student independence in virtual learning: Investigating the role of school-based support staff. In N. Wright (Ed.), DEANZ2016:There and back: Charting flexible pathways in open, mobile and distance education (pp. 247–253). Hamilton, New Zealand: DEANZ. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/346vSJF

Roberts, R. (2014). Look out they are coming! DEANZ Magazine. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/ht4gPr

Barbour, M. K., & Bennett, C. (2013). The FarNet journey: Effective teaching strategies for engaging Māori students on the Virtual Learning Network. Journal of Open Flexible and Distance Learning, 17(1), 12–23.

Barbour, M. K., Davis, N., & Wenmoth, D. (2013). Networked Schools in New Zealand: Examples from the Virtual Learning Network. In Proceedings of SITE 2013--Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 4102–4107). New Orleans, Louisiana, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved from http://www.learntechlib.org/p/48763/

Barbour, Michael K. and Wenmoth, D. (2013) Virtual Learning as an Impetus for Educational Change: Charting a Way Forward for Learning in New Zealand. CORE Education Research Report. Christchurch, New Zealand: CORE Education, 2013. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/aiBqZA

Buchanan, P. C. (2013). An Exploration of Models for Collaborative Leadership of Virtual Learning Network e-Learning Clusters in New Zealand (Thesis, University of Waikato). Retrieved from http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/8645

Louwrens, N. P. (2013). Exploration of online activities that engage New Zealand middle school students A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a degree of Master of Education in E-learning at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand (Thesis).

Owen, H. (2013). Interview with Eddie Reisch. Journal of Open Flexible and Distance Learning, 17(1), 46–55.

Pratt, K. (2013). An exploration of learner and support characteristics of students involved in virtual schooling. In Proceedings of SITE 2013--Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 4147–4149). New Orleans, Louisiana, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)Retrieved from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/48772/

Pratt, K. (2013). Exploring the usefulness of frameworks for virtual schooling: A New Zealand example. In Proceedings of SITE 2013--Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 4150–4152). New Orleans, Louisiana, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/48773/

Pratt, K., & Pullar, K. (2013). OtagoNet: One region’s model for virtual schooling. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 17(1), 1–11. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2UhdgCi

Bennett, C., & Barbour, M. K. (2012). The FarNet journey: Perceptions of Māori students engaged in secondary online learning. Journal of Open Flexible and Distance Learning, 16(1), 83–98.

Stevens, K. J. (2012). Organizational, Pedagogical and Conceptual Changes in the Provision of Education in Rural New Zealand and Atlantic Canadian Communities. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 6(2). Retrieved from http://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/article/view/505

Barbour, M. K. (2011). Primary and secondary e-learning: Examining the process of achieving maturity. Christchurch, New Zealand: Distance Education Association of New Zealand. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/z1QP1p

Davis, N. (2011). New forms of networked schooling are evolving – fast! Visionary leadership please. Computers in New Zealand Schools: Learning, teaching, technology. Vol 23. No 2. pp 177-181. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2Ubq1OE

Duncan, W. A. (2011). Understanding the nature and function of empathy in synchronous multimedia conferencing.  A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand (Thesis, Massey University). Retrieved from http://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/3068

Ministry of Education. (2011). Learning communities online: A support handbook for cluster schools. Wellington: New Zealand. Retrieved from http://www.vln.school.nz/groups/profile/2644/lco-handbook

Powell, A., & M. K. Barbour. (2011) Tracing international differences in online learning development: An examination of government policies in New Zealand's Secondary Schools. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 15.1: 75–89. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/XLjKqX

Pratt, K. & Trewern, A. (2011). Students experiences of flexible learning options: What can they tell us about what they need for success? Computers in New Zealand Schools: Learning, leading, technology. Vol. 23, No. 2 pp 137-152.

Stevens, K. M. (2011). The distribution of instructional leadership in eLearning clusters: an ecological perspective. Retrieved from https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/5446

Roberts, R. (2010). Increasing access for learners – The Virtual Learning Network. In V. Ham & D. Wenmoth (Eds.), e-Learnings: Implementing a national strategy for ICT in education, 1998-2010 (pp. 144-152). Christchurch, New Zealand: CORE Education Ltd. Available https://goo.gl/zhS81s

Roberts, R. (2010) Teaching Under the Microscope - Trends in Online Learning, in Proceedings of ULearn10 - Research Stream. 6 - 8 October, 2010, Christchurch Convention Centre, New Zealand. N. Dabner, S. Bailey, J. Johnson, N. Davis Eds. Available https://goo.gl/qobj2C

Stevens, K. (2010). An Open Learning Matrix to Sustain Education in Rural New Zealand. In Looking Back from the Centre (pp. 161–172). Wellington: New Zealand: Victoria University Press.

Bolstad, R., & Lin, M. (2009).Students’ experiences of learning in virtual classrooms. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/IvxldH

Roberts, R. (2009). Video conferencing in distance learning: A New Zealand schools’ perspective. Journal of Distance Learning, 13(1), 91–107. 
Available http://www.jofdl.nz/index.php/JOFDL/article/view/40

Waiti, P. (2005). Evaluation of Kaupapa ara whakawhiti mātauranga (KAWM). Retrieved from NZCER website: https://goo.gl/xVBvAX

Walsh-Pasco, L. (2005) From teletubbies to teleteacher: Effective practices in video conference teaching. Ministry of Education 2004 eFellow report. Retrieved from https://goo.gl/6huVPG

Langley, M. (2003).Case study of the Cantatech and TOSItech distance learning projects. (University of Canterbury). Retrieved from https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/2869

Stevens, K. J., New Zealand, & Te Puni Kōkiri. (1998). Telelearning and contexts of awareness at Ngata Memorial College: Te pouaka whakaako ki te Kareti o Ngata. Wellington, N.Z.: Te Puni Kokiri.

Stevens, K. J., & Moffatt, C. (2003). From distance education to elearning: The organization of open classes at local, regional and national levels. In J. Bradley (Ed.), The open classroom: Distance learning in and out of schools. (pp. 171–180). London ; Sterling, VA: Kogan Page.

Stevens, K. (1996), The Technological Challenge to the Notion of Rurality in New Zealand Education - Repositioning the Small School. New Zealand Annual Review of Education, 5, 93 - 102. Retrieved from https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/nzaroe/article/view/1114

 Wenmoth, D. (1996). Learning in the distributed classroom. SET Research Information for Teachers, 2(4). 1–4 Retrieved from https://goo.gl/pb4tw7

Stevens, K. (1994). Some applications of distance education technologies and pedagogies in rural schools in New Zealand. Distance Education, 15(2), 318–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158791940150210

Please contact us if there is more to add to this list nex@vln.school.nz