The VLN Primary is being funded by the MoE to extend their programmes to more schools and learners during Term 2 and Covid19. We can work with your teachers and students whether they are at home or school, or both, and support you with your online learning provisions. Find out more about this opportunity and share with your school network.

Who is this for? Schools who need support providing online distance learning to their students. Schools who want their students to access learning opportunities that are not available in their own school, and who want their teachers to become more confident and familiar with teaching in online environments. Schools who want to become more future-focused, flexible and resilient through building their capacity in online teaching and learning.

What do we provide? Online programmes for students, alongside PLD support for teachers to share the learning and resources further.

When does it run? Enrolments are taken during Term 2. Classes run for 10 weeks.

Does your school need support? What to do next...

1. Look over the programmes offered during our Covid19 response:

They include:

• Priority areas for NZ schools: te reo Māori, and digital technology;
• A range of foreign languages;
• A selection of courses for the creative arts, literacy, numeracy and science.

2. Read over what is recommended for your students and teachers:

In brief…

• Students AND teachers participate in weekly Zoom sessions of up to an hour long;
• Class sizes work well at up to 15 students. If more students want to enrol, teachers may hold their own Zoom sessions using VLNP resources (lesson slides, videos);
• Students make time for up to an hour of independent work a week;
• VLNP is able to help schools set up a learning management system (Seesaw or Google Classroom).

3. Enrol with VLN Primary to express your interest in participating

In brief…

• Provide contact details of the teacher nominated to communicate with the VLN Primary;
  
• Select up to three possible programmes for your school;
  
• Indicate the approximate number of students who would like to participate.

Once we’ve confirmed your enrolment ...

Schools are sent a spreadsheet to complete and provide details for a selection of students, and teacher/s, for the available programme/s. We recommend you:

Select students who …

• Are in Years 5 - 8;
• Have reliable internet, an available device, and a quiet space to work;
• Can work well with others and can provide support to other learners and teachers in their school should teachers provide online learning to other students.

Select teachers who …

• Can provide support to others in their school;
• Have an interest in the subject;
• Are willing to hold further Zoom sessions with other students.

Important links:

• How online learning works with the VLN Primary
• Programmes we are offering are here
• Protocols of Participation - how we work together 
• Our enrolment form

Secondary learning opportunities
PLD opportunities

Equity across schools in need

Rather than working with all of the interested students of a limited number of schools, we are hoping to make this opportunity available to more schools in need. To do this we are modelling how we work in our online classes, with a manageable number of students on Zoom (up to 15). Your teachers will be in these Zoom sessions, giving them a better understanding of:

• Using Zoom tools, and techniques for interacting with students during video conferencing;

• Navigating the Learning Management System (Seesaw or Google Classroom);

• The programme being taught, expected contributions during Zoom, and after with independent tasks.

If your school has students that were not able to participate, due to limited numbers, your own teachers will be better positioned to provide a similar model of online learning. We will support your teachers in their journey. Resources likely to be available:

• Access to the lesson slides

• Recordings of our eTeachers presenting the lesson slides or recorded Zoom sessions

• Support for teachers to set up Seesaw accounts and Google Classrooms, along with the independent activities that accompany the lesson slides.

• Pedagogical and technical support 

Enrolments will not be accepted directly from parents or whānau. If you are interested in this opportunity for your children please contact your school.

If you have any questions about how we can work with you please contact rachel.whalley@vln.school.nz 

Note that our current VLN Primary classes will continue running as usual from 15th April.