Introducing Derek Wenmoth

Derek works extensively with schools and clusters as they seek to prepare students for their future. He also consults with policy makers and government agencies regarding the future directions of NZ educational policy and practice. In recognition of his work, Derek was designated one of 2008’s “Global Six” by the George Lucas Educational Foundation that recognises individuals making a difference in education.

Derek has been a teacher, principal, teacher educator, distance educator, e-learning specialist and education policy adviser. In 2013 he co-founded CORE Education, a not-for-profit education research and development organisation based in Christchurch, New Zealand, a position he stepped aside from in 2017 to allow a new generation of leaders to take the reigns, and to enable him to pursue his interest in developing FutureMakers. 

He is married with five children and six grandchildren, and is passionately committed to finding ways though education to help build a more positive future for the planet and the people on it.

Derek is regularly invited to speak at conferences both nationally and internationally, and maintains a blog on matters relating to education and the future and that can be found here: http:www.futuremakers.nz/blog

Access all of Derek’s keynote and workshop presentations here – https://www.slideshare.net/dwenmoth

Professional experience

• Established EdRising, a national project to network future-focused educators across NZ
• Founder, FutureMakers
• Co-founder and Principal Consultant at Tātai Aho Rau-CORE Education Ltd.
• Policy adviser to the Minister of Education and Principal Adviser to the Digital Strategy section within the Ministry of Education.
• Project leader for NZ’s participation in the global New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL) project
• Leader of the project team design and development of a practice-based initial teacher education programme on behalf of Eastern Institute of Technology (2016/7)
• Leader of the Modern Learning Environment (MLE) working group within the Minister’s Cross Sector Forum (2012 to 2016)
• Supported the development of “Kiwi-Learners”, an Early Childhood Centre established in Chennai with a partner group there.
• Co-led the design and development of a teacher professional development pilot programme in Perak, Malaysia for the Malaysian Ministry of Education (2007)
• Engaged as a consultant to the MOE from 2003-5, working primarily on formulating policy linked to ICT strategy
• Eleven years as lecturer in Educational Technology at the Christchurch College of Education (1989 – 2000), with designation as principal lecturer by the time I left.
• Designed and oversaw the development and implementation of the Primary Open Learning Option (POLO) initial teacher education programme at a distance for CCE (started in 1995)
• Established regional teacher education programmes in Pangaru, Tairawhiti, Te Araroa and Waiariki providing initial teacher education opportunities within a Māori context.
• Led the development of an initial teacher education programme (from inception to approval by NZQA and Teacher’s Council) for the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in 2011-12.
• Led the establishment of NZ’s Virtual Learning Network (2002) – a network of regional and remote schools offering a brokered selection of courses to improve access for all learners.
• Advisory role in successive working groups and strategy writing groups for the MOE, at early years, school and tertiary level, since the late 1990s
• Led the innovative use of technologies to support distance-learning programmes within the Christchurch College of Education, CANTAtech project and within the Correspondence School
• Responsible for writing an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) strategy framework for the education sector while engaged as a contractor to the MOE (2003) and then involved in the implementation of elements of that from 2004-5
• Member of the writing team for NZ’s first ICT strategy for schools, 1999

Professional associations / positions

• Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (FLANZ); life member
• Global Education Leaders Partnership (GELP), member
• Internet Society of New Zealand, member
• Greater Christchurch Schools Network (GCSN) Trust Member

Awards and Scholarships

• 2018 – Life Membership, Flexible Learning Association of NZ (FLANZ)
• 2008 – Edutopia’s Global Six Award (George Lucas Foundation) for an international educator making a difference in education, special recognition for work in the area of distance education.
• 2001 – Peter Brice Award (Pacific Circle Consortium) In recognition for achievements in fostering inter-cultural understanding.
• 1993 – Ian Stewart Memorial Award (Christchurch College of Education) – For innovation and leadership in distance education.

Download Derek’s CV here for more details on his professional experience.

Avery, L., Jones, M., Marr, S., & Wenmoth, D. (2021). Mere engagement: Reflections about connections between online learning, student agency, and student engagement. Vienna, VA: Aurora Institute. – available online: https://aurora-institute.org/resource/mere-engagement-reflections-about-the-connections-between-online-learning-student-agency-and-student-engagement/

Wenmoth, D (2016) “Networked Learning” in “Leadership for Communities of Learning: Five Think Pieces” (Paper commissioned by the Education Council – available online: http://bit.ly/2u1ipo3/).

Wenmoth, D (2013) “Digital Alignment Strategy”, prepared for the Canterbury Regional Ministry of Education

Barbour, M & Wenmoth, D (2011) “Virtual Learning as an Impetuous for Educational Change: Charting A Way Forward for Learning in New Zealand.” Available online: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.989.6598&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Wenmoth, D (2010) “The future’s not what it used to be.” in Ham, V and Wenmoth, D (eds) (2010) eLearnings: implementing a national strategy for ICT in education, 1998 – 2010. CORE Education, Christchurch, New Zealand. Available online: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29929819-elearnings

Wenmoth, D., & Coogan, P. (2008) “Tomorrow’s web for our future learning” in Langley, J. (Ed) Tomorrow’s Schools 20 years on. Cognition Institute. Available online: https://kipdf.com/thinking-research-tomorrow-s-schools-20-years-on-edited-by-john-langley_5ae60faa7f8b9a71058b45bb.html

Wenmoth, D., & Eckstein, J. (2008). Educational Technologies in New Zealand. In M. Orey, T. Amiel, J. McClendon, & M. K. Barbour (Eds.), The world almanac of educational technologies.

Ham, V and Davey, R, Wenmoth D (2007) “Teachers Doing IT For Themselves: Action Research as Professional Development” in Transforming Classroom Practice: Professional Development Strategies in Educational Technology – ISTE 2007.

Wenmoth, D; Trewern, A; Gilmore, H (2005) “Towards a Professional Community of Inquiry: Report to the MOE on the T4T4T pilot” Published by CORE Education, available online: http://tinyurl.com/cr9yrp.

Wenmoth, D (2005) “The New Zealand Correspondence School and the Video Conferencing Cluster Schools Network” – in “Open Schooling Models” published by Commonwealth of Learning (COL) for the International Conference on Open Schooling, Goa, India, 23-25 January 2005.

Wenmoth, D (2004) “SchoolNets in Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands” – in “Emerging Trends in the Development of School Networking Initiatives” part of the Perspectives on Distance Education series, Commonwealth of Learning, 2004.

Wenmoth, D. (1996). Learning in the distributed classroom. SET Research Information for Teachers, 2(4). 1–4.