Derek’s blog

Derek’s Blog, launched in 2003, serves as a platform for sharing thoughts and reflections related to his work. It offers over 20 years of searchable posts, categorized by the tags below. Feel free to comment, as your feedback contributes to ongoing reflection and future posts.

Students First

October 13, 2006

Now that I’ve had time to read the Students First report from the Secondary Futures Group I thought I’d muse a little on what is in it. it is a […]

Blueprint for learning changes

October 12, 2006

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com. This morning’s headline on the front page of the local paper read Blueprint for learning Changes which caught my eye immediately. It’s a press release about the […]

Google Docs Released

October 12, 2006

I had a play with the Google Docs and Spreadsheets release this morning after reading about it on TechCrunch – it all looks very promising. It integrates the previously separate […]

Pedagogy

Google Literacy Project

October 10, 2006

Google has recently launched a portal to connect literacy organisations around the world. The Literacy Project enables teachers, organisations, and those interested in literacy to use the internet to search […]

MIT Smartboard

October 10, 2006

For someone who has been using Smartboard technologies since they appeared in NZ I was interested to watch this YouTube clip from MIT that introduces a new product that is […]

Diary entry

Nepal – one year on

October 8, 2006

(click image for larger version) Exactly a year ago today I was on my way to Kathmandu to link up with 40 others from around the world to trek up […]

Slideshare – sharing powerpoint slides

October 6, 2006

I’m spending the day in the Hawkes Bay today, presenting a keynote and workshop at the “Team Tamatea” conference – around 130 local teachers spending two days of their holidays […]

NoteMesh – Collaborate to Graduate

October 5, 2006

Here’san interesting twist to the idea of a personal learning environmetn (PLE) – a product called NoteMesh, descibed as… “a free service that allows college students in the same classes […]

research and papers

Imagining the Internet

October 4, 2006

It’s always fun to imagine what the future might bring. The Future of the Internet II contains the results of an eight-part 2006 survey of technology experts and social analysts […]

Waymarker – document your life

October 3, 2006

How cool is this idea? Using a mobile phone linked to a photosharing database, you can document your experience of life in a continuous manner, or, as the publicity says, […]

Deep Tagging

October 3, 2006

Tags, tag clouds and tagging are all now familiar terms to anyone who is living in the Web2.0 world, but now it appears that all the cool kids are deep […]

research and papers

New Technology in Schools: Is there a payoff?

October 2, 2006

Carrying on with an interest in demonstrating the value of using ICT in education, I came across another report this morning that makes for interesting reading. New Technology in Schools: […]

research and papers

Report: Use of ICT in Education can make a difference

September 29, 2006

Following on from discussions that I heard taking place at the ULearn conference I was interested to read this morning (via eSchool News) a new report that concludes that when […]

Games, gaming and game development in Education

September 27, 2006

Lisa Galarneau’s presentation at the ULearn conference has certainly stirred up a lot of conversation about gaming in education – ranging from those who are inspired and enthusiastic to those […]

conference entry

ULearn Conference Day One

September 26, 2006

A great first day of the ULearn conference in Christchurch yesterday – over 1400 teachers gathering for the annual conference on ICT use in Education. A special feature this year […]

Open Access Content for Learning

September 24, 2006

I spent a morning at the Future Learning for a Networked World open seminar in Christchurch a couple of days ago at which I had the pleasure of meeting and […]

research and papers

The future of secondary education

September 23, 2006

I’ve just been reading through some of the articles and papers that are a part of special issue of The High School Journal (December 1995/January 1996) that was developed on […]

Digital Storage

September 20, 2006

There is a lot of activity in NZ at the moment around the establishment of MUSH networks in local areas, providing linkage to the Advanced Network (KAREN) that has just […]

research and papers

Report Slams Teacher Education

September 20, 2006

There’s no doubt in my mind that being a teacher nowadays is a far more demanding and complex task than it was when I began my career over twenty years […]

Alice again…

September 10, 2006

Have just been playing with Alice again at the Picton conference, preparing for a workshop with some teachers. There’s a great little feature in the program that allows you to […]

Please get in touch to discuss your plans. FutureMakers is an approved provider of Ministry-funded, regionally allocated professional development (RAPLD). Search for Derek Wenmoth on the MoE website’s provider list when making an application.

What others say

The Learning Environments Australasia Executive Committee has received a lot of positive feedback, which is greatly due to your wealth of knowledge and information you imparted on our large audience, your presentation has inspired a range of educators, architects and facility planners and for this we are grateful.

Daniel Smith Chair Learning Environments Australasia

Derek and Maurie complement each other well and have the same drive and passion for a future education system that is so worthwhile being part of. Their presentation and facilitation is at the same time friendly and personal while still incredibly professional. I am truly grateful to have had this experience alongside amazing passionate educators and am inspired to re visit all aspects of my leadership. I have a renewed passion for our work as educational leaders.

Karyn Gray Principal, Raphael House Rudolf Steiner

I was in desperate need of a programme like this. This gave me the opportunity to participate in a transformative journey of professional learning and wellbeing, where I rediscovered my passion, reignited my purpose, and reconnected with my vision for leading in education. Together, we got to nurture not just academic excellence, but also the holistic wellbeing of our school communities. Because when we thrive, so does the entire educational ecosystem.

Tara Quinney Principal, St Peter's College, Gore

Refresh, Reconnect, Refocus is the perfect title for this professional development. It does just that. A fantastic retreat, space to think, relax and start to reconnect. Derek and Maurie deliver a balance of knowledge and questioning that gives you time to think about your leadership and where to next. Both facilitators have the experience, understanding, connection and passion for education, this has inspired me to really look at the why for me!

Jan McDonald Principal, Birkdale North School

Engaged, passionate, well informed facilitators who seamlessly worked together to deliver and outstanding programme of thought provoking leadership learning.

Dyane Stokes Principal, Paparoa Street School

A useful and timely call to action. A great chance to slow down, reflect on what really drives you, and refocus on how to get there. Wonderful conversations, great connections, positive pathways forward.

Ursula Cunningham Principal, Amesbury School

RRR is a standout for quality professional learning for Principals. Having been an education PLD junkie for 40 years I have never before attended a programme that has challenged me as much because of its rigor, has satisfied me as much because of its depth or excited me as much because of realising my capacity to lead change. Derek and Maurie are truly inspiring pedagogical, authentic leadership experts who generously and expertly share their passion, wisdom and skills to help Principal's to focus on what is important in schools and be the best leader they can be.

Cindy Sullivan Principal, Kaipara College

Derek Wenmoth is brilliant. Derek connects powerful ideas forecasting the future of learning to re-imagine education and create resources for future-focused practices and policies to drive change. His work provides guidance and tools for shifting to new learning ecosystems through innovations with a focus on purpose, equity, learner agency, and lifelong learning. His work is comprehensive and brings together research and best practices to advance the future of teaching and learning. His passion, commitment to innovation for equity and the range of practical, policy and strategic advice are exceptional.

Susan Patrick, CEO, Aurora Institute

I asked Derek to work with our teachers to reenergise our team back into our journey towards our vision after the two years of being in and out of 'Covid-ness'. Teachers reported positively about the day with Derek, commenting on how affirmed they felt that our vision is future focused. Teachers expressed excitement with their new learning towards the vision, and I've noticed a palpable energy since the day. Derek also started preparing our thinking for hybrid learning, helping us all to feel a sense of creativity rather than uncertainty. The leadership team is keen to see him return!

Kate Christie | Principal | Cashmere Ave School

Derek has supported, informed and inspired a core group of our teachers to be effective leads in our college for NPDL. Derek’s PLD is expertly targeted to our needs.

Marion Lumley | Deputy Principal |Ōtaki College

What a task we set Derek - to facilitate a shared vision and strategy with our Board and the professional and admin teams (14 of us), during a Covid lockdown, using online technology. Derek’s expertise, skilled questioning, strategic facilitation and humour enabled us to work with creative energy for 6 hours using a range of well-timed online activities. He kept us focussed on creating and achieving a shared understanding of our future strategic plan. Derek’s future focussed skills combined with an understanding of strategy and the education sector made our follow up conversations invaluable. Furthermore, we will definitely look to engage Derek for future strategic planning work.

Sue Vaealiki, Chair of Stonefields Collaborative Trust

Our Principal PLG has worked with Derek several times now, and will continue to do so. Derek is essentially a master facilitator/mentor...bringing the right level of challenge, new ideas & research to deepen your thinking, but it comes with the level of support needed to feel engaged, enriched and empowered after working with him.

Gareth Sinton, Principal, Douglas Park School

Derek is a highly knowledgeable and inspirational professional learning provider that has been guiding our staff in the development of New Pedagogies’ for Deep Learning. His ability to gauge where staff are at and use this to guide next steps has been critical in seeing staff buy into this processes and have a strong desire to build in their professional practice.

Andy Fraser, Principal, Otaki College