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.

What are the benefits?

August 19, 2023

By considering the positive outcomes (benefits) of having the technical solutions in place we can create a far more compelling story about why it is we are pursuing these initiatives in the first place.

Pedagogy

A theory of stupid

July 24, 2023

Instead of focusing on the “evil” of the messaging or the messenger, we should be addressing the “stupidity” that causes people to subscribe to these ideas in the first place.

Overwhelm

July 21, 2023

Overwhelm is the fact or feeling of not being able to cope or deal with something. Collins Dictionary The headline in a paper this week, quotes a new report from MFAT that says […]

The Power of Concern

July 11, 2023

“I have a lot of concerns about it.” Dr Lisa Durragh, Auckland University A newspaper headline I read this morning reads: Researcher urges caution over use of online platforms: ‘I […]

The Power of Purpose

July 5, 2023

“He rangi tā matawhāiti, he rangi tā matawhānui”A person with narrow vision has limited ideas and views.Someone with wider vision is more embracing of new things and the world before […]

Roadblocks and Drivers – Analysis

July 1, 2023

“When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It’s how I learned to survive through everything.” Waymond, from Everything, […]

All at Cs re Leadership

June 20, 2023

“ Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” Aristotle In an earlier post I wrote about the 4Cs of Transformational Leadership. That post received a lot of feedback in […]

Educational Leadership Crisis

June 13, 2023

CRISIS – “an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which decisive change is impending” Miriam Webster Dictionary A headline in yesterday’s newspaper read: The article quotes NZEI […]

The Four ‘Cs’ of Transformational Leadership

June 10, 2023

Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people. J D Rockefeller Transformational leadership goes beyond the conventional transactional leadership approach. It inspires people […]

Implementing Micro-credentials

June 4, 2023

I’m personally a fan of micro-credentials and see them as a disruptive innovation set to transform our whole approach to measuring success in learning. But we’re currently in the early […]

Time to re-think?

April 28, 2023

Photo Credit: Derek Wenmoth School buildings should be opened and used twenty four hours a day. Nikki Giovanni Question: What do schools and shopping malls have in common? Answer: We’re […]

Diary entry

Congratulations CORE Education – 20 Years!

March 28, 2023

This week marks 20 years since the official launch of CORE Education in Christchurch and I’ve been privileged to receive emails from a number of educators who have worked for or with CORE over those years, reminding me of this fact!

Recombinant Education

March 26, 2023

As disruption continues to impact our education system, are we prepared to make the tough calls and make the significant and bold steps required to operate as an ecosystem? Or will we continue to shift the deck-chairs on the titanic and put our faith in yet more cycles of ‘back to basics’ campaigns that will continue to fail our kids and their future?

Future Focus – left to chance?

March 12, 2023

We should be striving to achieve a state where there is a future focus to everything we do in our curriculum design -where a future focus is in fact an essential learning disposition.

Pedagogy

Know Your Students

January 31, 2023

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata!What is the most important thing in the world? It is […]

Diary entry Open, Distance & Flexible Education

Hybrid Learning and ChatGPT

January 17, 2023

Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev on Unsplash In my previous post I shared the responses made to five questions asked by my friend and colleague, Nick Billowes, about hybrid learning as he was pondering […]

Diary entry Learning Environments Open, Distance & Flexible Education

Hybrid Learning pt.1

January 17, 2023

Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev on Unsplash My friend and colleague, Nick Billowes, recently asked five questions about hybrid learning as he was pondering the future for schools into 2023. Here […]

Open, Distance & Flexible Education

Resilience Required NOW!

December 17, 2022

Photo by Wang Whale on Unsplash What if 2023 is more disrupted than 2022? What if there are more of these empty desks? Would we be prepared? Most who know […]

Roadblocks and Drivers

December 12, 2022

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash Please complete the simple survey at the bottom of this post to help me understand more about what is driving and what is getting […]

The Time is Now

December 7, 2022

It would appear that there are many education systems around the world that are beginning to think this way – perhaps finally realising that our education systems are no longer fit for purpose, despite decades of attempts at incremental change and policy re-alignment. There appears now to be calls for a fundamental shift towards a more radical and transformational view of what education could be and can become.

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