Diary entry – FUTUREMAKERS

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.

conference entry Diary entry Education Leadership Educational Transformation

The Seeds We Sowed: Reflections on Culture, Leadership, and What Endures

March 3, 2026

Over the weekend I found myself in a room full of people I hadn’t seen in years – some for a decade or more. We had gathered to celebrate and reconnect, former staff and colleagues from Tātai Aho Rau/CORE Education, the organisation I co-founded in 2003 with Nick Billowes and the late Vince Ham (and […]

conference entry Diary entry Education Leadership Educational Transformation Learner Agency

24 Hours for Change in Education

November 29, 2025

Last week I had the privilege of working with a team of amazing NZ educators and students to launch 24Hours of Change a unique, worldwide event dedicated to transforming education. The 24 Hours for Change in Education initiative unites teachers, students, families, educational leaders, and experts from across the globe in a continuous, 24 hours of presentations, […]

Digital Educational Transformation Diary entry Digital Education Leadership Pedagogy Learning Ecosystems

Open to learn conversations

January 30, 2025

“I just don’t know how to handle these conversations effectively.” This was a recurring theme at our recent Refresh, Reconnect, Refocus retreat for Assistant and Deputy Principals in Wellington last week. Whether dealing with staff resistant to new initiatives, managing peer conflicts, addressing parent concerns, or supporting student engagement – these crucial conversations consume enormous […]

Blogs Diary entry

December 14, 2024

I’ve had a bit of time to reflect on the things I’ve done over the year and gone back through the blog posts I’ve written to select the ten that seemed to resonate most with readers. Here are the posts I’ve selected as I feel they’re worth reading again (in no particular order)… It’s a […]

Diary entry Educational Transformation Educational Transformation News & current events

Focus on Citizenship

November 20, 2024

Like many others, I was captured by the news of the 42,ooo people who marched to parliament on Tuesday this week to show their opposition to the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill that passed its first hearing in Parliament earlier this month, paving the way for public submissions to be received and considered […]

Digital Diary entry Digital Pedagogy News & current events research and papers

Navigating the Impact of Mobile Phone Bans in Schools

July 6, 2024

“On average across OECD countries, students were less likely to report getting distracted using digital devices when the use of cell phones on school premises is banned. (OECD, 2024) Recently I’ve been engaged in conversations in a number of schools and meetings of educators where the topic of mobile phone bans has been raised in discussion. […]

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!

Digital Diary entry Learning Environments 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 the future for schools in 2023. I can now reveal the truth behind these responses… they were 100% generated by the AI, ChatGPT Having read […]

Diary entry Learning Environments 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 are his questions and responses: What is the potential of applying practices of hybrid learning within a schooling educational context as we look to new […]

Diary entry

RIP Seymour Papert

August 2, 2016

My post today is to acknowledge the passing of a truly inspirational leader in the field of educational technology – Professor Emeritus Seymour Papert, who died on Sunday aged 88. He was an educational-technology visionary and a founding faculty member of the MIT Media Lab. Papert was among the first to recognize the revolutionary potential of computers in education. […]

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

March 3, 2026

November 29, 2025

January 30, 2025

December 14, 2024

November 20, 2024

July 6, 2024

March 28, 2023

January 17, 2023

January 17, 2023

August 2, 2016

What others say

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