Learning Environments

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.

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Learning Environments Open, Distance & Flexible Education Learner Agency Open, Distance & Flexible Education Pedagogy

Hybrid @ Hagley

September 9, 2024

“Our unique Hybrid @ Hagley model combines the best of both worlds: in-person learning at our kura and online learning via scheduled video calls.’ https://hagley.schoolpoint.co.nz/courses/course/12hh There’s been a lot of […]

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Educational Transformation Learner Agency Learning Environments

The Social Staircase

September 6, 2024

“Developing agency in learners requires a fundamental shift in the way we think about the relationships and learning activity in our schools and classrooms. It recognises learners as its core […]

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conference entry Learning Environments Educational Transformation

Designing Learning Spaces

August 17, 2024

I had the privilege of being the MC at the recent LENZ conference in Wellington. It was refreshing to reconnect with a group of educators and architects to focus on […]

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Educational Transformation Digital Learning Ecosystems Education Leadership Educational Transformation Environmental Learning Environments Learning Ecosystems

The Tyranny of the Urgent

April 5, 2024

“Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important” Charles E. Hummel, the author of “Tyranny of the Urgent” A visiting academic from the US who is […]

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Learning Environments

Learning Environments

March 19, 2024

Learning environments encompass not only traditional classrooms but also extend to outdoor and community spaces, emphasizing the need to think expansively about redesigning these spaces to foster collaboration, creativity, and […]

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Learner Agency Learning Environments Pedagogy

Empower: What happens when students own their learning

March 19, 2024

This is an easy to read and inspiring handbook for educators seeking ways to embrace the idea of learner agency in the classroom. The authors argue that we need to move […]

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Learning Environments

The Good Ancestor

March 19, 2024

If you’re concerned about the impact of short term thinking in our modern world then this is the book for you. Roman Krznaric’s Good Ancestor is inspiring, revealing six profound […]

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Learning Environments

What School Could Be

March 19, 2024

The man behind the film Most Likely to Succeed, a feature-length documentary on education, Ted Dintersmith spent most of three 2016 school year visiting schools across the US, documenting what he […]

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Education Leadership Learning Environments

Coherence

March 19, 2024

This has been one of my ‘go to’ books for the past couple of years now. It provides a compelling case for why we should be pursuing coherence in our […]

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Education Leadership Learning Environments

Human Kind: a hopeful history

March 19, 2024

An excellent read – my top pick for 2020! It is thought provoking, informative and counter-intuitive. Bregman challenges our predisposition that as humans we are inherently wicked or inclined to […]

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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.

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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

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