Futures Thinking Aotearoa
(NZ Futures Trust)
29 July 2008 Forum
Tuesday, 29 July from 12.15 - 1.30pm
Large Gallery, Turnbull House, Bowen St, Wellington
Life-long Learning Panel discussion
Chaired by Noel Cheer
Panelists
Jan Coleman
Laurence Zwimpfer
Nicola Meek
Improvements in information technology together with new information on how people's brains develop in early life are
creating opportunities for improving our learning systems in many ways. Combining the apparent opportunities that are
open to us in these two areas of new knowledge present a challenge to our education system. How realistic is it for us
to believe that these new insights and developments can, or should be, fully incorporated into our education system? The
panel will discuss these and related issues, and be available for answering questions from
the audience.
Panelists
Nicola Meek MA (Hons), Dip Tchg
Nicola leads the secretariat supporting the Guardians of Secondary Futures, a new model project set up to create a
vision for secondary education in twenty years’ time. The Secondary Futures team has developed a unique process to help
New Zealanders think about the future and consider how to shape learning so that more students can be more successful.
Secondary Futures has been a leading contributor to the OECD’s “Schooling for Tomorrow” project. Nicola has an extensive
background in education having worked in secondary, tertiary, community and distance education. She has also had
leadership roles in local government and community groups.
Jan Coleman, M. Ed, Dip Ed Mgmt, Adv TTC.
An ex Wellington principal and teacher of many years, Jan currently works as a senior lecturer – *Elearning at Victoria
University of Wellington. In this role she supports schools, both primary and secondary, to develop understandings of
Boards of Trustees, principals and teachers of what changes are necessary in the 21st century classroom/school. Jan is
forward thinking and has presented to audiences of educators at Australasian conferences over the past 8 years.
*With the advent of a revised curriculum for schools Elearning has gained more prominence and it is now essential that
teaching and learning programmes in our schools reflect this. It is possible that new structures for schooling need to
be developed to take advantage of the opportunities new technologies offer to our citizens of tomorrow. Ensuing that
educators receive and act on these understandings is a key part of Jan Coleman’s role.
Laurence Zwimpfer BE(Hons), MPP(VUW), SM(MIT), FIPENZ, HFNZCS
Laurence runs a private company in Wellington New Zealand specialising in the use of information and communication
technologies in education. He is a Trustee of the 2020 Communications Trust and leads the trust’s Computers in Homes
programme. He chairs the Wellington Loop, a collaborative learning initiative for Wellington schools, having previously
been a member of Wellington Girls’ College Board of Trustees for over a decade. He is Deputy Chair of the National
Commission for UNESCO in New Zealand and also chairs the Communications Sub Commission and has represented New Zealand
at a number of international forums.
Chair – Noel Cheer
Having left school at the age of 15 but achieving a university degree through part-time studies in his 40s, he can be
said to be interested in life-long learning, Though retired from a 36 year career with IBM, Noel Cheer can be seen on
Triangle Television each Tuesday evening hosting an interview series called "In Conversation with Noel Cheer".
Cost: New Zealand Futures Trust members: $ 5
Non- NZFT members: $15
Please register your interest in attending using the form below by Mon 28th July 2008.
Contact details: Box 12 008, Wellington, 6144. Ph: Yvonne 04 383 5080, e-mail: info@futurestrust.org.nz
ends