Category: EIT

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After years of personal and employment challenges, student finds fulfilment in EIT hairdressing programme | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 mins ago

Vanessa Hopping is doing the NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3) at EIT.

An EIT student, who faced years of personal challenges and job uncertainty, has finally found fulfilment doing the NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3).

Vanessa Hopping, 31, attended Ōtūmoetai College in Tauranga, but left early, finding that school was not for her.

“I did my first year of hairdressing when I was 18, but I ended up leaving and moving to Australia, just due to personal circumstances. I was going through a really hard time with family and on a whim, honestly, just moved over there, because my brother lived there.”

She worked in a number of different jobs including at a supermarket, as a nightclub DJ and on a tomato farm, but did not really feel they were for her. While she was in Australia, Vanessa fell pregnant, but as she was not in a good relationship, she decided to move back to New Zealand.

She lived with her grandparents in Hamilton where she gave birth to her daughter Ruby. After that she decided to study travel and tourism, but although she completed the programme, she did not feel that it was the career for her.

After that she spend a number of years moving around and trying to get jobs in salons, but never really settled down.

“I was trying to get an apprenticeship, but just no one would take me on, because it had been too many years since I’d done hairdressing.”

Vanessa says that she went through a period of time where she focused on her daughter and “basically did enough to survive”.

A personal tragedy when an aunt died and the traumatic birth of her son Phoenix, in which she almost died, made Vanessa finally reassess her life.

Vanessa says that she feels like she has always had “to battle something”, but that this has made her resilient.

“I’ve been through quite a journey.”

A job as a security manager at Farmers in Hastings gave her some satisfaction, but eventually she left that role as she was not spending enough time with her children.

“I was burnt out and needed some time for myself.  I knew I wanted to do something with my career.”

She decided to email EIT to find out about availability on the hairdressing programme and how she could use her earlier qualifications.

“I said: ‘ Hey, this is my situation. I’ve done this hairdressing course before, but is there any refresher course or anything like that?’ I just emailed at the right time in my life, because that’s when they said that the hairdressing programme had changed.”

Vanessa got a student loan ad enrolled the NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3)in February.

“It all happened really fast and it all just fell into place for me ever since then. It’s just like my miracle.”

She has no regrets about the career she has chosen.

“I absolutely love it. I love it so much. I feel very passionate about it. I always loved hairdressing and used to practise braiding hair on my dolls.”

“Even when I was as young as 13, I used to colour my hair and my friends hair as well. It’s just something that’s really just stuck with me my whole life.”

“And I knew that I wanted to come back to it. I just never thought I was going to be able to.”

She is finding the EIT programme very rewarding.

“My favourite thing is colouring hair and making clients feel happy, even just helping them relax.”

“I’ve always wanted to be in an industry where I help people. And this is where it’s something that I can do that I love that also helps people.”

“It’s a rewarding thing to do. And I think it’s reflecting in my results.”

As for the future, Vanessa currently has a part-time job at Vivo in Havelock North and is hoping to get an apprenticeship next year.

“I just want people to know that whether you’re 18, 30 or even 50, 60, you can do whatever you want. You just have to keep trying, even if it doesn’t work out in the moment.”

Courtney Cook, EIT’s Hairdressing Programme Coordinator and Lecturer, says: “Vanessa is a driven learner who has continued to apply 100% focus while in the NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3)course.”

“We admire her determination and resilience in the fact that she has two children and works outside of class yet when she arrives for the day she is focused and provides professional services that her clients continue to return for.”

“She inspires her peers in the programme and has been a constant support for everyone.  Vanessa is an inspiration for those who have a dream and never stop until they reach their full potential. We have seen Vanessas confidence blossom in both herself and her skill set this year and it has been so amazing to watch. We wish Vanessa all the best and cannot wait to see her achieve big things within the industry.”

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School students to be tested at EIT fitness and skills competition in Mahia | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

10 mins ago

Students from Wairoa College and Ngata College Services Academies and the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Trades Academy Services programme will test their skills, fitness and resilience in a competition based in Mahia this week.

Students from Wairoa College and Ngata College Services Academies and the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Trades Academy Services programme will test their skills, fitness and resilience in a competition based in Mahia this week.

The competition, organised by EIT’s School of Trades and Technology will take place tomorrow and Thursday (18-19 September).

EIT Trades and Technology Head of School, Todd Rogers, says the competition is an opportunity to test the skills the students have been taught in the programme throughout the year.

The competition consists of groups from each academy tackling a 15km course carrying Army packs, logs, steel bars and completing tasks along the way such as a carrying an “injured” person up Mokotahi hill and pushing a vehicle 1km with all their equipment.

Students must navigate to each point throughout the night, with the competition beginning at 5pm and finishing no later than 3am.

“This is the first time an event of this nature combining all academies has been facilitated in our region hopefully we can make it an annual event,” says Todd.

“Not only will these activities test the individuals’ skills and fitness, it will require them to work together and back each under extreme conditions.”

“All the courses are greatly supported by New Zealand Defence Force  recruiting (Defence Careers) and the NZ Police in Mahia and Gisborne.”

“We are looking forward seeing these youngsters show what they are made of.”

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Passion for academia and achieving educational reform for Māori learners important for new EIT Head of School | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

1 day ago

Zac Anderson is EIT’s new Head of School: Education and Social Sciences and the Centre for Veterinary Nursing.

A passion for academia and achieving educational reform for Māori learners are important for EIT’s new Head of School: Education and Social Sciences and the Centre for Veterinary Nursing.

Zac Anderson, who joins EIT from Tamatea High School where she was Deputy Principal, says that the opportunity to work at EIT was too good to pass up.

“I’ve been in New Zealand for twenty years from Australia, and I’ve always known EIT to have a fantastic reputation. I am feeling very fortunate to have been chosen and I think that it is going to be a great job.”

Zac’s role will see her leading a diverse team of social workers, early childhood and primary school professionals, and those teaching in the Centre for Veterinary Nursing.

“The kaupapa of the different departments within the school that I’m head of is all based on care for humans or animals, and teaching others to be the best they can be.”

Before Tamatea High School, Zac held various management positions at schools in Hawke’s Bay and was employed at the University of Waikato for four years. During her tenure at the University of Waikato, she was part of the Poutama Pounamu team led by Professor Mere Berryman, embedding transformative changes in culturally responsive pedagogies in kura throughout Aotearoa.

Zac says she sees her role as building her team, but also getting to know stakeholders in both Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti and getting to know what the community wants and needs from EIT’s graduates.

“It is about building the relationships with the stakeholders and the advisory groups in our different areas. I think this  is going to be really important for me, so I know what they need and then we can make sure that it’s reflected in our teaching and learning programmes.”

“I’m excited that I work across both Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, because I know Gisborne, in particular, and the surrounding East Coast area. I lived and worked with Wairoa-based communities for so long, and there’s unique needs on the East Coast compared to Hawke’s Bay.”

Zac has a Master’s in Education, where she looked at critical leadership to achieve educational reform for Māori learners, “which is my passion”.

“I’ve been learning Te Reo since I arrived in New Zealand, but I’m nowhere near where I want to be. And I love that learning journey about the tikanga and the kawa of what it means to immerse yourself into te ao Māori.”

“It’s deeply important to me as a non-Māori leader to be very clear about what role I play as Tangata Tiriti in honouring the bicultural intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I am passionate about bringing practical effect to Te Tiriti in my daily practice. I will be enrolling soon in my PhD and no doubt this area of critical leadership to decolonise and indigenise our curriculum will be a focus of my research.”

Zac is mindful of the vital role research plays at an academic institute and she will be encouraging her staff on this front.

“Research really allows us to get the voice of our communities, our learners, our academics and our professionals, and really understand the nature of what we’re doing.”

“Research, to me, is all about making sure you’re at the cutting edge of practice , making sure that we’re taking into account what’s happening around the world, but for our own flavour here in Aotearoa.”

Originally from Australia, Zac has lived in Hawke’s Bay since 2004 with her wife, Kae Schlierike, and their three rescue dogs.

Dr Helen Ryan-Stewart, EIT’s Executive Dean, Education, Humanities and Health Science, said:  “We are thrilled to welcome Zac to our team. Her connections in to the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast community and inclusive approach to education are a perfect fit for our organization. We are excited to see the contributions she will make to the school and the wider institution. She has already made a positive impression with her energy and passion in her short time with us.”

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EIT lecturer’s research into ChatGPT in education shows challenges and promises | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

2 days ago

Amr van den Adel is a Senior Lecturer in the EIT School of Computing in Auckland.

ChatGPT in educational settings has potential benefits, but there are also challenges, research by an EIT lecturer has found.

The research, led by Amr van den Adel, a Senior Lecturer in the EIT School of Computing in Auckland, has recently been published in the renowned journal Educational Sciences, entitled ChatGPT promises and challenges in education: Computational and ethical perspectives. The other authors of the article are Ali Ahsan and Claire Davison, both from the University of Torrens Australia. Amr and the two other authors are all members of the Centre for Organisational Change and Agility at Torrens.

The study explores the integration of ChatGPT in educational settings. It highlights the potential benefits, but also addresses significant challenges like AI biases and the lack of emotional and interpersonal interactions typical in traditional education.

“The paper underscores the need for ongoing research to adapt educational strategies in response to rapidly evolving AI technologies, offering insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers,” says Amr.

“This paper investigates the integration of ChatGPT into educational environments, focusing on its potential to enhance personalised learning and the ethical concerns it raises. Through a systematic literature review, interest analysis, and case studies, the research scrutinises the application of ChatGPT in diverse educational contexts, evaluating its impact on teaching and learning practices.”

Amr says that the key findings reveal that ChatGPT can enrich education significantly by offering dynamic, personalised learning experiences and real-time feedback, thereby boosting teaching efficiency and learner engagement.

“However, the study also highlights significant challenges, such as biases in AI algorithms that may distort educational content and the inability of AI to replicate the emotional and interpersonal dynamics of traditional teacher–student interactions.”

“The paper acknowledges the fast-paced evolution of AI technologies, which may render some findings obsolete, underscoring the need for ongoing research to adapt educational strategies accordingly.”

Amr says that this study provides a balanced analysis of the opportunities and challenges of ChatGPT in education, emphasising ethical considerations and offering strategic insights for the responsible integration of AI technologies.

“These insights are valuable for educators, policymakers, and researchers involved in the digital transformation of education.”

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Former Commonwealth Games triathlete keen to promote health, sport and exercise in new role at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

1 hour ago

Dr Andrew Garrett is the new Head of EIT’s School of Health and Sport Science.

A former Commonwealth Games triathlete, who has been appointed the Head of EIT’s School of Health and Sport Science, is keen to use his new role to promote health, sport and exercise,

Dr Andrew Garrett represented the Isle of Man in the triathlon at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and said that he knew then that he wanted to return to live in New Zealand.

“It was the first time I came to New Zealand. After competing and obviously enjoying the Commonwealth Games itself, I told myself that I would come back here at some point. And in 1996, I came back to a teaching post at Wintec in Hamilton.”

Currently living in Christchurch since December when he moved back here with his New Zealand raised wife Karen, Andrew had been Sport, Health and Exercise Science Programme Director and Graduate Research Director at the University of Hull..

Sport has played a big role in Andrew’s life being a former international triathlete. He is a keen veteran athlete having recently completed a 100-mile cycling sportive and several half Iron triathlons. He plans to take part in the Taupo half Ironman next March. His applied sport science work on preparing athletes for the Marathon des Sables has received television media attention in the UK from BBC Look North News and BBC Radio Humberside.

He says that he is looking forward to his new role. Initially he will be working remotely from Christchurch until his wife finishes her job there, but he will be commuting up to Napier regularly.

While he was drawn to the lifestyle offered by Hawke’s Bay, it was having a leadership role that attracted him. He is also keen to get to know the staff and EIT’s systems.

“After a period of uncertainty, there’s also an opportunity to  provide some stability for the school at the institution.”

Andrew says the School of Health and Sport Science also has a role to play in bringing exercise into people’s lives to enhance the quality of life.

“I think that exercise can be paramount in balancing the mental health side of things. Our programmes show that there are now more opportunities available work-wise than perhaps weren’t available five or ten years ago. Exercise specialists are becoming more accessible to most people these days and at all stages of life.”

Andrew’s main area of research  expertise are the markers of fatigue in temperature regulation during exercise in the time of climate change and he was an Associate Member of the Hull York Medical School (HYMS). His PhD work was funded by the Australian Military based at the University of Otago in New Zealand (Induction and decay of heat acclimation) and in collaboration with the Otago Medical School. He received an MSc in Sport Science from Loughborough University and his undergraduate degree is from the University of Wales in Cardiff.

Helen Ryan-Stewart, EIT’s Executive Dean, Education, Humanities and Health Science, said: “Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, and we are confident that he will make a significant contribution to the success of the School of Health and Sport Science.”

“Whilst Andrew is currently working remotely, we are excited to welcome him to  Hawke’s Bay soon so that he can immerse himself in our community to achieve the best outcomes for our ākonga.”

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Living in emergency housing did not stop social work student from studying at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 mins ago

Harata Gordon is in her fourth year of the Bachelor of Social Work at EIT Tairāwhiti.

Living in emergency housing with her two young children has not stopped Harata Gordon (Ngāti Porou) from pursuing her dream of studying at EIT Tairāwhiti.

Thankfully, Harata has recently moved into a Kāinga Ora home with her two children, but her hardships have not deterred her from continuing with her studies.

Having left Campion College in year 12, Harata enrolled NZ Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) at EIT. She spent a number of years after that working  in customer service and in a packhouse, however, she always wanted something more for her life and this has led her to pursue a career in social work.

“I’m a very simple person. Throw me in anywhere and I have the drive or the aroha to find a way to help.”

Harata, 29, is currently in her fourth year of the Bachelor of Social Work at EIT Tairāwhiti, but has decided to split the final year into two which means that she will finish up next year.

“Studying full-time made it a long year. It is just more manageable with my two babies as well. I can  re-set my goals, so it makes more sense and is more fitting for me now.”

The journey has had a few disruptions with Harata splitting the degree between EIT and Ara Institute of Canterbury falling pregnant in her second year, and dealing with COVID. She did her first year at EIT before moving down to Christchurch for personal reasons where she did her second year at Ara. She returned to EIT Tairāwhiti for the rest of her degree.

Harata says that she believes the tough times she has endured with her children recently will shine through when she becomes a social worker.

“I think that having lived the way I have for the last year will give me more appreciation and make me more understanding.”

“I hope that I can inspire or give hope to a mama who hasn’t got anywhere for her or her kids to live to realise that she can do something with her life.”

Harata is enjoying her studies, especially her placement at Ngāti Porou Oranga where she got work experience in the community.

“It was such a positive experience and I was able to make some great connections and have some good networking opportunities.”

While the degree is taking longer than she intended, Harata realises that she needs to be patient.

“I have the same passion, the same drive, the same fire inside. I will always love helping people.”

Harata acknowledges that she could not do what she is doing without whānau or as she puts it “my village sprinkles everywhere”.

Charlotte Chisnell, EIT’s Social Work Programme Coordinator, says: “Harata’s journey is a powerful example of resilience and determination. Despite the challenges of living in emergency housing with her two young children, she has remained committed to her studies and her dream of becoming a social worker.”

“Harata’s perseverance, even in the face of adversity, is inspiring. Her ability to balance her education with being a parent, while overcoming significant obstacles, highlights her strength and dedication. Her story will undoubtedly inspire others, showing that achieving your goals is possible with passion, patience, and strong community support.  Harata’s journey illustrates the profound impact that lived experiences can have in shaping compassionate and effective social workers.”

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EIT journey starts as student and continues through to senior staff role | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 mins ago

Tash Hau was recently appointed as Assistant Head of Te Ūranga Waka.

Tash Hau’s journey at EIT began when she enrolled in the NZ Certificate in Te Reo Māori (Level 2) and 16 years later it is still going strong, with her recent appointment to Assistant Head of Te Ūranga Waka.

Since 2007, Tash (Ngātiwai) has gained much experience in the education sector, having recently returned to EIT after three years as Professional Learning and Development Facilitator with the University of Waikato. There she was responsible for supporting Kāhui Ako clusters, principals and teachers to deliver educational opportunities that accelerate success and support equitable outcomes for Māori students.

Prior to this, Tash worked at EIT as a Programme Coordinator/Tutor for more than 10 years. She is also a graduate of all the qualifications from all levels of the te reo certificate, Bachelor of Arts (Māori) and Bachelor of Arts Māori  (Honours)  as well as the Master of Professional Practice (shared with the School of Education and Social Sciences).

Tash, 44, who grew up in Wairoa, says that her interest in learning te reo was sparked when she was about 12 years old and attended a Kapa Haka wānanga at Rangiahua marae.

“Everyone had an opportunity to share with the group and as one of our elders spoke in te reo Māori, laughter filled the wharenui. I remember vividly wishing I was able to understand and it was at that moment I knew learning my native language was something I needed to do. I realise now, that was my tīpuna (ancestors) guiding me”.

“And although it took probably 25 years from where the journey actually started, during which time I had my children, that I realised what pathway I needed to take”

After finishing school at Wairoa College, Tash spent some time in Gisborne before she travelled to Australia for five years where she has family. Coming from a small town, she felt it was important to see “what else was out there”. It was there that Tash started her family.

Tash moved back to New Zealand with her two eldest children, Alayh and Ibanez which has been a rewarding decision.

“My two youngest daughters Kheyz and Jhrsey have both been part of the Te Ūranga Waka whānau, with Jhrsey accompanying me to classes during the certificate level from eight days old. I was really grateful that within te ao Māori our babies are able to be included and cherished. I believe that as māmā, we shouldn’t have to choose between parenting and education, we are most definitely capable of both”.

She says she felt a number of emotions when she started learning te reo.

“The journey of reclamation was a combination of feeling overwhelmed in the initial stages and a calm sense of being exactly where I needed to be, a healing journey I was unaware I needed.”

“I just fell in love with the place, the people and the kaupapa.”

She is also grateful for the support she had right through the levels of study.

“I have to acknowledge my peers and the tutors across the years who supported me to actually achieve all of this.”

The transition from student to part-time tutor of the certificate programme is something to this day she is grateful for as it presented a pathway to give back to the place that has given her so much.

“I am indebted to the belief that our special kui, Nan Materoa Haenga had in me to pursue this pathway”.

 “When we’re students, sometimes we can lack the belief in ourselves and our own abilities, but what I really appreciated was that as a kaiako, Nanny Materoa could see the potential in us and offered opportunities to nurture that.”

Being a Nan herself now to two beautiful mokopuna, Tash plans to continue sharing those teachings with them.

Since then it has been journey forward for Tash, with her efforts recently being rewarded with her appointment as Poutuara, Assistant Head of Te Ūranga Waka.

“EIT is home for me. I’m really invested in the people and the place. I’d like to thank my colleagues, friends, family and my partner Matenga for their ongoing support. It really does make all the difference.”

Pareputiputi Nuku, Pouarataki, Te Ūranga Waka and Te Whatukura, welcomed Tash back to her “whare”.

“We are so happy that Tash is returning to us not only with the amazing skills she left us with, but also the new knowledge and expertise she has gained over the past three years.”

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EIT lecturer’s biomechanics research reaps rewards as shot-putter wins Olympic medal for New Zealand | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

9 seconds ago

Mike Schofield with New Zealand shot-putter Maddison-Lee Wesche, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris this year.

EIT lecturer Mike Schofield’s research into biomechanics is reaping rewards as the shot-putter he coaches recently won a medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Mike, who is a lecturer in strength and conditioning at EIT, was a high performance coach for track and field throws for Athletics New Zealand in Auckland.

It was there that he became coach for New Zealand shot-putter Maddison-Lee Wesche, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games earlier this month.

Speaking from Paris where he has been supporting Maddi, Mike said that the journey to the Olympics has been “awesome”. He has been coaching Maddi for about seven years.

“I’ve been lucky enough to apply some of the research that I’ve done within Maddi’s programme over the years, and to see it come to fruition. It’s been neat.”

Mike, who is normally based at the EIT Institute of Sport and Health (EIT ISH) at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings, says that this semester he has been teaching a course in innovation where he has drawn on his own experience for examples.

“Part of this is showing the students that I lecture what innovation is in sport in a real-world context, and so I’ve been lecturing online from over here for ten days or so.”

“I have been going through some of the innovative tools we use in training, and in an Olympic Games programme.

“It provides a little bit of context around the application of some of the theory that they learn, to try to bridge the gap between theory and performance. It is quite a cool scenario that probably very few people, and especially students in a degree course, get to see inside an Olympic campaign, and in real time.”

Mike says there are a number of programmes that are used.

“These are iPad-based programmes, a few little sensors and bits of tech that we attach to bars and to Maddi, to measure certain variables that we’re interested in, and we’ve covered that off in class.”

Mike says that for him personally it has been important to see his historical research being used in a real world context through Maddi’s training process.

“My area of research is biomechanics and it is about evolving a technical model from a theoretical basis. Obviously it seems to have gelled with Maddi’s abilities, traits and personality, which has been quite cool.”

“The biggest thing that I’ve probably learned is that performance is a little more complex than research allows you to see, and it’s a blending of multiple pillars of sports science.”

“That’s broadened my horizons to skill acquisition and the peripheries of human behaviour combined with strength and conditioning and biomechanics. So the experience of working with someone like Maddi has broadened my understanding of performance.”

While Mike has enjoyed being in Paris, he says that the Olympic experience for him is more about performance.

“I get a real buzz out of trying to figure out the puzzle of how we throw it further?”

He says that sport science is probably a pretty new science and it is evolving year on year.

“That’s the challenge for us as lecturers and researchers is to keep up with the science and the practice. What we know today might not be what we know tomorrow.”

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Childhood dream of becoming a teacher on the way to becoming reality through EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

2 mins ago

Ella Ralph is in her second year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT.

As a child Ella Ralph (Ngai Tahu) always dreamt of becoming a teacher and she is now on her way to achieving that through the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT.

Currently in her second year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), Ella, 19, won a Year 13 Scholarship which paid for a year of her study at EIT. The Year 13 Scholarship, which is offered annually by EIT, covers one year of tuition fees.

The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study.

Ella, who attended Napier Girls’ High, says that while the scholarship was an incentive to go to EIT, what sealed the deal was that the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) allows candidate teachers to spend two days per week at a partner school.

“I looked at a few different universities, but what sold it for me was that you actually work in a school for two days per week.”

Ella, says she also loves the programme.

“It’s really awesome. It’s heaps of fun and the lecturers make it really  hands-on .”

“When we are in our lectures, it’s almost like we’re in a classroom. They implement heaps of things that you could use in the classroom.”

Last year Ella was placed at Te Awa Primary and this year she is at Bledisloe School.

She says that apart from the placement she also enjoys the fact that the programme allows students to connect with the community.

“We do quite a lot with the community, including visiting maraes.”

As for the future, Ella says that she is looking forward to becoming a fully-fledged teacher when she finishes her degree, but also does have ambitions to one day become either a Principal or Deputy Principal or even to work for the Ministry of Education.

She is keen on staying in Hawke’s Bay, but also would like to travel as well. As for studying further, she has not ruled that out, but would like to spend a few years practicing her craft.

Associate Professor Emily Nelson, the Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), said: “We love the energy our students bring to our programme and our educational community as Candidate Teachers.”

“We are really enjoying supporting Ella along her journey and we are looking forward to seeing where teaching takes her.”

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Public lecture highlights impact of nature-based learning at EIT’s Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 mins ago

Associate Professor Emily Nelson presented the fourth public lecture in a series: ‘Reconnecting Through Research’, at MTG Hawke’s Bay, organised by EIT’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC).

The ‘Learning in Nature’ research project at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre on EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale shows the benefits of children connecting to nature, Associate Professor Emily Nelson says.

Dr Nelson, of EIT’s School of Education and Social Sciences, presented the fourth public lecture in a series: ‘Reconnecting Through Research’, at MTG Hawke’s Bay, organised by EIT’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC).

EIT Emeritus Professor Kay Morris Matthews, also Associate Researcher and Curator at MTG, introduced Emily as a “good academic citizen”.

“Emily Nelson was raised in Hawke’s Bay and has made a significant contribution to growing teachers in our region.”

Her lecture titled: ‘Learning in Nature: Emerging Values, Visions, Cautions and Potential’ focused on the research which began life as a developmental evaluation of the establishment of EIT’s Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre and was conducted jointly by Associate Professor Nelson and Professor Bronwen Cowie, University of Waikato.

The Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre promotes biodiversity management, connection to nature and sustainable futures and was sponsored by the Air NZ Environment Trust and spearheaded by Ngāti Pārau, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.

Dr Nelson explored the value gained by educational groups who visited the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre over the 2020/21 period.

The research involved over 40 participants, including contributions of 509 photographs, 13 interviews, 22 voiceovers, and 90 visual data nuggets. This comprehensive data collection highlights the transformative potential of nature-based learning environments.

She reflected on the perspectives on learning and connecting to nature shared by local primary school students and their teachers, particularly those from Bledisloe School who was an early adopter.

“At a time when we are grappling with a global ecological crisis and growing disconnection from nature in our daily lives, the stakes for connecting with nature are high.

“Young people are positioned increasingly as the hope for humanity’s future. But beyond adult-centric agendas, the Learning in Nature research paints a refreshing picture of human and more-than-human agency, very personal connections with the land and its inhabitants at Ōtātara and children’s bespoke visions for their futures.”

Dr Nelson said children’s bespoke connections with the natural world during their visits stimulated their curiosity and care for nature.

“In a time where children’s independent mobility is increasingly limited, they had adventures and free-exploration in a diverse landscape. The questions they asked, the interests they followed up at Ōtātara indicated that they were making the place their place. This care and belonging for nature is identified in research as pivotal for pro-conservation and pro-environmental behaviours flourishing.”