Rachel Bolstad

Kaihautū Rangahau | Chief Researcher

Rachel is a Kaihautū Rangahau | Chief Researcher at NZCER. Her work in education research is driven by an endless curiosity about the world and a strong commitment to better educational experiences and outcomes for all learners, as well as teachers, families, and communities.  Rachel constantly strives to develop her own, and other people's thinking about education, why it matters, and how our learning and teaching systems may need to change to match the opportunities and demands of a changing world. She enjoys working in teams and drawing inspiration and influence from a wide range of fields, in particular the creative arts. 

Rachel's current work programme includes leading a research project to explore systemic educational responses to climate change. She has previously led several research projects on environmental education and education for sustainability.

Her other research interests include local curriculum design, students' experiences of education, game-based learning, and future-oriented education. Her first digital game, Curriculum for the Future, was launched in 2016.

Publications

Education and enterprise: Learning at the interface Research publication 2009
NZCER evaluation of the Regional Education for Enterprise (E4E) Clusters Research publication 2009
Organising for Emergence Research publication 2009
A possible future? Senior secondary education in the year 2030 Journal article 2008
Education for Enterprise (E4E) 2007 surveys Research publication 2008
Seeing yourself in science Research publication 2008
Zooming in on Learning in the Digital Age: A Literature Review Research publication 2006
Staying in Science 2 : Transition to tertiary study from the perspectives of New Zealand Year 13 science students Research publication 2006
Creating digital age learners through school ICT projects: What can the Tech Angels project teach us? Research publication 2006
Who should decide the curriculum? Journal article 2006
Evaluation of the Northland Enterprising Teachers (NET) initiative: final report Research publication 2006
Questions for a twenty-first century senior secondary curriculum Journal article 2006
Environmental education: A place in the curriculum? Research publication 2005
School-based curriculum development: is it coming back into fashion? Journal article 2005
Teaching the 'nature of science': Modest adaptations or radical reconceptions? Research publication 2005
Time for critical thinking in secondary science? Research publication 2005
Students as lifelong learners: Reflections on student data from the evaluation of the Curriculum Innovations Projects Research publication 2005
Planning and managing change: Messages from the Curriculum Innovation Projects Research publication 2005
Role and potential of ICT in early childhood education: A review of New Zealand and international literature Research publication 2004
Where are your science students going (and how can you help them get there)? Research publication 2004