Evaluation research focusing on educational initiatives that impact on the learning and lives of young people must be challenged to incorporate ‘student voice’. In a context of conventional evaluation models of government-led initiatives, student voice is a compelling addition, and challenges the nature of traditional forms of evaluation. It requires a student-first approach where young people actively report on their experiences, rather than being represented by others. This paper presents ...

This is the first thematic report from the NZCER National Survey of Primary and Intermediate Schools 2016 and explores the involvement of schools in the new Communities of Learning (CoL).

The survey was conducted from August to early September 2016 and included a representative sample of English-medium state and state-integrated primary and intermediate schools. The survey gathers the views of principals, teachers, Boards of Trustee members and parents. Around two ...

This project looked at the impact of the Digital and Collaborative Learning programme on teachers’ reflective practice in the classroom. 

The Mind Lab by Unitec is a collaboration between Unitec Institute of Technology and The Mind Lab. It provides primary and secondary teachers with the opportunity to learn how to integrate technology and new teaching practices into their classrooms, and delivers the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice (Digital and Collaborative ...

This article supports teachers to think about their students’ acts of learning, as well as their own as teachers. It draws on research about young adults’ most profound learning during their apprenticeships, cadetships, and vocational immersion programmes. The experiences of GP registrars, carpentry apprentices, and engineering technician cadets, and the perspectives of their workplace teachers and mentors, provide insights about how people can move through a kind of portal to ...

This report draws on a 3-year evaluation of induction and mentoring in New Zealand early childhood education settings and schools, carried out for the Education Council (previously NZ Teachers Council).  The research included surveys of provisionally certificated teachers and their mentors, as well as case studies.  The study sought to establish the impact of shifting from advice and guidance to educative mentoring.

This report draws on a three year evaluation ...

A summary and three reports have been released as part of NZCER's evaluation of the Incredible Years Teacher programme, ndertaken for for the Ministry of Education. The series is available on the Ministry of Education's Education Counts website here.

The report are:

Summary: "My classroom is a much more positive place." It is available here.

Report 1 2014 IYT Group Leaders' Views and Experiences. It is available here

Report 2 ...

This is the third annual evaluation report of the Teach First NZ programme pilot, delivered in partnership with the University of Auckland. It confirms that the Teach First NZ programme continues to be effectively and efficiently implemented. Teach First NZ and the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education continue to find ways to strengthen the programme and to ensure it is well known and well supported. Participants are strong ambassadors for the programme, including the mission of reducing educational inequalities. Almost all ...

This is the third case study from a research project on successful and sustained collaborations between New Zealand schools and community and professional experts. The report looks at Epuni Primary School's collaboration with community members, including a partnership with a community initiative called the Common Unity Project Aotearoa.

This report presents findings from a case study of Owairaka District School's collaboration with their community as part of the Garden to Table programme and other initiatives. It is the second case study NZCER has carried out as part of a wider project looking at successful and sustained collaborations between New Zealand schools and community and professional experts. The research included attending an open day at Owairaka District School, observing ...

This report evaluates a game coding workshop offered to young people and adults in seven public libraries round New Zealand.  Participants were taken step by step through the process of creating their own simple 2D videogame, learning the basics of coding, computational thinking, and digital game design. The workshops were free and drew 426 people across the seven locations. 85% of participants completed an online evaluation form at the end ...