Learn-Now Wins Prestigious DEANZ Award

Media Release 7th July, 2006

Learn-Now Wins Prestigious DEANZ Award

Learn-Now, CORE Education's online learning programme for 7-14 year olds has won the prestigious Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) Award for 2006. The award is given biennially to promote and reward excellence in eLearning, distance, open and flexible learning.

Jo Gibson, Learn-Now's creator and coordinator received the award in Auckland this week and was thrilled with the recognition from DEANZ. "It's incredibly encouraging to get this acknowledgement from my professional peers".

Derek Wenmoth, Director, eLearning at CORE Education was equally chuffed with the award. "Our mission at CORE is to integrate new technologies and online experiences into education and Learn-Now is just a great example of what can be achieved".

As for the users of Learn-Now, the award simply confirms their experience every day as they log on to continue working on their projects, talk to friends overseas or brainstorm business ideas in a chat room.

Learn-Now participants pursue their own projects in a cyber community of fellow students and registered teachers. From building a tree-house in the backyard, to developing a business, to learning about life in another part of the world and making new friends, the possibilities are literally endless. With participants from China, Spain, Brazil, Canada, Uganda, France, the USA and Italy, cultural exchange is one of the key opportunities available with the programme.

Jo first realised the potential of online learning when she was teaching at an international school in Brunei. Challenged to cater for students who were spending a lot of time travelling with Mum or Dad's work, Jo began utilising the Internet to provide the students with the learning challenges they needed. After returning to New Zealand, Jo continued developing the concept for New Zealand students and schools who wanted an online extension element in their learning programme.

ENDS

www.core-ed.net www.learn-now.school.nz

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