Early Learning Centres at the cutting edge

Early Learning Centres at the cutting edge with high-tech communications

Imagine being able to log on to the internet and see your granddaughter’s latest artwork or a photograph of her at play with her friends.

These are just some of the features a new online service will provide for families of children enrolled at 22 Barnardos New Zealand’s Early Learning Centres around New Zealand.

Sponsored by Telecom, the project entailed the roll-out of Xtra broadband to the centres and the development of a KnowledgeNet intranet portal so teachers and parents can access shared resources and information.

Susan Johns, Business Manager of Barnardos Early Learning Centres, says this is the first time this kind of programme has been implemented by an early childhood education and care provider in New Zealand.

“It will enable our teachers to share ideas and information like never before, as well as access a huge range of suitable teaching resources.”

“And families can log on to a secure area to see what their child has been creating and learning, catch up with what’s happening at their Early Learning Centre, and also view the on-line resources,” she said.

Susan stresses that this new service is designed to complement the early childhood education and care programme rather than supersede usual communication lines.

“Teachers really value the face-to-face contact they have with families” said Susan. “The great advantage of this new service is that it is another of way for parents and extended family to keep up what their children are learning and take a more proactive role in that learning.”

The online project was funded by Telecom's Community Connection sponsorship programme which provides more than 1,000 voluntary welfare and charitable organisations with up to $5 million in support each year.

"This is one of the first projects we've supported through our Community Connection programme and we believe it’s a great example of the way technology can enhance learning," says Telecom's Sponsorship Manager, Kimberley Burcher.

The project has taken six months from concept to installation, with all teachers in the organisation’s Early Learning Centres trained to use the service. Families are now being shown how to log on and use the site.

”We really appreciate Telecom’s contribution – without this it just wouldn’t have happened,” said Susan.

ENDS

© Scoop Media