N4L connects 1000th school to Managed Network

N4L connects 1000th school to Managed Network

More than 40% of New Zealand schools now access fast internet with N4L

Today N4L (Network for Learning) connected the 1000th school to its Managed Network, which means more than 40% of New Zealand schools are now using N4L’s services, providing them equitable access to world-class internet connectivity for teaching and learning.

From today, nearly 319,000 students, teachers and school administrators are now using N4L’s Government-funded Managed Network services, which include fast and reliable internet connectivity, uncapped data, web filtering and network security. All schools will be able to connect to the Managed Network by the end of 2016.

Stanley Avenue Primary, a semi-rural school in Te Aroha, 40km east of Hamilton, is the Crown company’s 1000th school to connect to the Managed Network. The 285-pupil school has been using a range of digital technologies over the last six years and is excited about the potential the new N4L Managed Network connection will bring.

“Our new connection will allow us to grow the range of learning pathways we currently offer students,” says Stanley Avenue School Principal Stuart Armistead. “For example, we will be able to extend the use of mobile devices, grow our school radio and television stations and use technology to enhance communication between home and school.”

N4L reached today’s milestone more than two months early. In August the company surpassed its 700th connection five months ahead of schedule, and then revised its end-year target to 1000. N4L CEO John Hanna is pleased with the company’s progress to date.

“We understand a teacher’s need for technology to work smoothly and reliably all the time,” says Mr Hanna. “Once a school is connected, their internet use generally increases exponentially. Students are using the internet to collaborate more online and to invent their own amazing creations. It is exciting to see new ways of teaching and learning introduced into the classroom. All of this activity will better prepare them for the future, and it is very rewarding to see this happening throughout the country.”

Massey Primary in West Auckland was the first school to connect to N4L’s Managed Network at the end of November 2013. Principal Bruce Barnes says it has made a notable difference to both his teachers and students and is instrumental to helping achieve the school’s vision: “Our vision is to graduate students who are better equipped to be global citizens, ready for a world where technology will be more prevalent in their future.”

He says N4L’s Managed Network, alongside the Ministry of Education’s SNUP programme, has enabled Massey to fast-track its digital learning plans. “Students who were previously labeled as ‘reluctant learners’ have embraced the new devices, as a way to connect with their learning. This translates to increased engagement with their learning and achievement, which is leading to improved student results.”

N4L works closely with school leaders and local IT support companies to ensure a smooth transition to the Managed Network and to help schools get the most from the network once connected.

An interactive map of all participating N4L schools can be viewed at: www.n4l.co.nz/rollout

In addition to building the Managed Network, N4L has developed a central digital learning hub called Pond, which more than 1600 teachers are now using to find learning resources and share classroom practices with their peers. Pond can be accessed by every teacher with any internet connection. N4L is working closely with schools to help them get the most from Pond, introducing a ‘Make a Splash’ programme last week, to help familiarise teachers with its key features.

About Network for Learning (N4L)
Network for Learning (N4L) is building a Managed Network and a digital learning hub called Pond, specifically designed for New Zealand schools. The Government-funded Managed Network provides fast and predictable internet with uncapped data; web filtering and network security services. Pond offers a collaborative environment where teachers can discover a wide range educational resources for classrooms and share them with their peers. The aim is to give schools equitable access to digital technologies that can enable new ways of learning and improve student achievement.

ENDS

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