U
nder the theme of ‘Exploring the past, Creating the future,’ 150 ākonga from six primary schools in Ōtautahi discovered new technologies and delved into their local pūrākau (stories and legends) in a special festival at Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library) in June. Aupaki Tech Fest involved ākonga from Te Kura o Matuku Takotako Sumner School, Te Raekura Redcliffs Primary School, Te Kura O Paeraki Mt Pleasant School, Te Kura Tuatahi o Ōhinehou Lyttelton Primary School, Te Tihi o Kahukura Heathcote Valley Primary School, and Our Lady Star of the Sea School. The kāhui ako has held a tech fest for the last decade using the hall at Sumner School. A refresh of the concept for tech fest led to a crosscurricular, off-site event to utilise the skills and technology available in collaboration with the Christchurch City Libraries | Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi. In partnership with the kāhui ako, the revitalised Aupaki Tech Fest 2023 was developed alongside Emma Planicka, managing director of Digital Learning PLD – an approved Ministry of Education professional learning development provider that supports schools to build digital fluency and creatively integrate the digital technologies curriculum. After last year’s tech fest, kaiako got together to talk about next steps and brainstorm ideas to link the tech fest to the Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories curriculum. “We wanted to ensure the event was meaningful, while also bringing to life the PLD kaiako were undertaking. It was a real team effort! We also really wanted the connections with designing and developing digital outcomes and computational thinking to be stronger,” says Emma.
An ideal venue
The choice of Tūranga as a venue was simple. The wifi supports hundreds of devices, with many different technologies available to the public. It also provided PLD for kaiako on the specialist technological equipment, such as laser cutters, 3D printers, the labs, sticker makers, badge making, podcasting, and sound lab, to name a few. Plus, getting the ākonga to experience what’s available at the library is a great way to encourage them to use the resources after school and in holidays, says co-organiser Anna Granger, principal of Sumner School. “We want our ākonga to know the full potential that libraries can offer and have an understanding of all of the amazing resources available,” adds Anna.
A collaborative ethos
The event was developed in collaboration with Ngāti Wheke and the Rāpaki Education Team. There are three core Ngāti Wheke pūrākau at the centre of tech fest teaching. The storytelling strands connect with re-telling parts of each pūrākau, weaving through elements of navigation, habitation, and innovation. “Our kāhui ako is continuing to develop a really meaningful and reciprocal relationship with Ngāti Wheke at Rāpaki,” says Anna. The kāhui ako team also worked closely with Christchurch City Libraries | Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi kaiwhakahaere ngā ratonga Māori manager, Māia Abraham.
17 July 2023
Above: A student awaits the signal to record a podcast. Below: Aupaki Tech Fest co-organisers Anna Granger and Emma Planicka.
Tukutuku Kōrero
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