2015 the year that was

Yesterday we celebrated the final graduation for 2015 for the Te Heti Te Kohanga Reo and Whanganui Learning Centre classes.

 The theme of this graduation was how technology can empower lives and the lives of our children. I had the privilege to share the story of one our Computers in Homes mums who finished Computers in Homes in 2006.

After Computers in Homes she went from being a volunteer to part time work.  She then went on to be a part of our BYOD trial in 2014 and has just completed her Kiwiskills Jobseeker qualification. She has dyslexia and was amazed to find how easy Kiwiskills was for her to learn. It really suited her to be able to do it whenever she had time rather than turn up to class. A group of mums got together and learned together to get them focused. She loves that now she knows stuff like doing a poster for work, converting it to a PDF for email and then a jpeg for facebook - "It's so awesome to be able to do that" she said.

She also  spoke about how having technology at home has enabled her boy who is often unwell to keep up with his school work. The teacher can email him the work to do, he does it online and then the teacher reviews it online, makes notes and sends him the next lot of work. Before technology he would have just fallen behind.

 She also spoke about how, living week to week, they can't afford to travel. They have whanau all over the world. Having skpe means they can be there virtually at all of there families events. It keeps them connected as whanau.


Our 15 graduates today spoke of overcoming their own learning challenges and how supportive their tutors and environment were. Congratulations to you all.  Our team wishes you every success on your technology and learning journey

Graduation at Te Heti Kohanga Reo on PhotoPeach


2015 has been a challenging one for Whanganui. The flood in our region in June has had a very real impact on the health of our families here.  We look forward to a positive, healthy 2016 and wish you and yours a very happy holiday season from all of us.

Tawhero and Aranui Schools November 2015

Graduations are always special. This evening we were celebrating not only the Computers in Homes graduates but also the six first ever Tawhero Stepping Up graduates and the first two people in Whanganui to complete the Kiwiskills Jobseeker programme. The sad but sweet part of the evening was farwelling Petera Hudson who has been with us for the last 2 and 1/2 years but now goes on to fulfill other goals and the welcoming of Aaron Tasker to our Computers in Homes whanau as a trainer. Petera has taught many of our whanau here in Whanganui and will be sadly missed. Congratulations to everyone.

Tawhero and Aranui School Graduations on PhotoPeach

Whanganui Learning Centre October 2015

This term has been filled with people being ill and lots of people being away and therefore unable to complete their courses.

This wonderful small group at Whanganui Learning Centre battled the elements and illnesses and finished their course this month on October 22.  We trust they are all enjoying their computers at home.

Because it was a small, intimate celebration we got to hear from everyone about what they got from the course.  The all spoke of overcoming their fear of doing something wrong and growing in confidence with technology.  They also spoke of their joy at being able to now share that world with their children at home.

Our team wishes them all well.

A big thank you to Sally Jane Smith for all the problem solving, Nessa Williams for the training and Sue Simons for getting everyone registered and to classes.

Also to our team Simon Waters for the technical support and sharing your wisdom generously and Robin Williamson for your support.

Here is the graduation

Whanganui Learning Centre Graduation on PhotoPeach

Our Computers in Homes Whanau of 2014-15 year

I had the privilege today of starting some of our graduates from November 2014 and May 2015 on the Kiwiskills Jobseeker programme.  These families started with Computers in Homes, have done Stepping Up and now are doing a qualification with Kiwiskills.  One of the families is currently volunteering on a current Computers in Homes course with the goal of training for us in 2016.

Technology has the ability to do that, to grab our interest, to engage us and to make us want to motivate ourselves and learn more.

After 12 months we hear many stories of success and here are a few of their stories in their words:

• My boy will look up how to draw a face (for example). He's into comic books and will look up who wrote them and how they got famous. My partner has been doing courses and now works as a teacher aide. My son's art has improved, he's doing really well with his art on the computer. He reads a lot of things, so his reading has improved too. He searches for things, and that has helped his spelling. His mouse control is great. I've noticed the kids have bonded better when on the computer, they are interested in what each other is looking at. Also they cooperate really well when they are interested in something they are looking at. They help each other. Having a computer at home now means I do not have to pack up my whole family and leave the house to use one. When we forget something the computer tells us. If I need to find things out for myself I can find things out. The computer has helped us a lot. My partner does her study on it." - RM graduated Nov 2013

• "It impresses me the most seeing my children having the same advantages and opportunities as other children. It puts them in a quality space. They have the technology. They can do what anybody else in the world can do and learn. To see them use that is great. They won't be left out. They can make choices and they will be informed. Having the computer here has kept us as a family, it's kept us together - we can do our searching with our fingers. We are saving energy and we are loving, growing, getting angry together, looking at things together. I would not have been able to do my coursework without this computer: a lot of interaction is required with other students. Improvements: I do not know how you can make CIH better. It's a gift! - TT graduated Aug 2014

• There's a significant amount more information that can be accessed easily through computer rather than phone. I think they are more aware of things happening to others (some of which are not so happy - but that's life). Having the computer here has enriched the family. It gives me more free time. When they are in bed then it's MY time. We have massive discussions about things and I notice they observe others' comments in a different way. My relationship with my kids is stronger now. I have to trust them that they are not looking at nasty content and that they are using this tool wisely. They sort out their times on the computer between them. We know we are so lucky - we remember what it was like not to have one" MB gradauted Aug 2014

Computers in Homes for 2015

From July to December is always a difficult time to engage Computers in Homes families.  It's winter so people don't want to go out, there is a lot of illness around and if we start to late in the year then the schools become too busy.

That is why in Whanganui we try and start our classes in September giving people the opportunity to have their computers at home in time for Christmas and the start of the new year.

This is a good time to remind you when our next classes are starting. These will be the last classes until March 2016

Aranui School - Castlecliff - starting THURSDAY 3 September with two classes either 9.30 - 12pm or 5.30 - 8pm. This is the ONLY night class this term.

Te Heti Te Kohanga Reo - starting  WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY 9 and 10 September  12.15 - 2.45pm at Hinau Street in Castlecliff

Tawhero School starting TUESDAY 8  September 9.30 - 12pm

Whanganui Learning Centre - In the CITY 232 Wicksteed Street starting FRIDAY 11 September 9.30 - 12pm

People interested should go to the schools.  Just a simple reminder about our criteria.  

We have an exciting new team of trainers and are really looking forward with working with the Computers in Homes whanau of 2015

Gratitude for the programme still making a difference

Every now and again I get someone asking "is there still a need for Computers in Homes?"  It's a really useful question.  Today I received two emails from parents today which answered that question again for me.

One of the mums shared that she wanted to know about Stepping Up because she wanted to get confident enough to go on to do a formal computer qualification so she could get work when her children were a bit older.  In her words

"My children and myself enjoy the computer so much it has made our life's so much easier when its time to do their homework.  Thank u so much 4 starting these courses my son has gone up so much in his education coz of having the computer".

I also heard from a Dad who said "It was a really big deal for me going on the course.  I had never sent an email until I arrived there.  My kids are hocked on the computer, they just love it.  Thank you so much for the opportunity"

So my answer is "YES" we still need Computers in Homes, for the parents and children who through no fault of their own have not embarked on the essential journey of having technology in their homes.
So if you know a whanau who fits our criteria (below) and could benefit from our programme get them to get in touch for programmes in Whanganui on 021 547 407.

17 new graduates at Raetihi

It was a cold, wet night for our graduation in Raetihi with 17 graduates completing Computers in Homes.  Raetihi Primary is an ICT school who uses Ipads with each of their students to facilitate learning.

This rounds out a wonderful 2014-15 year for Computers in Homes Whanganui with 130 graduates completing our programme in our region.  Great success for all of our graduates and we wish them well.

Here is a photoshow of our evening.  

Raetihi Primary School Graduation on PhotoPeach

Wow Whanganui Whanau what an awesome evening

On 19 May we had a very special graduation for 54 graduates from 5 schools:

Tawhero School

Castlecliff School

Keith Street School

St Marcellin School

Whanganui Learning Centre

This was the biggest graduation we have ever had and it was fantastic!  Over 250 people came.

Thank you so much to all our principals and managers from WLC

Thank you to Hamish McDouall, Deputy Mayor for the wonderful job you do

And thank you to our wonderful team and Committee for all that they do.  Here is our evening

Whanganui Computers in Homes Graduation May 2015 on PhotoPeach

Inspiration in Marton April 2015

Sometime we visit schools which are simply inspirational and James Cook School in Marton is one of those schools.  You can really feel the encouragement and support for the students.  Thank you so much for the inspiration.  This is the beautiful way they presented the PC's to their whanau.

Thank you so much to everyone - the principals, the Mayor Andy Watson who is always so supportive, Nevin Kuki the local Minister who opened our evening so beautifully and MP Ian MP Ian McKelvie.  Also congratulations to all our graduates and a thousand thank you's to Angela Coleman and Damian Turner-Steele for everything they do for us.

Marton Graduation April 2015 on PhotoPeach

Finding what you want on the Internet

It seems to me that the hardest thing for new users of the internet have is searching for information effectively.  We live in a world of endless bits of information.  If you type recipe into the Google Search you get 373,000,000 results.  That's a lot of recipes to search through to find a recipe for Marshmellow Easter Eggs to make for Easter.

So we have to learn to be specific about what we want.  For example if you search for "School holiday projects" you will get 77,800,000 results - if I search for "Drift wood craft projects from primary school children"  I get some very specific results including this

https://www.pinterest.com/sasmalin/primary-school-art-project-ideas/

You can also search within things like Pinterest by subject.  Try this - go to Pinterest.com and search on Education.  There are heaps of boards on many topics including Special Education.

So you can see - the more specific you are - the more likely you will find what you want. When we think about what we want and become more and more clear about what it is we want to do, know or explore then searching becomes easier.

As you get more experienced you could do a search on "Advanced Internet Searches" which will help you understand how

The next challenge is working out what reliable sources of information are on the internet.  Try doing a search on Youtube.com "reliable sources of information on internet"   I found this clip to show students how to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DzD856cplY   - if you don't like this one search again and find one you like looking at.

If you have curiosity, patience and the internet then you can literally learn anything.

Enjoy your internet journey.

P.S.  Warmest welcome to the 80 plus students currently doing Computers in Homes in Whanganui, Marton and Raetihi in our region.  Welcome to your technology journey.  May it expand your world. Our first graduation is in Marton on 21 April and our massive Whanganui graduation is on 19 May and our Raetihi graduation will be early June.

Our next classes start in September and I will be letting you know soon where those classes will be.

Also check us out on facebook under Computers in Homes in Homes Wanganui - been posting education links there lately.

Class of 2015

On Tuesday we started our year with 12 wonderful women in the Marton ICT Hub.  This will be out last Computers in Homes class in Marton until 2016.  Everyone is really excited.

Next week we start our first class in Raetihi Primary School for the Whanganui Region.  Historically Raetihi was not in our region but in 2015 our boundaries changed and we now work from Marton to Ohakune to Patea and everything in between (especially Whanganui).  So if you are keen to have Computers in Homes at your school and you are in our Region then let your principal know to contact use.

In mid March we have classes going at:

a) Tawhero School starting Tues 10 March 9.30am to 12pm

b) Keith Street School starting Wed 11 March from 9.30am to 12pm

c) St Marcellin School starting Wed 11 March from 5.30pm to 8pm

d) Castecliff School from Thursday 12 March 9.30am to 12pm and possibly 6 - 8.30pm

If you are keen then register with the schools.  There are a few places left.  Then you too can be part of our marvellous celebrations.  This photo is from a graduation in Marton last year.

Happy New Year and New Timetable

What a beautiful start to the new year with this wonderful weather.  Our team are busily preparing for the coming year.  There have been some changes to the timetable so here is the new timetable. Below the timetable I have put the criteria again to remind you about how we roll.  Let's work together and make 2015 a great year.


Planned courses starting 2015

In Whanganui

Whanganui Learning Centre      Wed 18 Feb 9.15 to 11.45am            232 Wickstead Street

Tawhero School                         Tues 10 Mar 9.30am to 12pm        Totara St, Gonville

Keith Street School                    Wed 11 Mar 9.30am to 12pm or Tues 5.30pm to 8pm - Central

St Marcellin School                    Wed 11 Mar 5.30pm to 8pm - Totara St, Gonville

Castlecliff School                       Thurs 12 Mar 9.30am to 12pm and/or 6 - 8.30pm - Polson St

Enroll at the schools directly please during school hours.  

Courses run for 8 weeks and you must do ALL 8 weeks.

In Raetihi

We are also doing classes in Raetihi Primary School starting either late Feb or early Mar please contact the school for details.

In Marton (last one for 2015)

Marton ICT Hub                       Tues 24 Feb 6 to 8.30pm       Marton 33 Lower High Street

Our Criteria

Note:

·         Grandparents raising grandchildren or doing daily after school care fit our criteria as well.

·         Tablets and smartphones and work laptops don’t count as having a computer but laptops or computers in the home do.

What you get:

1. 20 Hours free training on using a computer
2. Quality reconditioned PC loaded with MS Office 2010 and Windows 7
3. Subsidised internet for 12 months
4. Serviced computers for 12 months
5. Free ongoing training is available