About Beacon Practice ...
Beacon Practice was a major project within the GIF Technology Education initiative, part of the Government's Growth and Innovation Framework (GIF) strategy that aims to deliver long-term sustainable growth to improve the living standards of New Zealanders. Technology Education initiatives support the implementation of technology education in senior secondary schools. The Beacon Practice project ran from 2004-2007 and was managed by Niall Dinning.
Beacon Practice has been Technology Education's biggest project to date. Its main goal was to raise the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning in senior secondary school technology courses – and so increase student participation. It aimed to build teacher capability in technology education through a focus on quality teaching, innovative environments and supportive relationships. It also aimed to improve the alignment between secondary and tertiary technology education, and encourage more interaction with the 'enterprise' community.
How did Beacon Practice work?
Beacon Practice provided support to teachers who had demonstrated best practice. Participating schools were provided with funding to release teachers from the classroom and provide outside facilitation and support.
The 2005/2006 project (Phase 1) involved seven initiatives in 13 schools, in Hamilton/Katikati, Pahiatua, Tauranga, Gisborne, Havelock North, Wellington and Christchurch. The 2006/2007 project (Phase 2) involved a further nine schools, in Auckland, the Waikato and Nelson.
Beacon Practice support was co-ordinated by Professional Support Facilitators Cliff Harwood and, later in the project, Grant Miles and Ange Compton, all contracted by the Ministry of Education, and other professional technologists from industry and tertiary institutions when required.
Case studies and additional resource material have been developed (and continue to be developed) as part of Technology Education's Resource Development initiative to help all schools improve the quality of teaching and learning in their technology education programmes.
In February, 2009, the Beacon Practice Case Studies were integrated into the Classroom Practice area.
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