title: Platforms of Learning: The Ongoing Professonal Learning of Experienced Principals in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Grant, Peter

subjects: principal

abstract: Little is known about the professional learning of experienced school principals in New Zealand. How do they maintain sufficient learning to meet a diverse and fluid variety of leadership expectations after at least five years as principal? This research examines the professional learning habits and preferences of fifty two experienced school principals from a variety of schools covering subgroups of Years 1 – 13 within the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. A self-selected self-administered survey elicited responses on their use of over twenty three potential sources of learning. This approach was used to provide a fresh look at an under-researched topic. Research findings demonstrate that respondents used all learning sources to varying degrees according to factors such as personal preference, availability, cost, perceived quality, time and distance. A single best practice model remains elusive; those surveyed adopted eclectic approaches to their professional learning. The impact of information technologies and the role of professional principals’ associations in monitoring, promoting and supporting principals’ access to high quality professional learning are also discussed. Consideration of links between survey data and existing theory has resulted in the development of a framework of learning platforms for experienced principals. In addition, a number of dualities are highlighted. Together the proposed learning platforms and dualities provide a conceptual mechanism for the planning of deliberate professional learning and directions for further research.

text: Platforms of Learning: The Ongoing Professonal Learning of Experienced Principals in Aotearoa New Zealand Little is known about the professional learning of experienced school principals in New Zealand. How do they maintain sufficient learning to meet a diverse and fluid variety of leadership expectations after at least five years as principal? This research examines the professional learning habits and preferences of fifty two experienced school principals from a variety of schools covering subgroups of Years 1 – 13 within the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. A self-selected self-administered survey elicited responses on their use of over twenty three potential sources of learning. This approach was used to provide a fresh look at an under-researched topic. Research findings demonstrate that respondents used all learning sources to varying degrees according to factors such as personal preference, availability, cost, perceived quality, time and distance. A single best practice model remains elusive; those surveyed adopted eclectic approaches to their professional learning. The impact of information technologies and the role of professional principals’ associations in monitoring, promoting and supporting principals’ access to high quality professional learning are also discussed. Consideration of links between survey data and existing theory has resulted in the development of a framework of learning platforms for experienced principals. In addition, a number of dualities are highlighted. Together the proposed learning platforms and dualities provide a conceptual mechanism for the planning of deliberate professional learning and directions for further research.

year: 2011

title: Bringing Antarctica to the lab: a polar desert environmental chamber to study the response of Antarctic microbial communities to climate change

authors: Monteiro, Maria R.

abstract: Polar deserts contain unique and sensitive communities responsive to climate-associated habitat changes. However, unlike temperate desert ecosystems, characterizing and predicting the responses of polar ecosystems to environmental change remains a significant challenge due to logistical constraints. Here we aim to demonstrate the use of a custom-designed Polar Desert Environmental Chamber (PDEC) to perform off-continent experimental ecological research. We did so by characterizing the structure and composition of arid edaphic bacterial communities collected from the McMurdo Dry Valleys during a simulated wetting event. The results were discussed in light of previous field observations. Rapid structural and compositional changes were observed during wetting and re-drying treatments. Those were driven by changes in the relative abundance of coexisting taxa, which fluctuated asynchronously over time in response to the treatments. While selection was the main ecological factor influencing communities during dry conditions or the initial wetting, with prolonged exposure to wetness, neutral processes began to drive community assembly. Ultimately, these observations reflect different adaptative responses from microbial taxa to water stress, which can be argued as beneficial to increasing resilience in polar deserts. Our findings demonstrate that experiments conducted in PDEC provide valuable contextual data on community response to environmental change and can accelerate our ability to assess biological thresholds to change within polar desert ecosystems. We advocate that, with careful consideration of key emulated environmental attributes, laboratory-based Antarctic research can complement fieldwork to achieve a nuanced and evidence-based understanding of the ecology of Antarctica’s ice-free regions.

text: Bringing Antarctica to the lab: a polar desert environmental chamber to study the response of Antarctic microbial communities to climate change Polar deserts contain unique and sensitive communities responsive to climate-associated habitat changes. However, unlike temperate desert ecosystems, characterizing and predicting the responses of polar ecosystems to environmental change remains a significant challenge due to logistical constraints. Here we aim to demonstrate the use of a custom-designed Polar Desert Environmental Chamber (PDEC) to perform off-continent experimental ecological research. We did so by characterizing the structure and composition of arid edaphic bacterial communities collected from the McMurdo Dry Valleys during a simulated wetting event. The results were discussed in light of previous field observations. Rapid structural and compositional changes were observed during wetting and re-drying treatments. Those were driven by changes in the relative abundance of coexisting taxa, which fluctuated asynchronously over time in response to the treatments. While selection was the main ecological factor influencing communities during dry conditions or the initial wetting, with prolonged exposure to wetness, neutral processes began to drive community assembly. Ultimately, these observations reflect different adaptative responses from microbial taxa to water stress, which can be argued as beneficial to increasing resilience in polar deserts. Our findings demonstrate that experiments conducted in PDEC provide valuable contextual data on community response to environmental change and can accelerate our ability to assess biological thresholds to change within polar desert ecosystems. We advocate that, with careful consideration of key emulated environmental attributes, laboratory-based Antarctic research can complement fieldwork to achieve a nuanced and evidence-based understanding of the ecology of Antarctica’s ice-free regions.

year: 2023-05-01

title: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti competed at the Mātaatua Regional Kapa Haka Competition 2014 to qualify for the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition 2015, Christchurch. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti placed first overall, 1st mōteatea, 1st, Haka, 1st Whakawātea, 1st Female Leader, 1st Male Leader, 1st Waiata Tira, 1st Te Reo, 1st Original Composition, 1st Costume, 2nd Waiata a Ringa, 2nd, Poi, 2nd Whakaeke.

text: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti competed at the Mātaatua Regional Kapa Haka Competition 2014 to qualify for the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition 2015, Christchurch. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti placed first overall, 1st mōteatea, 1st, Haka, 1st Whakawātea, 1st Female Leader, 1st Male Leader, 1st Waiata Tira, 1st Te Reo, 1st Original Composition, 1st Costume, 2nd Waiata a Ringa, 2nd, Poi, 2nd Whakaeke.

year: 2014-02-22