title: Using digital technologies to build connections between families and schools as children transition to school

authors: Woodhouse, Hazel Maxine

subjects: early years engagement

abstract: This paper reports research that investigated how digital technologies were used to develop and maintain home–school connections and develop positive relationships when children transition to nursery schools and schools. School case studies, comprising four purposively selected schools with nursery provision in Northern Ireland and four primary schools in New Zealand, provided the context and evidence to enable a small-scale comparative study of how digital technologies enabled the development of relationships between homes and schools over time. In this paper, the findings were analysed using a conceptual model and framework derived from earlier studies in this field. However, given the contemporary social and technological context, it was found that the framework could be reviewed and elaborated, enabling the creation of a new conceptual framework that is offered here. Our findings reveal methods of employing digital technologies to positively support parental engagement when children transition to nurseries and schools. From the analysis of our findings using the framework developed, points to consider for future practice, policy, and research are highlighted, with an emphasis on understanding and integrating parents’ aspirations into the transition process. Opportunities that use existing and emerging methods for home–school–community connections need to be made known to teachers and schools. While the digital technologies used must be capable of maintaining appropriate regular communication, additionally, supporting ways for involving parental voice in reviews of existing practices and exploring new opportunities should be shared with teachers and schools. Future research should explore how the use of digital technologies in developing wider and deeper engagement and participation of parents and carers with nurseries and schools might lead to a longer-term and positive engagement in later years beyond nursery schools and initial transition to school.

text: Using digital technologies to build connections between families and schools as children transition to school This paper reports research that investigated how digital technologies were used to develop and maintain home–school connections and develop positive relationships when children transition to nursery schools and schools. School case studies, comprising four purposively selected schools with nursery provision in Northern Ireland and four primary schools in New Zealand, provided the context and evidence to enable a small-scale comparative study of how digital technologies enabled the development of relationships between homes and schools over time. In this paper, the findings were analysed using a conceptual model and framework derived from earlier studies in this field. However, given the contemporary social and technological context, it was found that the framework could be reviewed and elaborated, enabling the creation of a new conceptual framework that is offered here. Our findings reveal methods of employing digital technologies to positively support parental engagement when children transition to nurseries and schools. From the analysis of our findings using the framework developed, points to consider for future practice, policy, and research are highlighted, with an emphasis on understanding and integrating parents’ aspirations into the transition process. Opportunities that use existing and emerging methods for home–school–community connections need to be made known to teachers and schools. While the digital technologies used must be capable of maintaining appropriate regular communication, additionally, supporting ways for involving parental voice in reviews of existing practices and exploring new opportunities should be shared with teachers and schools. Future research should explore how the use of digital technologies in developing wider and deeper engagement and participation of parents and carers with nurseries and schools might lead to a longer-term and positive engagement in later years beyond nursery schools and initial transition to school.

year: 2024-05-11

title: Livestock traceability in New Zealand: Using blockchain to address current challenges in the industry

authors: Deenamulle Kankanamge, Deepika Priyadarshani

subjects: Livestock traceability

abstract: The existing livestock traceability system in New Zealand hardly achieves the general goals of a traceability system such as managing disease outbreaks and tracking animal-based products from farm to fork. Further, users often complain that the New Zealand system is difficult to use. To overcome such issues in other parts of the world, blockchain-based traceability systems have been suggested. However, there is little research in the New Zealand context. This study aims to fill that gap by identifying challenges in the existing livestock traceability system in New Zealand, then evaluating if blockchain technology can address those challenges. The applicability of a blockchain-based livestock traceability system to New Zealand is discussed.
Existing literature is used to understand the potential use of blockchain technology to address livestock traceability challenges relating to the themes of data management, relationships (among supply chain partners), transparency, compliance, and visibility. To understand the New Zealand context, participants in the New Zealand livestock supply chain are interviewed. Interview data is analysed using the themes listed above. Challenges gathered from the interviews are then compared with the challenges and solutions found in literature to evaluate if a blockchain-based traceability system would suit the New Zealand context.
The results suggest that a blockchain-based traceability system supported by the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart contracts can dramatically improve the livestock traceability system in New Zealand by addressing many of the country’s traceability challenges. However, implementing such a system could initially involve a significant cost and necessitate changes to existing organisational practices. Further, workarounds should be sought for implementation barriers such as low network connectivity in rural New Zealand. Although expensive to implement, eventually, a blockchain-based traceability system could help industry manage otherwise expensive occurrences, such as food recalls, with less effort. Therefore, spending resources to implement a blockchain-based traceability system today can be a worthwhile investment for the future.

text: Livestock traceability in New Zealand: Using blockchain to address current challenges in the industry The existing livestock traceability system in New Zealand hardly achieves the general goals of a traceability system such as managing disease outbreaks and tracking animal-based products from farm to fork. Further, users often complain that the New Zealand system is difficult to use. To overcome such issues in other parts of the world, blockchain-based traceability systems have been suggested. However, there is little research in the New Zealand context. This study aims to fill that gap by identifying challenges in the existing livestock traceability system in New Zealand, then evaluating if blockchain technology can address those challenges. The applicability of a blockchain-based livestock traceability system to New Zealand is discussed.
Existing literature is used to understand the potential use of blockchain technology to address livestock traceability challenges relating to the themes of data management, relationships (among supply chain partners), transparency, compliance, and visibility. To understand the New Zealand context, participants in the New Zealand livestock supply chain are interviewed. Interview data is analysed using the themes listed above. Challenges gathered from the interviews are then compared with the challenges and solutions found in literature to evaluate if a blockchain-based traceability system would suit the New Zealand context.
The results suggest that a blockchain-based traceability system supported by the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart contracts can dramatically improve the livestock traceability system in New Zealand by addressing many of the country’s traceability challenges. However, implementing such a system could initially involve a significant cost and necessitate changes to existing organisational practices. Further, workarounds should be sought for implementation barriers such as low network connectivity in rural New Zealand. Although expensive to implement, eventually, a blockchain-based traceability system could help industry manage otherwise expensive occurrences, such as food recalls, with less effort. Therefore, spending resources to implement a blockchain-based traceability system today can be a worthwhile investment for the future.

year: 2022

title: Ascending the Poutama: Culturally responsive diabetes care for Māori communities

authors: Crosswell, Rebekah Jane

subjects: culturally responsive

abstract: Introduction
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) significantly impacts Māori populations in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) who experience health disparities including suboptimal disease management.

Aim
To explore culturally responsive approaches to supporting Māori living with T2D from the perspective of healthcare providers.

Methods
Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians from various disciplines (general practitioner, podiatrist, exercise physiologist, three kaiāwhina, dietitian, two pharmacists); five clinicians identify as Māori, four as non-Māori. Kaupapa Māori inductive thematic analysis was used.

Results
Four key themes emerged: empowering patient-centred communication, whānau involvement, interprofessional collaboration, and culturally appropriate analogies.

Discussion
The findings underscore the need for holistic, culturally responsive T2D care that prioritises culturally appropriate communication to improve patient engagement, health outcomes and address Māori health disparities.

text: Ascending the Poutama: Culturally responsive diabetes care for Māori communities Introduction
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) significantly impacts Māori populations in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) who experience health disparities including suboptimal disease management.

Aim
To explore culturally responsive approaches to supporting Māori living with T2D from the perspective of healthcare providers.

Methods
Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians from various disciplines (general practitioner, podiatrist, exercise physiologist, three kaiāwhina, dietitian, two pharmacists); five clinicians identify as Māori, four as non-Māori. Kaupapa Māori inductive thematic analysis was used.

Results
Four key themes emerged: empowering patient-centred communication, whānau involvement, interprofessional collaboration, and culturally appropriate analogies.

Discussion
The findings underscore the need for holistic, culturally responsive T2D care that prioritises culturally appropriate communication to improve patient engagement, health outcomes and address Māori health disparities.

year: 2025