What (or who) is DTTA?
Digital Technologies Teachers Aotearoa (DTTA) is an association with the goal of advocating for every area of Digital Technologies. our subject and the students' learning. Our aim is to create a community of teachers where we can share resources, communicate and speak with one voice to get our subject area recognised and supported.
The mission of DTTA as an association is to promote, advance, support and guide teachers of Digital Technologies. This covers a broad range of Computing, Digital and Information Technology outcomes.
This is done through strengthening, encouraging and improving the teaching of a broad range of Digital Technologies outcomes in New Zealand schools. Through fostering links and consultation between teachers, educators and government institutions on any matters relating to the subject, we can work together to facilitate, negotiate and assist in the development, maintenance and review of the subject guidelines.
DTTA also aims to promote the education, professional development and upskilling of its members throughout the Primary, Secondary and Māori medium sectors. The focus is to support teachers by providing opportunities to connect with like-minded teachers, whether you are just starting out or have been teaching for a number of years to ensure our tamariki and rangatahi have the provision to pursue with DT throughout their schooling experience. This is supported by tertiary and industry to create pathways for all. In turn, this will facilitate the promotion and advance the profile of the subject to students, government and educational institutions, IT professionals and organisations, industry and the public.
Contact us at secretary@dtta.org.nz
2024 Committee
President: Andrew Churches - Kristin School
I love being able to take technology and use it to support our students' learning. Play is a great form of learning, and structured play and exploration is the best way to learn. I believe that we shape our future, by preparing our students for the exciting and dynamic world they are in, whether this is robotics, drones, coding & programming or ethics accountability and current & emerging issues. Live to Play, Learn and Adapt. Everyday innovation.
Past President: Malcolm Clarke - Kowhai Intermediate
I am particularly looking forward to working with the Primary, Intermediate and Māori Medium sector. I see that this is where we have a challenge of sharing the existing expertise that we as an association can bring to the wider community of teachers starting their journey into teaching DTHM. I am also interested in how we can deal with the inequities of resources such as the expertise of our kaiako as well as the issue of the ‘Digital Divide' for all of our kura across the mutu.
Treasurer: John Creighton - Burnside High School
Being involved with Digital Technologies in New Zealand is a great experience. I have loved the challenges and rewards of seeing the evolution of this Learning Area. I am Head of Faculty of the Burnside High School Technology Learning Area and have got such a proactive and enthusiastic team to work with. The opportunities and experiences I have had in working with such a great group of people over the last few years at; school, regional and national levels have been a real privilege. Learning new things and refining and improving my practice overtime is one of the things that drive me along this journey.
Secretary: Tracy Henderson - UC CSERG - Department of fun stuff
My best days are when I’m focused on creating learning opportunities for all students to see themselves in Digital Technologies and for teachers to see computational thinking as a wealth of ideas to explore. One day I’m going to explore creating DDDO opportunities using conductive paint and LEDs!
Committee Members
Steve Wright - Inglewood High School
I love teaching Digital Technologies because the subject lends itself to project based learning that provides opportunities for students to be creative and succeed in all manner of different ways; at the same time, the scientist in me is fascinated by how it all works, so the subject bridges the divide between the practical and the theoretical. I’ve seen how technology can change the nature of my own profession, and I want to help my students discover how it can change their lives and careers too.
Steve Rodkiss - Burnside High School
Digital Technologies have seen dramatic changes in the past few years and that pace of change is what makes it both scary and rewarding. I’m passionate about helping my students engage in this challenging subject and I’m proud of my Game Design and Software Engineering courses that I specialise in. Seeing students develop digital skills and knowledge to cooperatively design and develop real outcomes is awesome. But we, as teachers, need support, time and training if we are going to provide these engaging opportunities in an increasingly important area for our learners.
Corlene Greenwood - Epsom Girls Grammar School
Ko Corlene Greenwood tōku ingoa.
No Pakiri au.
Kei Kumeu ahau e noho ana inaianei.
Te Kiri o Omaha te marae.
Ko Tamahunga te maunga.
Ko Pakiri te awa.
Ko Ngāti Wai, raua ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa ōku iwi.
Ko au te Whakahaere o te Tari mō Hangarau Matihiko ki Te Kura Tuarua o Ngā Taitamāhine o Maungawhau.
Teaching is built upon strong foundations. These are teacher skills, and knowledge, but most importantly a strong network of relationships, sharing of resources, and ongoing communication and collaboration. This is what NZDTTA has offered me over the years, along with strong colleague support. It is my turn to pay it back with that social and professional support, so that we may provide our ākonga with the best teaching and learning in the classroom. Their best interests in developing a future in Digital Technology is what drives me as a teacher.
A bag of licorice allsorts, I am a dabbler of MySQL, C#, VB, web programming, python, multimedia, and a huge supporter of eGaming. Digital Technology teaching certainly is built around an eclecticism of skills and knowledge whereby a Jack of all trades and a Master of some is embraced.
Ian Fulton - Whangamata Area School
Ngati Unu, Ngati Kahu nga hapu, Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi and English
Being in an isolated area, DTTA and its members have provided a lot of support over the years. I would like to give back by helping widen the support networks and advocate for more resources and support material for kaiako. A self taught programmer with bad Programming_habits. I love using Python and Minecraft as part of my teaching.
Clive Roberston - College Street Normal School
Digital Technologies is a learning area I was pushed into by my students, and I am forever grateful to them. As an educator I want to create real life memorable learning experiences for my students and integrating Digital Technologies across the curriculum allows me to do this. I have a passion for Robotics and introducing students to new technology. I am a lifelong learner who loves to learn and enjoys sharing resources and knowledge with Kaiako.
Alex Ward - Rototuna Junior High School
Had you asked me in the beginning of my career, I would never have expected to have ended up in Digital Technology education. Since embarking down this path I have discovered an exciting and hugely rewarding subject area filled with a thousand different niches to learn and obsess over. I love the feeling of being able to take that curiosity and creative drive and use it to inspire the same in our students. DTTA has been an essential part of that journey and has been a there with support and guidance every step of the way.
Shane Fairhall
This page was last modified on 26 Jul 2022.
