Google Educator Conference 2023
Google Educator Conference 2023
Friday, November 17, 2023
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Previously known as CS4HS
The Google Educator Conference is back for 2023!
The Google Educator Conference is designed for digital technology teachers—training them in STEM subjects and creative ways to present these in New Zealand classrooms.
The purpose of the conference is to upskill all our valuable educators such as primary, intermediate, high school by presenting ideas to engage students with new technologies so they can be better equipped for the needs of twenty-first century learning.
Teachers will be equipped with the ability to tap into the creativity and enthusiasm that many students have for technology. And they’ll be exposed to exciting ways of presenting these technologies and master new skills that can directly shape the future of computer science in their classrooms.
When
Where
MEET THE DEMO FACILITATORS
Lesieli Oliver
ImmerseHer "Virtual Reality" Workshop Lead
Lesieli, a proud Tongan, founder and Chief visionary officer of Lālanga, Lālanga dedicated to championing Maori-Pasifika student success. It empowers educators, school leaders with innovative mentoring programs, products like the Lālanga ToolBox, and tech solutions.
Lesieli recently completed her Masters Research, focusing on digital solutions to improve the success of Maori-Pasifika students, addressing issues such as truancy, wellbeing, and academic challenges. Lālanga ToolBox, currently being used by 2,000 primary students in Auckland decile one schools. She received the University of Auckland 2023, 40 under 40 Alumni Inspiring leaders award and has launched a charity to empower Pasifika students and families through education.
Mehwish Hasan
Education Ambassador, QuiverVision
Mehwish Hasan, a devoted educator, and the Computer Science Curriculum Leader at ACG Sunderland in Auckland is on a mission to bring excitement to the students' learning experiences. With a background in telecommunications engineering, Mehwish's unique perspective has led her to become New Zealand's inaugural QuiverVision Ambassador. This distinctive role empowers her to weave technology into education truly remarkably. Through the Quiver App, students can transform static, coloured images into dynamic, interactive marvels through augmented reality. This ingenious approach sparks creativity and guarantees that learning remains engaging and enjoyable.
Nils Reardon
Introduction to Augment Reality Workshop Lead
Nils has been the CEO of QuiverVision since 2014, who brings a wealth of experience with a background in commerce and law. With an LLB (first class hons.) and a Commerce Degree (economics major), he honed his skills during six years at some of New Zealand's leading law firms before embarking on his journey with QuiverVision.
Nils is the driving force behind the company's success and sets the course for its strategic direction. He also oversees the domains of finance and business management, ensuring the organisation operates at its peak potential. Nils is excited to see schools adopting technology that enhances the learning experience for both students and educators alike.
Nischay Gupta
Introduction to Augmented Reality Workshop Lead
Nischay is an experienced consultant in the tech sector. He has played a pivotal role in optimising operations & aligning strategies with QuiverVision's goals & objectives.
Nischay led the launch of a new interactive EdTech product at QuiverVision to enable engaging learning experience, benefitting over 35,000+ teachers & 100,000+ students worldwide within the first year of rollout. He spearheads the expansion of our educational & curriculum-aligned content at Quiver. He holds a Master's degree in Engineering (1st-class hons.) at the University of Auckland. He is a research intern at Empathic Computing Lab (Auckland Bioengineering Institute) working on a project involving Virtual Reality, Biofeedback & Empathy.
Steve Smith
Google for Education, NZ Program Manager
Steve has been a High School Social Studies and Geography teacher for the last 16 years in New Zealand since returning from teaching in London for 2 years. Steve worked to bring Google for Education to his school and along with a colleague trained the staff in the use of Google for education. Over 8 years, Steve passionately promoted Google Tools through workshops across New Zealand. He's Level 1 and 2 Certified Educator & Trainer, attended the 2019 Sydney Innovator Academy, and is part of the Google Earth Education Experts Group. He is now at Google's Auckland office as NZ Lead for Google for Education, aiming to empower NZ educator communities, support partners, and bring more "Google goodness" to education in NZ.
Claire Wigley
Claire is currently a teacher at the innovative Spotswood College in New Plymouth. With a focus on teaching 21st-century skills, Claire's background lies in textiles technology and her teaching experience spans from year 1 to year 10. Over the past 8 years, she has expanded her knowledge to encompass various areas of the Technology Curriculum, ranging from cooking to coding and laser cutting. As an Inquiry Specialist teacher, Claire integrates the Design Thinking process into her lessons. In 2023, she took on the role of council member at TENZ and made significant contributions to their recent conference.
MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATORS
Alex Ward
Head of Digital Technology Kerikeri High School
Alex is a Teacher, Musician, and Programming Enthusiast, leads Kerikeri High School's Digital Tech department for 4 years. Now, he's taking his talents to Rototuna Junior High School in Waikato. Alex combines code and creativity to craft generative art and music, even exploring the synergy between Digital Tech and other subjects. With a Bachelors in Music and experience as a Lecturer and Programme Administrator at Massey and Victoria University, his global performances include Singapore, Korea, China, Indonesia, Australia, and Antarctica. Alex relishes the switch to Digital Tech, making technology a canvas for creativity.
Christopher Mende
Customer Engineering, Google Cloud NZ
Christopher is the engineering lead for Google Cloud’s digital native customers. He’s closely involved with NZ businesses creating a pathway for their journey to Cloud and AI, his work being showcased across industries and the globe.
Christopher is also a facilitator in the Google Innovation Labs team that brings concepts to life using a methodology heavily focused on customer empathy. His work here involves joining the best of Google tech with market shaping concepts to move the needle on an organization's innovation journey.
Jennifer Gottschalk
Digital Technologies Teacher, Massey High School
Jennifer currently teaches Digital Technology at Massey High School where she pushes, prods, cajoles and otherwise encourages her students (from year 9 to year 13) to become effective programmers and designers. Over the years Jennifer has contributed resources for teaching web design, databases (php / sql) and programming to TKI. She also administers the Usability / Heuristics Fails (and Successes) Facebook group where teachers and their students are encouraged to post examples of good and bad usability.
Julie McMahon
Lead Educator Grok Academy
Julie, with over 30 years in Digital Technologies education, passionately inspires students to pursue careers in the field. She co-developed New Zealand's Digital Technologies curriculum, excelling in standards writing, leading assessment panels, and resource creation. Julie supports teachers through workshops and leadership roles, including DTTA's President. She's a curriculum lecturer at the University of Otago's Masters of Education Programme and earned the Ali Chivers Teacher of Influence Award and TENZ award for Subject Leadership in Technology Education, solidifying her as a luminary in the field.
MEET THE PANELISTS
Aaron Overington
Education Strategist at Cyclone Computers
Aaron has over 30 years of IT experience in diverse markets such as market research, freight, aviation, special education and disability. The last six and and half years have been in education, as the IT and Digital Learning Manager for a global school and more recently as the education strategist at Cyclone Computers. In this role Aaron works with kura across the motu to maximise the use of technology in the classroom to improve learning outcomes for all learners. He is also constantly looking at ways to address digital equity challenges schools face.
Evo Leota-Tupou
Founder of Pacific Kids' Learning
Evo Leota-Tupou, an entrepreneur, mother of five, founder of Pacific Kids' Learning in Ōtara. Evo actively engages in the EdTech community, focusing on Digital Learning and STEAM. She serves Executive Council of EdTechNZ and a member of Tech Women NZ. Evo is a representative on the Pacific Advisory Panel for Auckland Council and contributes to the National AI and Algorithm Expert Advisory Group for Te Whatu Ora. She advocates for neurodiverse learners and children with disabilities.
Before returning to Auckland, Evo was in South Korea, she witnessed educational inequities and technological advancements in classes. Her mission is to build positive community outcomes for children, and linking early education to future opportunities.
Malcolm Clarke
President, Digital Technologies Teachers Aotearoa
Malcolm has had 23 years of experience teaching Computing and Digital Technologies, 15 of which has been within NZ. He is happy to be known for being an 'early adopter' of all things related to education. Malcolm's journey in Aotearoa started off as Head of Digital Technologies at Secondary level teaching up to NCEA Level 3. This then led to gaining a position as the Edtech Educator at The Mind Lab in Wellington. This is where he further developed his passion for tinkering and trying new ideas out with coding and electronic peripherals in DigiTech. Malcolm is currently working at Kōwhai Intermediate School in Auckland where he has been the Specialist Digital Technologies teacher for the last five years.
Shanon O'Connor
Founder and Director of Tōnui Collab
Shanon O'Connor (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu) is the Founder and Director of Tōnui Collab, a kaupapa Māori driven STEMM learning provider, creating opportunities for rangatahi in te Tairāwhiti to explore the diversity and intersection of Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Mātauranga Māori so that the potential of rangatahi Māori to be STEMM leaders and innovators can be realised. Shanon is a founding board member of Te Matarau, the Māori Tech Association and also is a Council Member for EdTech NZ.
Tracy Henderson
Project Manager at University of Canterbury - CSER
Tracy Henderson is experienced at leading Digital Technologies in the primary to pre-NCEA area. She has led numerous successful “seed” projects to refine and learn how best to support teachers and school leaders to be empowered to teach and lead Digital Technologies in their schools and Communities of Learning / Kāhui Ako. She volunteers as secretary of the Digital Technologies Teachers Aotearoa (DTTA) subject association where she enjoys facilitating and implementing plans that support all teachers in Aotearoa. Her role at UC Computer Science Education Research Group (the “Department of Fun Stuff”) focuses on carving new pathways and opportunities to empower teachers.