New Zealand teachers selected as Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts

The Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert Program has selected 15 New Zealand teachers to join the 800 education leaders who are using technology to transform education.

Those who are selected by Microsoft to be MIE Experts are creatively using technology to help students achieve more and succeed in a digital world.

Applicants submitted an online application, created a learning activity, as well as a two-three minute non-professionally produced video that described their project and how they used technology and innovative teaching practices to impact student outcomes.

The MIE Expert Program enables these teachers to "do more and achieve more", says Evan Blackma, Microsoft Corporation New Zealand, education lead.

Shane Mann, a teacher at Rathkeale College in Masterton, was selected as one of this year's MIE Experts. He says, "The introduction of new and exciting Microsoft technologies has revolutionised the way I teach and the way my students learn in my classroom."

"It has helped me to deliver lessons and content in a way that just wasn’t possible in the past and has refreshed and further ignited my passion and enthusiasm for teaching,” says Mann.

Using the OneNote Class Notebook Creator, Mann created an online learning hub in his classroom. The class notebook for students includes a read-only content library, a collaboration area for brainstorming and sharing information, and a personal area with tabs for each topic so students can have a personal copy of content from the library as well as information from their own internet research.

Clint Chalmers was another teacher selected as an MIE Expert, for setting up a student run radio station. From Lyall Bay School in Wellington, Chalmers says the radio station is used by students every day and teaches them about technology topics such as email, website development, radio software and sound recording.

Chalmers says, “I am really eager for students and staff to become 21st century learners and users of modern technologies. By connecting and collaborating with the Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts we will be able to empower our students and staff to use technologies effectively and creatively."

The MIE Experts receive tools and technology such as Office 365 Pro Plus, participate in case studies and are involved in content development. The MIE Experts are dedicated to trying new approaches, sharing ideas and learning from each other, says Microsoft.

MIE experts advise Microsoft on technology development, as well as other educational institutions and their peers on how to integrate technology in schools.