April 2025 Newsletter

Kia ora, 

He rau ringa e oti ai   

Many hands make light work   

It is hard to believe that Term 1 has come to an end. We are now looking ahead to what the rest of the year has to offer. 

We will continue to showcase our updated AI resources over the next few months and hope that these are useful for your learners, whānau, schools and kura. This month's newsletter introduces our refreshed digital wellbeing modules. These evidence-based modules provide kaiako, whānau and schools with practical tips supported by research and best practice guidelines. The latest module is all about the safe and ethical use of AI in schools.  

This issue also includes information about the GCSN-funded Libraries programmes, how to get involved, and an opportunity to learn about one Christchurch school's efforts to integrate robotics education using Aquabots. 

Noho ora mai rā, 

The GCSN Team

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Refreshed Digital Wellbeing Modules

The GCSN Digital Wellbeing modules are based on modern areas of psychological research to support schools and whānau to engage with digital technologies safely and in a way which supports good psychological outcomes. ​

The modules are designed to be educational and informative. They teach staff and whānau about some of the psychological risks and assets which contribute to wellbeing outcomes, as well as provide some advice and solutions that schools and whānau can action. We have developed seven modules about the following topics: 

• Technostress

• Cybersafety

• Digital Citizenship

• Cyberbullying

• Technoference

• Videogames

• The safe and ethical use of AI  

Access these resources here!

The latest module is all about the safe and ethical use of AI in schools and kura. The presentation introduces genAI and what it means for learning. It has several discussion prompts for groups to engage in collaborative learning. It outlines positives and negatives of genAI for learning, but shows that mitigating factors add a protective layer. This includes digital citizenship, dedicated AI education, and safety and privacy measures. Finally, it introduces a couple of activities that educators can use to encourage responsible AI use.

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St Mark's School - Making a Splash in STEM

NZ Aquabots is an underwater robotics programme from the Ministry of Inspiration, which challenges primary, intermediate, and high school students to create a unique submersible ROV (remote operated vehicle) to solve real world problems. Each year, around 850 students from across Aotearoa New Zealand participate in this awesome STEM experience. 

A Christchurch team from St Mark's School, Team DOT BOT, won the NZ Aquabots National Competition Primary Division last year and will be representing Aotearoa New Zealand at the International SeaPerch Challenge in Washington DC this June. 

Through NZ Aquabots, Team DOT BOT has learned about "the engineering design process, physics, marine biology, CAD (computer-aided design) and most of all, teamwork!" 

Learn more about participating in NZ Aquabots at ministryofinspiration.org, or show your support for our young engineers by finding Team DOT BOT on Facebook or Givealittle.