Principals across New Zealand have increased confidence implementing their school’s digital learning strategy since connecting to N4L’s Managed Network.
More than 350 schools responded to a survey asking principals their thoughts on using the new Government-funded Managed Network.
Prepared by the New Zealand Council of Education Research (NZCER), the survey claims that 94 percent of respondents feel more confident in implementing their digital strategy as a result of being connected to the N4L Managed Network.
In addition, 71 percent increased their use of digital technology within the first six months of connecting.
All survey participants, which include a mix of urban and rural schools from across New Zealand have been using the Managed Network for six months or longer.
Almost all respondents (97 percent) are satisfied with N4L and 91 percent say the Crown company understands the education sector well or very well.
N4L CEO John Hanna credits the survey’s positive responses to the company’s school-centric approach, which involves being heavily engaged with the education sector.
“Being present and actively listening to the challenges facing schools, and then feeding this information back into our program has been key to ensuring schools get a service that best fits their needs and that they are happy with,” he adds.
N4L’s staff includes four educators and many highly skilled technology specialists, with every employee spending time at schools throughout their tenure.
“Whether they are a technology engineer, help-desk operator, project manager or developer, all of our staff spend time in schools and share a mutual passion for making a difference to our country’s young people,” Hanna adds.
Hanna also says the company’s approach to support services, with a particular emphasis on developing training materials to assist schools on how to get the most from the N4L’s technology and services, is another important measure contributing to the high satisfaction levels among schools.
Principals responding to the survey also highlighted their desire for more professional learning and training programmes to support teachers and help them understand possible uses for their classrooms.
When the Managed Network rollout is completed next year, it is expected more than 800,000 people will be using it.
To date, more than 690,000 teachers and students from 2220 schools are connected to the Managed Network, with 90 percent of all schools expected to be connected by the end of the year.