ABOUT US

The Centre for Innovation is a space for girls to have fun and play whilst they "think, tinker and create"

WHY?

It is a space that has been designed to give girls an opportunity to develop their 

• creative
• collaborative
• problem solving and
• risk taking skills

WHAT?
It is commonly known that women are grossly under represented in the technological industry and in engineering.  Google have acknowledged this and are trying to do something about it - https://www.madewithcode.com/.  The Centre for Innovation is a hub where girls can get creative and innovative using new and emerging technologies.  We are igniting the passion in our younger girls to show that technology is a legitimate pathway for women. 


WHO?

The Head of the Centre for Innovation comes with over 25 years teaching experience.  She is committed to growing her own personal knowledge, understanding and application in this field. 

Her vision is to heighten the interest of girls in Computer Science. This will involve providing a range of experiences for students in the Junior and Middle school so that the girls can have a NCEA academic pathway to tertiary education and beyond.   Linda is facilitating a number of programmes that integrate with the NZC.  "Failing forward" and the "process" are crucial stages in learning and Linda is committed to providing opportunities for all sectors of our community to grow and learn.

  

• We are committed to giving girls an opportunity to develop their creative skills through technology.

• We have made connections with leading women such as Bridget McKendry who heads the Maker scene here in Christchurch at the ChchFab Lab

• The projects that come out of the Centre for Innovation will be based on girls' passions.

The Centre for Innovation has been in operation since April 2015.  Linda has taken this space and provided a plethora of tech activities to students and staff from pre-school through to year 13.  Some of the many integrated activities have involved 3D printing, Animation, Augmented Reality, Laser Cutting, Coding, Computational Thinking, Robotics and a wealth of presentation tools that have been used predominately in English and Social Science.  She has also presented at a number of conferences and continues to tell our St Margaret's College story.

Most recently she has shared our journey with the delegates from Delving Deeper Conference, IWBNet Digital Schools Conference, Technology Education NZ Conference.  Her knowledge as a Google Certified Educator supports the learning in the classroom with the use of the Google Apps For Education platform [GAFE].

Mid 2017 we welcomed to the Centre for Innovation team Audrey Campbell, who works closely with Linda to deepen and engage students in their learning.  Audrey comes to St Margaret's College with a wide range of skills and knowledge.  She has an extensive background working in the education centre at the Christchurch Libraries IT Learning Centre.  

Audrey's expertise lies in the Junior School Y1-8 where she is infusing the new Digital Technologies Curriculum into other classroom programmes and Inquiry. Part in parcel of this is working alongside teachers and students to build confidence and knowledge of digital possibilities.

The cross-over of the Libraries IT Centre and The Centre For Innovation is a good marriage of Innovation. 

Both these women have completed the Mindlab Applied Practice (Digital & Cooperative Learning) Postgraduate Diploma, Apple Teachers recognition and Google Educators Level 2 recognition.

Our Mission statement:

“To be the pioneers that change education

where we transform teaching and learning

as active leaders and rethink what’s possible"