One of the major projects the Foundation has helped to fund recently is the new contemporary arts performance space that will provide a stage for Circus Arts, NASDA and Jazz School students, as well as entertainment for all students.
The Foundation has also funded much smaller projects, such as students monitoring toxins in Lake Forsyth, restoring the Travis Wetlands on the outskirts of the city, and the inaugural Tamariki Achievers Awards.
Some examples of recent projects grants are outlined below. Click on each project you would like to know more about:
- Digital language laboratory
- Restoring Travis Wetlands
- Toxin Testing in Lake Forsyth
- Tamariki Student Achievement Awards
- MediaScape
- Mobile Student Assessments
MediaScape: One stop media information site
MediaScape, a comprehensive website about the media, was launched last year by Steve Maharey at Parliament.
The project, which was funded by the CPIT Foundation, is a ground-breaking, collaborative cross-institutional project initiated by CPIT’s School of Broadcasting. MediaScape was sponsored by Broadcasting Standards Authority, Advertising Standards Authority and Families Commission.
Teachers and students can use MediaScape for research and discussion in their classrooms and homes with the website containing information, research and viewpoints about the media.
An interactive site is planned for the future with forums, wikis, learning objects and games and an archive of media memories along with contributions from Zimbabwean, Arabic, Chinese and Indian media communities. The website address is www.MediaScape.ac.nz.
Restoring Travis Wetlands
Outdoor education and recreation students can enjoy hands-on experience learning about habitat restoration at Travis Wetlands, thanks to a grant from the CPIT Foundation.
The grant has ensured that students from the Polytechnic’s Outdoor Education courses have the opportunity to plant a significant area of the wetlands with cabbage trees, flax and other native plants. The School of Tourism, Travel and Recreation received three grants for the project from the CPIT Foundation totalling $11,000.
Outdoor Education and Recreation students completing their degrees, diplomas or certificates spend part of their course helping to restore the habitat at Travis Wetlands. Each year for the next four years, groups of 15 to 20 students will visit the site six times.
Graduates often move to jobs in outdoor education centres, adventure tourism, or specialise as secondary school teachers in outdoor education.
Mobile student assessments – the way of the future
CPIT is one of the first institutions in New Zealand to look at using mobile technology to assess student work, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the CPIT Foundation.
How to assess students while they were completing workplace training was the issue that spurred the development of the Mobile Learning Unit trial, starting at the beginning of the 2007 fourth term.
The collaboration between CPIT’s e-Learning Unit and the School of Food and Hospitality, whose students will take part in the trial, will look at how CPIT can support and assess trades students undertaking workplace-based training throughout New Zealand using mobile technologies.
Students off campus will be able to use mobile technologies to create digital portfolios for formal evaluation and as a showcase for potential employers. The trial will also look at employing mobile technologies for teaching and learning and will contribute to the national and international research on the subject.
Tamariki Student Achievement Awards - Celebrating Maori achievement in education
CPIT’s Te Puna Wanaka has created awards for Maori secondary and intermediate school students to recognise their achievements in education.
Funded by an $18,000 grant from the CPIT Foundation, the awards are presented to 36 students a year for Manaakitanga (community service/goodwill), Te Reo Maori, Kapa Haka, academic and sporting achievements.
A key factor behind the development of the Tamariki Maori Secondary School Achievers Awards was the need to change the “drastic” state of Maori student achievement in Canterbury and low participation in tertiary education.
The project aims to lift Maori students’ self esteem, confidence and educational expectation so they have the confidence to continue with their education after leaving school.
Tohu or awards are allocated each month to three groups (intermediate (Years 7 and 8), junior secondary and senior secondary. There are a total of 36 awards each year along with three supreme awards at the end of year.
Digital language laboratory - a plus for language students
Language students at CPIT have the advantage of new technology to make learning languages easier. The Language Project headed by David Gough is part of the Deans’ digitialisation project being implemented at CPIT and has received $75,000 funding from the CPIT Foundation.
The new digital technology replaces existing analogue tape-based programmes which became impractical as spare parts were expensive and sound quality on tapes deteriorated.
A versatile language learning centre has been established at CPIT’s X block. The centre has one computer for the tutor and students learn languages using audio panels. Implementation has involved training of language tutors in the Schools of English, Chinese and Japanese.
The computer-based facilities allow critical skills of listening and speaking and the integration of learning with on-line delivery and computer-based language learning applications. Future plans include connecting the language laboratory computer to the CPIT network and to develop new individual learning programmes.
Toxin Testing in Lake Forsyth Aids public safety
The long-term effects of toxic bloom in Lake Forsyth (Te Roto o Wairewa) are being investigated by CPIT, following a funding grant from the CPIT Foundation.
CPIT’s Barbara Dolamore has been investigating the environmental effects of toxic bloom on the lake since 2004. The latest proposal investigates the distribution of the nodularin bloom around the lake using a unique method of monitoring which uses porous synthetic resin-filled sachets attached to buoys.
A lack of good information has made it difficult to manage public safety because the water often looks safer than it actually is. More people are also using the area due to an increase in recreational activities.
Te Roto o Wairewa is also culturally important to the Wairewa Rununga who harvest food from the lake and have sole eeling rights. The toxin being investigated is not destroyed by cooking. CPIT’s on-gong involvement in the Te Wairewa Restoration Programme through Barbara Dolamore’s research helps break down barriers and keeps science accessible.