Parents share expertise in the classroom

Parents are doing more than dropping their children at Matahui School - some are sharing their expertise to boost classroom learning.

For the past year, computer programmer Darren Bruning has been turning up once a week to share his knowledge of coding and programming with students in his daughter's class.

Yesterday the class were hooking Adruino chips (an object which can sense and control physical devices) to a computer.

Mr Bruning said the class had spent three weeks learning about the chips and had now progressed to learning about computer hardware.

The children would write a programme, as well as learning basic coding along the way, he said.

The children enjoyed the practical approach to learning, he said.

"They seem to love it."

Student Olly Griffiths, 12, said the approach the school took to teaching computer programming would be beneficial for a career in coding.

Taj Uttinger, 11, said he thought learning about computer coding was fun.

Blake Chissell, 11, said learning about computer programming "gives you a head start" for the future.

Teacher Paul Evans said the school was tapping into a wealth of skills and knowledge by asking parents to share their skills.

"It's really good modelling and these people have had hands on experience," he said.

Another parent had been helping the students in "unwrapping inventions", Mr Evans said.

"This whole term, the inquiry will focus on invention and innovation," he said.

The children would create their own inventions, after they had learned about technology aspects.

"It's quite sophisticated. I just think learning is constant. My brain enjoys adding new layers," he said.

Principal Max Muller said parents like Mr Brunings who helped at school "raised the bar" for students, and enhanced their curriculum.

"It goes even further than that, we have a very active parent community, parents are a remarkable resource and often under utilised.

They bring expertise and experience to the table"