Technology in education on show as Minister visits Hawke's Bay

Principal Rex Wilson and Minister Chris Hipkins at the opening of Taradale Intermediate's new Innovation Centre. Photo / Paul Taylor

Technology has been the focus for schools in Hawke's Bay this week, with a new innovation centre opening at Taradale Intermediate and some senior students sitting their exams digitally.

Taradale Intermediate was on Friday treated to the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins opening its new Innovation Centre.

He said it was a good case study for how school buildings can be modernised across Hawke's Bay and New Zealand.

"Like a lot of other places around the country Hawke's Bay has got a lot of older school buildings which need some significant maintenance and upgrading.

"This shows what can be done, these are existing buildings which have been modernised to a really high standard and is good case study really of how we can do things better."

"I think it's really exciting, it shows how technology in teaching is evolving."

Taradale Intermediate principal Rex Wilson said the building was replacing the school's old technology building and allowed students a higher level of independence when studying their own projects.

Older students are also grappling with how technology fits into education, with 239 students at three Hawke's Bay schools sitting their NCEA exams digitally this year, as opposed to the traditional handwritten format.

"It reflects the type of workplace that people are going to be moving into," Hipkins said.

"Portable technology, laptop technology, tablet technology, it's just what we use all day every day now, so why would we not use that in exams."

The Minister spent the afternoon with students from Flaxmere College.

He was welcomed into the school by a moving pōwhiri, before spending time with the students, speaking about politics and education.

He also visited Omahu Primary School.