Award-winning innovator to teach US peers a lesson

Nathan Kerr embraces new technology but says there's no substitute for building good relationships with students. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Nathan Kerr will be taking his and his Auckland students' innovative education ideas to a crowd of teachers in the United States.

The Howick College geography and social studies teacher has been invited by Microsoft to speak to 1400 teachers about his innovative approach to education at the National Educational Computing Conference in June.

Mr Kerr, 33, was named the most innovative teacher in the world at Microsoft's international awards ceremony in Hong Kong last November.

His commitment to pushing the boundaries of learning through information technology and student involvement has won him praise worldwide.

This year he took up a position at Howick College but before that he was working at Onehunga High School, where he pioneered what he calls "m-learning" - presenting video lessons through mobile devices.

He said his students knew how to apply the technology, and he worked to "meet them halfway" by getting them to record lessons and store them on their mobile phones or computers.

Mr Kerr has also worked with the New Zealand Film Archive to match footage to the New Zealand curriculum. Students helped him to choose the footage by telling him what they felt was most appropriate or interesting.

He says it is exciting that in New Zealand the students can guide teachers on to these remarkable innovative practices.

In other parts of the world, teachers follow a strict curriculum and there is little scope for innovation, he says.

Known for his loud Hawaiian-print shirts, Mr Kerr will be wearing them in Washington DC because they represent the impact the Pasifika community has had on his teaching career.

No matter how much technology advances, he says high-quality teaching will always be linked to having a good relationship with students.

"I don't think it will ever change - if you have a good relationship with your students they will enjoy learning a lot more."

Having never spoken in front of such a large crowd before, Mr Kerr feels "daunted but excited" about appearing at the conference, but is proud to have been chosen.

"It means a lot for the students that their ideas have been recognised and admired at an international level."

Chris Brice, public sector director of Microsoft New Zealand, said Mr Kerr was a tremendous asset to the community and the Partners in Learning programme.

"Anyone who has seen him in or out of the classroom can attest to the passion with which he teaches, the creativity he brings in the use of technology, and his humble demeanour in accepting praise.

"But the largest beneficiaries are the students who get to watch him in action in the classroom and experience his lessons."