Prominent international speaker and author Dr Jason Ohler spoke about the present and future impact of technology as part of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic staff development day on Friday.

Dr Jason Ohler at the presentation.

Jason delivered his presentation – ‘New Media, New Students, New Literacies, New Citizens – Transforming learning through digital creativity', at the Holy Trinity Church at 9am.

Dr Ohler's presentation focuses on international feedback as he shares his understanding of new media and the impact technology can have in education.

Academic staff development advisor Judith Honeyfield says the presentation provides a learning platform for people to hear some of the most recent and relevant research, which will be a continued practice within the polytechnic.

'The whole idea is actually great for our students because the teachers will be able to change and adapt more to their needs. It's really focusing on the 21^st century learner.”

Bop Polytechnic E-learning advisor Julie Carle says increasing technology and interactivity within education engages learners to be active participants within the learning environment.

'We want to ensure that our learners are really getting the best learning environment for them which they are an active participant in.”

Julie says the polytechnic already promotes a huge amount of innovation in terms of how it uses learning technology, but it is always looking to improve education processes.

'There are always opportunities to think more about it. Learning is global.”

About 300 people attended the presentation including Tauranga City Council staff, a number of Bay of Plenty school principals and polytechnic staff.

The presentation is continuing the celebrations of the polytechnic's 30^th birthday in September.

Jason says for technology to be beneficial it must be placed into context, although he says it can be a disadvantage to those who do not understand technology.

He says for technology to be beneficial, people first need to understand how to use it creatively, effectively and wisely.

'Every technology connects and disconnects and it's up to us to help everyone, but particularly within the educational context, to help students see how technology connects and disconnects.

With technology advancing, Jason says everybody is able to tell their story in their own way.

Jason says teaching students how to read and write has the same importance of teaching them how to use different technologies.

'You want them to adapt to whatever the media scape is that they are going to encounter outside of school in terms of interacting socially, at home, in terms of the market place.

'What it's doing is helping them develop the perspectives and skills associated with using the tools that are a part of their landscape.”

He says the biggest shift, in terms of media, is the move from consuming technology to producing it.

'You are now on web pages that you can steer. Even the stuff you don't make you have far more control over.”

Although with control comes danger, Jason says.

'It's the leveraging power of technology that makes us wonder how we keep ourselves safe. Wherever we see leverage to power comes a heightened sense of responsibility.”

Jason says he is determined to unite teachers and parents in the realisation that technology is there to facilitate an important conversation between themselves, their students and their children.

'It's a wonderful means to facilitate a partnership between them. It's a great opportunity for them to teach each other.”