i-manager Publications

Overcoming Isolation: Online Collaboration among Rural Primary School Principals in New Zealand

Rachel Whalley*, Michael Barbour**

* Kōtui Ako Virtual Learning Network.

** Touro University, California, Vallejo, United States.

Periodicity:July - September'2024
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.20.1.21130

Abstract

This paper examines online collaboration between small rural primary schools in New Zealand, focusing on principals' perspectives. Through semi-structured interviews with eight principals involved in the Virtual Learning Network (VLN) Primary, the study explores the benefits, challenges, and key factors for successful collaboration. The findings indicate that online collaboration can provide professional support, workload relief, and expanded learning opportunities for students. However, challenges include varying expectations across schools and tensions between centralized online learning and local curricula. The study highlights the importance of shared understanding, time commitment, equity in contributions, and strong leadership for effective collaboration. It also discusses the principals' mixed experiences with the Communities of Learning, Kahui Ako initiatives. The research contributes to understanding how rural schools can leverage technology and professional networks to enhance educational opportunities, offering insights for school leaders and policymakers on fostering successful collaborative networks in rural education settings.

Keywords

Virtual Learning, Principals, Rural Schooling, New Zealand, Online Collaboration, Learning Community.

How to Cite this Article?

Whalley, R., and Barbour, M. (2024). Overcoming Isolation: Online Collaboration among Rural Primary School Principals in New Zealand. i-manager’s Journal on School Educational Technology, 20(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.20.1.21130

References

[1]. Ainscow, M. (2016). Collaboration as a strategy for promoting equity in education: Possibilities and barriers. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 1(2).

[2]. Anderson, T., & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2014). Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda. Athabasca University Press.

[3]. Anyon, J., Dumas, M., Linville, D., Nolan, K., Perez, M., Tuck, E., & Weiss, J. (2009). Theory and Educational Research. Towards Critical Social Explanation.

[4]. Borko, H., Liston, D., & Whitcomb, J. A. (2007). Genres of empirical research in teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education, 58(1), 3-11.

[5]. Chapman, C., Chestnutt, H., Friel, N., Hall, S., & Lowden, K. (2016). Professional capital and collaborative inquir y networks for educational equity and improvement? Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 1(3), 178-197.

[6]. Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing Grounded Theory (2nd ed.). SAGE.

[7]. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2002). Research Methods in Education. Routledge.

[8]. Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2015). Basics of Qualitative Research (Vol. 14). Sage.

[9]. Cowie, B., Hipkins, R., Boyd, S., Bull, A., Keown, P. A., McGee, C., ... & Yates, R. (2009). Curriculum Implementation Exploratory Studies. Ministry of Education.

[10]. Daly, A. J. (2010). Mapping the terrain: Social network theory and educational change. Social Network Theory and Educational Change (pp. 1-16).

[11]. Davidson, C. (2003). Social Science Research in New Zealand: Many Paths to Understanding. Pearson Prentice Hall.

[12]. Donohoo, J. (2016). Collective Efficacy: How Educators' Beliefs Impact Student Learning. Corwin Press.

[13]. Feys, E., & Devos, G. (2015). What comes out of incentivized collaboration: A qualitative analysis of eight Flemish school networks. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 43(5), 738-754.

[14]. Fullan, M. (2005). Professional Learning Communities Writ Large. On Common Ground: The Power Of Professional Learning Communities.

[15]. Hargreaves, A., & O'Connor, M. T. (2017). Cultures of professional collaboration: Their origins and opponents. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 2(2), 74-85.

[16]. Hayward, J. (2008). Sabbatical Report from Jeff Hayward, Principal, Waimata Valley School, Gisborne.

[17]. Kearns, R. A., Lewis, N., McCreanor, T., & Witten, K. (2009). 'The status quo is not an option': Community impacts of school closure in South Taranaki, New Zealand. Journal of Rural Studies, 25(1), 131-140.

[18]. McLaren, P. L., & Giarelli, J. M. (Eds.). (1995). Critical Theory and Educational Research. State University of New York Press.

[19]. McLean, F. M., Dixon, R. M., & Verenikina, I. (2014). Bringing it to the teachers: Building a professional network among teachers in isolated schools. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 24(2), 15-22.

[20]. Menter, I. J., Hulme, M., & Elliot, D. (2011). A Guide to Practitioner Research in Education. Sage.

[21]. Ministry of Education. (2014). Considering education regulation in New Zealand. Taskforce on Regulations Affecting School Perfomance.

[22]. Owen, H. (2011). Personalised, contextualised professional learning development: Putting it into practice. Journal of Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning, 15(1), 61-74.

[23]. Palys, T. (2008). Purposive sampling. The Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods, 2(1), 697-8.

[24]. Parkes, M., Gregory, S., Fletcher, P., Adlington, R., & Gromik, N. (2015). Bringing people together while learning apart: Creating online learning environments to support the needs of rural and remote students. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 25(1), 65-77.

[25]. Rincón-Gallardo, S., & Fullan, M. (2016). Essential features of effective networks in education. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 1(1), 5-22.

[26]. Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., Nicholls, C. M., & Ormston, R. (2003). Qualitative Research Practice (Vol. 757). Sage.

[27]. Roberts, R. (1998). Increasing access for learners: The Virtual Learning Network. E-Learnings: Implementing a National Strategy Project for ICT in Education, 2010, 144-152.

[28]. Roberts, R. (2009). Video conferencing in distance learning: A New Zealand schools' perspective. Journal of Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning, 13(1), 91-107.

[29]. Ronfeldt, M., Farmer, S. O., McQueen, K., & Grissom, J. A. (2015). Teacher collaboration in instructional teams and student achievement. American Educational Research Journal, 52(3), 475-514.

[30]. Siemens, G. E. O. R. G. E. (2005). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning.

[31]. Stansfield, J. (2015). Report to the New Zealand School Trustees Association.

[32]. Starr, K., & White, S. (2008). The small rural school principalship: Key challenges and cross-school responses. Journal of Research in Rural Education (Online), 23(5), 1.

[33]. Stelmach, B. L. (2011). A synthesis of international rural education issues and responses. Rural Educator, 32(2), 32-42.

[34]. Tait, A., & O'Rourke, J. (2014). Internationalization. Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda.

[35]. Taylor-Patel, C. (2014). Networking: Weaving the Net; Gathering the Pearls. Auckland Primary Principals Association.

[36]. Tokas, S. (2016). Education and social capital. Learning Community: An International Journal of Educational and Social Development, 7(3), 257-265.

[37]. Wellington, J. (2015). Educational Research: Contemporary Issues and Practical Approaches. Bloomsbury Publishing.

[38]. Wenger, E. (1999). Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity. Cambridge University Press.

[39]. Whalley, R., & Barbour, M. K. (2020). Collaboration and virtual learning in New Zealand rural primary schools: A review of the literature. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 21(2), 102-125.

[40]. Wright, A. (2012). Creating and Sustaining an “Effective” Rural School: The Critical Triad–Leadership, Curriculum, and Community (Doctoral dissertation, University of Otago).

[41]. Wylie, C. (2016). Communities of Learning | Kahui Ako: The Emergent Stage. New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Overcoming Isolation: Online Collaboration among Rural Primary School Principals in New Zealand

Abstract

Keywords

How to Cite this Article?

References

If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Options for accessing this content:

	North Americas,UK, Middle East,Europe		India	Rest of world
	USD	EUR	INR	USD-ROW
Pdf	35	35	200	20
Online	35	35	200	15
Pdf & Online	35	35	400	25