In just a few months, a Christchurch school’s new innovation and entrepreneurship program has seen students create an educational social media lens on Maori culture with over 150,000 global engagements, pilot a wāhine in tech program for Deloitte and help a healthcare app startup’s virtual reality therapy.
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School this year launched RangiX, a program to equip its students in grades 7-13 with future-oriented skill sets, tools and mindsets to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic world.
Centered on the three pillars of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, RangiX covers pre-existing classroom subjects, stand-alone courses, extra-curricular options and e-learning modules, all closely linked to the opportunities of the real world and commercial and tertiary partnerships.
The independent clerkship and internship program is led by Owen Flattery, who was recently appointed Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer. He joins the school from Melbourne, where he led Lauriston Girls’ School’s digital strategy.
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Ella Hartel, grade 13 student from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, and Owen Flattery, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“RangiX is about teaching students how to innovate to solve problems and be able to create those solutions using digital capabilities,” says Flattery.
“This is underpinned by the understanding that as the world becomes more technological, what becomes more valuable are the human skills and traits that bind us – RangiX aspires to develop these skills in our students.”
Principal Dr Sandra Hastie says RangiX addresses a crucial part of modern education: “We don’t know what jobs many of our students will be doing when they leave school because they haven’t been invented yet. .”
“But,” she said. “What we do know is that students need to be creative thinkers, have the ability to see a problem and a solution, the ability to deal with failure and not give up and develop resilience.”
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RangiX teaches students innovative thinking to solve real-world problems using essential technologies. Here, students test drone technology.
RangiX is another way for the school to prepare students for life after high school in an increasingly complex world. In addition to learning innovative thinking and problem solving, students learn about essential technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, drones, robotics, 3D design, blockchain, and cybersecurity.
Basically, RangiX has connected with industry partners to create real-world opportunities for students to learn and apply these skills and mindset, as well as receive feedback from leading technology companies. like oVRcome and Deloitte, as well as technology and social entrepreneurs.
“Using RangiX, our group has created an augmented reality lens that teaches people about the star constellation Matariki,” says Grade 13 student Ella Hartel.
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Grade 13 students pitch their Matariki social media goal at the end of the Deloitte Grow: Wāhine in Tech pilot program.
The lens was designed as part of the Deloitte Grow: Wahine in Tech program that RangiX students piloted. Students were challenged to use design thinking to identify a problem and create a minimal viable product technology solution.
Ideas were pitched to Deloitte staff at a Dragon’s Den-style event at the international firm’s Christchurch office.
“We developed the app as a creative way to engage and educate people about an important cultural event for our nation,” says Hartel.
The Lens, available on Snapchat and Instagram, had more than 150,000 global engagements.
Learn more about RangiX at rangiruru.school.nz
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