Induction

I have been privileged to work with Rob over a number of years now since Learning Architects were brought on board to support our School moving to cloud-based Systems – most notably Google.
Rob has supported the different levels of computer literacy in our team as we moved to Google using a range of resources, approaches, and strategies. This is particularly vital as our school community has grown significantly in the last 5 years
In 2018, Rob has been our PLD provider to facilitate the strengthening of our Middle and Senior Leadership team via strengths-based coaching. Working with individuals as well as the team, he has increased our understandings of ourselves individually as leaders while enhancing our collective leadership by using our individual strengths and talents.
Most recently- because of his understanding of our school, Rob was employed to work with our school community to appoint a new Principal. His work in this was diligent and innovative; this supported the Board of Trustees to reflect the community engagements that were held to be able to make an informed decision.
I have no hesitation in recommending Rob and his company- Learning Architects- to anyone seeking to support and enhance their systems and educational practices. Working with Rob has supported my own growth and development as a leader and I look forward to continuing to work with him in 2019.

Rob has an amazing knowledge of the Google Suite, and his tips and support will most certainly make a positive difference to a principal’s or office manager’s daily workload by managing emails and providing tips that are in place daily. Rob is well worth considering if you want to put good systems in place.

Learning Architects has helped Ararira Springs Primary start our journey as a learning community.
When helping set up our Google systems to getting our website live, Rob has listened to our ideas and helped facilitate a solution.
Google Hangouts, online support tools and face to face meetings have been used to maximise time and meet needs.
We have loved working with the team at Learning Architects and look forward to our relationship developing.

I have appreciated the expertise and professional experience that Rob has brought to the work he has done with us.
This coupled with a willingness to listen and problem solve together has seen us achieve results that are collectively owned.
Kāhui Ako o Wakatipu is well set up to collaborate and innovate.

I have worked with Rob through our Kāhui Ako to develop the digital communication systems.
Rob’s ability to listen carefully, ask relevant questions and then develop systems collaboratively with our large Kāhui was greatly appreciated.
His knowledge and expertise were highly valued, together with his ability to connect with all members of the Kāhui at their own capability level in a respectful and constructive way.
His strong sense of what works well and how we can make use of this knowledge helped us to develop a system that is working very well for our Kāhui Ako.

The Puketeraki Kāhui Ako Leadership Team employed Learning Architects very early in our development. We were aware that to connect leaders and teachers across seventeen schools we needed some form of digital communication system.

Rob Clarke sat in on our early management discussions and was able to co-construct a google on-line communication system. This system has been a building block for our Learning Community.

With simple ideas relating to naming protocols and filing to more complex google plus communities, Rob guided us through a process of development. We are by no means a finished product but we are currently functioning enthusiastically and building an effective learning community.

Thanks, Rob. Your knowledge of how schools work and how to blend possibilities with technology is unique and makes this sort of community building possible!

Often when new ideas come into a school we are rushed or pressured to do this one and this one and this one.
You gave amazing advice yesterday when you talked me through blogs and web pages, etc…
You said that I don’t need to do them all that to just focus on one, the class blog, and do that well and that done well it could cover all my needs.
Huge advice thank you, I feel relieved.

Rob’s help, at the end of the phone and by clever use of Google Hangouts, for both small and complex technical support with getting the most out of google apps has been helpful beyond explanation, many times.
Rob knew my technical strengths and limitations, and provided instant assistance with my next step learning, enabling me to move forward independently with the task that I was working on.

I tried several times to get my head and my staff across the line in using google doc’s and google sites. Having contracted Learning Architects to work remotely in a support and mentor role I achieved this and more.
Beyond the technical expertise, what really helped was the strategic, feet on the floor and considered recommendations. You don’t know what you don’t know so to have Rob push my thinking, share new ideas and guide into a better way was a huge win.
I see my schools’ connection with Learning Architects as a partnership, a mentorship and a great ongoing decision.

Rob catered so well for our staff with the wide range of experiences and confidence using computers and familiarity with Google. He inspired staff and since the day we have had staff that are keen to try things and are using their computer so much more than they ever have.
Rob gave us a thorough introduction to the Google platform so that we have all been successful transitioning to being a GAFE school.
He also made things fun and our teachers loved the quiz that we created guessing random facts about each other using the collaborative nature of google docs.
Communication and follow up support was a real positive too. Rob was always available to interpret emails and explain in basic terms to us.
He built leadership capability within our school and the two of us who are super admins are able to do many of the admin tasks ourselves that we were previously paying others to do for us.

I have had Learning Architects training through my school and for a BOT I was on so I consider myself to be fairly au fait with Google Suite.
In saying this I always learn heaps with Rob ie deeper understanding of apps I use, tricks and tips, and apps I’ve never heard of.  
Love how the training is flexible and suited to each individuals context and needs.

Small group, great people, learning lots of little trick to make working easier, great to know that others had the same concerns, “You know your stuff” enthusiastic presentation, good pace, good content.
I didn’t feel brain dead at the end of the session but couldn’t wait to share what I had learnt with the others in my team.

Course content all totally relevant to job and Rob is very knowledgeable about what he is teaching.
I have been back at school one week of term and have already put some of what was covered into practice ie short keys with emails, so is testimony that course provides tools to improve practices in the office.

I really enjoyed the day and found it very worthwhile.

It was particularly beneficial to have the course catered to meet the needs of the individuals and the group. Great one-on-one support.
It was good that people came from a range of backgrounds and prior knowledge …. I had been concerned I would feel like the “class dunce” – but not at all!

The course was well thought out and relevant to what had been advertised.
There seemed to be a wide range of knowledge and capabilities within the group which were well catered for in the presentation.
I came away feeling very informed and wanting to learn more!
Plus it was fun so that always helps. Thanks Rob.

Your G Suite for Education and Hāpara presentations help to reaffirm that our school is on the right track.
As always there was so much to take in but your excellent follow up notes have allowed me the opportunity to review the presentation and continue to learn ‘after’ the fact.
Well pitched for our school and where we are at.

The course was practicable, hands on, pace suited the participants as you could work as fast or as slow as you were capable.
It has given me the opportunity to practice and to see the possibilities of what Google Docs can do.
Certainly a tool that can be used both in my professional life and personal.

The programme was multi level. Found out new uses for the systems we are currently using.
It was great to learn new ways ( e.g gmail) to organise and streamline documents. Variations and limits for sites and blogs was extremely helpful.
Explanation of ways to use shared notes and shortcuts, etc. fantastic, great resource for teams and students. Thoroughly enjoyed the information and the presentation.

I attended a three-day workshop called Empowering the Digital Office, led by Rob Clarke. Being in the administration area of the school, I find it difficult to find really good professional development.
This workshop was ideal for everything that I needed. It was a full day for the first day and I was able to utilize that skill and go home and practice. Then the second day and third day built on this.
I have learned how to streamline my processes so that they are efficient. So it’s much easier to find, track, and collate the information I need.
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Download the testimonial here…
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Hi, I’m Dana from Mangere Central School. I attended a three day workshop called Empowering the Digital Office, led by Rob Clarke from Learning Architects. Being in the administration area of the school, I find it difficult to find really good professional development.
This workshop was ideal for everything that I needed. It was a full day for the first day and I was able to utilize that skill and go home and practice. Then the second day and third day built on this.
I have learned how to streamline my processes so that they are efficient. Anything that would take an hour is now taking me 15 minutes to 20 minutes. All of my systems are far more organized. So it’s much easier to find, track, and collate the information I need.
The course that Rob lead was a great course. It was a small group of participants, which means it was targeted for what our needs were. Rob had a great ability to cater to individual needs. So in a small group, we were all listened to.
The format of the day was highlighted as to what we were needing to get out of the course. I felt that was very valuable. I would highly recommend meeting Rob and taking his courses. The three-day course was a huge benefit to me. And the next and upcoming classes that I’ve signed up for I feel would really benefit to flow on in Excel and expand what I’ve already learned.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
 
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