Background
The CORE Education eFellowship is based on a strong belief that action research can drive innovative practice. The annual programme, run since 2004, supports up to ten teachers from early years, primary, and/or secondary sectors to be released from the classroom to conduct an inquiry with academic support and mentoring. Over 80 educators are now part of the ever-growing network of eFellows.
The 2014 eFellows are (L-R): Tim Gander, Anne-Louise Robertson, Marnel Van der Spuy, Vicki Hagenaars, Bec Power, Rowan Taigel, and Ben Britton.
The lurker
Since 2014’s seven eFellows were selected back in October 2013, I have had the pleasure of lurking about at some of their masterclasses (face-to-face meetings). As a bewildered outsider to the fellowship, I observed and conversed with these fine folk in order that one day I might tell the story of their first year as eFellows. Although their first year is not yet over, and their action research will continue even after they share their discoveries at the Ulearn14 conference this October, I thought it might be timely to share with others what this eFellowship thing looks like. This story is for those who, like me, might have wondered: What does the ‘e’ stand for?
What does the eFellowship look like (to me)?
I guess the first thing I’d say is it’s not actually about teachers. While there are definitely some pleasant by-products of being selected for the fellowship (networking, career, and presenting opportunities) it is the learner/ākonga who is at the centre of every story, presentation, debate, discussion, and collaborative Google doc I witness. Voice, diversity, new forms of knowledge and identity are just some of the terms-most-treasured I hear coming from the mouths of these educators. At the first masterclass in Auckland, I recall a palpable desire to transform education — to extend that word ‘education’ into something that means ‘learning which meets the needs of all learners’. I get tingles, my heart beats faster as I tap away at my keyboard, trying to capture the weight of that yearning in the room, and the hope and possibility that go along with it. Tim would later sum up my feeling in this blog post he wrote after masterclass number two, in Christchurch: “Suddenly the thought pops into your head that you know the reason behind why we exist in this world, and as quickly as you feel like you are going to solve all of humanity's problems, it disappears…”
A safe place to wonder
Wherever the eFellows meet this year, virtually or face-to-face, their room is a room of wonderings — even the facilitators and experts share theirs with the group. Louise Taylor, who co-leads the eFellowship programme with John Fenaughty, emphasises that the programme “will be guided by discussions within the group, with contributions from the fellows as much as from the programme leaders” with John adding that “openness and vulnerability [are] crucial starting points for the growth that will take place this year”. Doubts and anxieties are acknowledged, and everyone understands that they have the support of everyone else in the ‘wondering room’.
The eFellows are, afterall, only human: “The more I research, the more I discover I don't know! Will I be able to manage teaching full-time, looking after my 5-month-old baby, and embark on an e-learning fellowship inquiry project? Have I bitten off more than I can chew?” writes Rowan in October 2013.
And yet, they are all happily venturing into some uncomfortable territory: Marnel aims to shed some light on the dark spot that is current research into Modern Learning Pedagogy in New Entrant Environments; Ben is boldly (in his own words) “sailing off in his own little boat” to the nascent world of 3D printing; and Bec was only 15 days into her new role as Deputy Principal at Tatahai Coast School when she attended her first masterclass.
I am in awe of these educators, who have pledged to be more critical and questioning; to maintain an objective perspective; and interpret their data faithfully and honestly (says Anne in this blog post) as well as being open to the criticism of their peers to be challenged in their thinking.
So, this isn’t going to be ‘e’ for easy then…
Not easy, no, but this group don’t take themselves too seriously, and they’re really fun. This somehow makes their task seem less daunting. It’s nice to have someone to laugh with when you realise just how vast the education landscape is — how much there is still left to explore. Perhaps the ‘e’ of eFellows stands for exploration?
Vicki Hagenaars, another of the 2014 seven, wears an ‘evolve’ bracelet, each charm denoting a part of her life’s journey. Cook Strait, Canterbury, Ohakune are there, as well as a koru for the eFellowship. Could the ‘e’ stand for ‘evolution’? Do the eFellows see education as forever on its own continuum of development? Perhaps the 80+ fellows are people who envision education as something that should excite, engage, enable, be equal, encourage, empower, entrust, expand….
Yes, I think the ‘e’ in eFellows stands for all of these things, and more.
What about the ‘e’ for electronic?
I can’t say I learnt all that much about the ‘e’ for electronic from my time with the eFellows — or at least, that wasn’t the most rousing part of their masterclasses. It was their passion and the stories of their learners that gave me goosebumps. The wondering that had led them here, that overrode any tentativeness they had about applying, and spurs them on to uncover more and better ways to help their learners.
If you’re a fellow wonderer; if you have a strong desire to see positive change in your school, kura, and learners; if your ākongo are at the centre of what you want to do in your practice…then the eFellowship is definitely for you. Educators and kaiako, apply here.
Links to further information:
- The start of a journey — where the fellowship could take you: Jo Fothergill (eFellow 2011) and Tara Taylor-Jorgenson (eFellow 2010), presents at Thinking Digital in the UK
- An example of an area of inquiry: 2014 fellow Tim Gander’s blog post — A call to adventure: learner agency in the traditional school
- Dissemination of the 2014 eFellows’ action research will be shared via:
- ULearn14 Research Strand Breakouts (October 8-10)
- EDtalks eFellows channel (post-ULearn14)
- 2015 applications

Renee Cornelius

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Hi Renee,
What a fabulous post! I love how you have captured the awe, the journey, the wonder and the MAGIC of the e-fellowship. What an honour to be part of the e-fellowship! I have thoroughly enjoyed following the journey of the 2014 e-fellows. To anyone out there thinking of applying, go for it! It is a transformational experience!
Anne K
Thanks Anne,
It really has been magic. I can't wait to see what these guys go on to do for New Zealand's tamariki. Credit must also go to John and Louise for facilitating the transformation process, and letting me lurk in the background :)
Totally agree with Anne – great to read your 'lurker' views and the photos also paint a vivid picture of the incredible passion of e-fellows.
Thank you, Renee. We have enjoyed having you lurking in the background this year and it is quite moving to see what you took from that time.
It is the most mind blowing, life changing, eye opening and philosophically challenging experience I have had bar none!
Louise and John have encouraged me, supported me in my doubtful moments, celebrated my successes and been there whenever I have needed them. They have both challenged some long held beliefs and practices in all aspects of my educational ideology. For that, I cannot thank them enough!
My fellow efellows have been a blast. We have had innumerable laughs, have almost as many inside jokes and stories, agonised together, challenged each other, learned from each other, and now mourn the loss of this amazing programme together. We would have loved to be able to do this again next year!
We do, however, celebrate the networks, the learning and the worlds opening up to us as a result of the programme. None of us are finished the work we have done and all of us fully intend to take on our next steps. We have our own community to call for help, ideas, feedback and challenge with regard to our thinking. Watch out for us at Ulearn15 as we intend to present again – one year on.
I will miss catching up with you on such a regular basis as you lurk somewhere in the background – taking in far more than we could have imagined. This post, stumbled upon just post-fellowship14, brought a tear to my eye! Again, thank you!
Fantastic blog post Renee :-)
Next year's blog post can you call it – The fellowship of the "e" hehe.
Great to have met the eFellows this year. Go well in your learning journeys!
I have just found this post and wow Renee what a great tribute to a fabulous year. Love your thoughts and comments Vicki and I appreciate all the thinking wondering and changing you experienced this year – and thanks for sharing your changes so openly