Written by Dr Craig Hansen, New Zealand’s leading AI educator, digital specialist, and founder of the Summit Institute.
More than 1,000 schools across New Zealand trust Craig and the Summit Institute—a New Zealand private training provider—to navigate safe and responsible AI in schools, professional development, and strategic roadmaps. As we enter the next phase of this global shift, we must address the ultimate paradigm: “AI is the biggest equity move we can make in our generation.”
New Zealand teachers and school leaders — SMART assessment results are already beginning to appear in the portal for Reading, Writing, and Maths.
In this video, I walk through:
• How to access early SMART results
• Understanding raw scores and percentages
• Viewing individual questions students answered incorrectly
• Identifying whether errors are linked to reading, interpretation, or mathematical understanding
• Using assessment data immediately for targeted small-group teaching
• Recognising curriculum content students may not yet have covered
• Troubleshooting missing or incorrect responses in the portal
This is a practical walkthrough designed to help teachers move beyond scores and start using assessment information to support responsive teaching and learning straight away.
Whether your students completed SMART digitally or using printed submissions, there are useful insights already available while we wait for full analysis reports.
If you would like support with:
• Assessment and data-informed teaching
• Mathematics professional learning
• AI in Education workshops and leadership training
Feel free to connect. www.summitinstitute.ac.nz
#NZEducation #AssessmentForLearning #SMARTTesting #MathematicsEducation #StructuredLiteracy #AIinEducation #NewZealandTeachers #EducationLeadership #FormativeAssessment #TeachingAndLearning
To avoid systemic irrelevance, the first action for school boards and intermediate, secondary, and tertiary principals is to remove blanket bans. Banning a tool that is now ubiquitous only hides student usage while depriving them of prompt literacy and critical thinking. Craig argues that we must position AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Re-framing these environments allows Kiwi teachers and school leaders to navigate assessment workloads, lesson planning, and bicultural alignment efficiently, without compromising academic rigor.
💬 What New Zealand Educators Are Saying:
“AI has significantly improved my workflow by helping me plan lessons quickly, provide targeted feedback using e-asTTle rubrics, and create culturally responsive content. It saves time, allowing me to focus on active student interaction.”
— Primary School Digital Tech Lead, Auckland
Responsible AI Governance & Implementation
Developing a robust school AI policy that is safe, responsible, and culturally responsive is the cornerstone of strategy. Leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand must align school policy to support digital fluency, ensure data privacy, and protect critical assessment integrity under the NCEA. By integrating localized legislation directly into our curriculum and Te Mātaiaho framework maps, schools can build an environment that fosters innovative, self-directed learning.
For deep, step-by-step guidance, explore our complete list of educational strategies and workshops on our official YouTube Channel Masterclass.
