Derek Wenmoth
Derek has been involved with CORE since it’s inception in 2003. Derek, Nick Billowes, and Vince Ham set up Ultralab South (now CORE) – which was to embody their vision of an e-learning research and development centre.
Following the various educational roles of teacher, principal, and lecturer in educational technology Derek took up his role as director of e-learning in April 2003. The role allows him to be involved in a wide range of e-learning activities from exploring innovative use of the latest technologies and researching e-learning practices, to helping establish policy and strategies to guide the implemenation of e-learning, both nationally and overseas.
Derek’s role at CORE perfectly combines his passion for teaching and learning along with his long held fascination with the use of technologies in education. After convincing his wife he needed a computer – as that was where the future of education would lie - Derek bought his first one shortly after getting married. This was back in the days when you had to use tapes to load programmes and when mobile phones were the size and weight of a brick.
Married to Jane, Derek keeps himself busy on the home front with five children ranging in age from 7 to 23. When not busy with family, blogging, and CORE, Derek enjoys getting outdoors – especially tramping. He boasts that he has tramped in all of the national parks and covered most of the major tracks and walkways in New Zealand.
Derek maintains a blog on matters relating to e-learning and other aspects of interest to educators, this can be found at http://blog.core-ed.net/derek or see latest entry links below.