Digital technologies for innovative research networking including research to inform educational innovations in twenty-first century learning

The New Zealand Collaborative Action and Research Network (NZCA&RN) has attracted an unusually strong gathering of researchers working on innovations with digital technologies in education. The inaugural symposium proceedings (Davis, Fletcher, Morrow, McGrath and Somekh, 2009) included experts in technology and teacher education, e-learning and distance education (Davis; Lai &Pratt; Mackey; Morrow); Multiuser Virtual Environments (Atkins), ePortfolios (Lamont; Davis). In our view it is essential that New Zealand researchers have the opportunity to respond to these rapid advances using these technologies as an engine to enhance the networking of research. Our inaugural symposium used REANZ video conferencing to engage with researchers internationally and a Blog to promote networking. The inaugural NZCA&RN symposium co-chairs, Niki Davis and Bridget Somekh, brought with them lively links with international networks including the Society of Information Technology and Teacher Education and the International Federation of Information Processing educational research working group. These international networks and our parent CARN advocate for increased digital equity in the rapidly changing educational ecologies of the twenty-first century (Davis, 2009). This paper will identify our research and action by continuing with its mapping and identification of why these NZCA&RN approaches matters in our diverse ecologies, with an emphasis on what should happen next. It will also stimulate increased application of digital technologies for collaborative action and research networking in CARN, especially in NZCA&RN.