Posted on 14 October 2026
EventsOur StaffOpen Polytechnic was well represented at the Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (FLANZ) Conference 2026: He Tāngata at Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin recently.
Photo: Xin Huang and Cynthia Ogilvy with their award for Best Presentation.
FLANZ President and Open Polytechnic kaimahi (staff) Ralph Springett was pleased with the wide range of researchers presenting at the conference from tertiary education organisations and schools from around the country who have an interest in open, distance and flexible learning.
Open Polytechnic was a Gold Sponsor at this month’s event and has supported FLANZ conferences for more than a decade, reflecting its shared commitment to advancing Open Distance and Flexible Learning (ODFL).
Photo: The FLANZ 2026 Conference Committee, from left, Ralph Springett, Rachel Whalley, Trish Chaplin-Cheyne, Jo McDowell, Colin Armstrong, Danny Fridberg, and Amy Benians.
Ralph says that FLANZ plays an important role in promoting research, professional discussion and best practice across flexible learning.
“This year, several Open Polytechnic kaimahi (staff) presented their research, as the conference provided an opportunity for them to share their research and innovation, connect with practitioners from across the sector, and bring new ideas and evidence back into Open Polytechnic’s practice,” he says.
- Congratulations to Xin Huang (left in above photo), Manager Design Solutions and Quality, Cynthia Ogilvy (right in photo above), Manager Assessment Design and Lesley Jacobson, Assessment Specialist (unable to attend), who won the “Best Presentation" award at FLANZ 2026. Their presentation was Designing for Academic Assurance in Assessment in Open Distance Learning: From Principles to Practice.
Other Open Polytechnic kaimahi who presented at the conference included: - Lalitha Jonnavithula: From Interaction to Internal Dialogue in Asynchronous Learning: A Review of Optional Formative Activities;
- Andrea Holland: The Third Lane: Intrinsic Motivation and the Gamification of Assessment;
- Kirsten Price: Re-examining the Culminating Integrative Assessment in Initial Teacher Education;
- Kate Caie: Relational, Culturally Responsive, Neuro-affirming Practice for Tertiary Tutors in Open, Flexible and Online Learning;
- Masi Shiran: Beyond the AI Image: Making Design Reasoning Visible in Online Architecture Studios;
- Dr Kate Quigley: Assessment Practice by Providers of TVET in ODFL contexts: A Report of an International Survey.
- Ralph Springett: Certification Assurance: From Operational Risk to Ongoing Trust.
- Executive Director of Learning Design and Development, Dr Mark Nichols, provided a keynote "Blendagogy: Designing Learning Opportunities", based on an edited book which was launched at the conference.
Photo: A captivated audience at one of the presentations at the FLANZ 2026 conference.