About Poutama Pounamu Online
For a detailed description of the course, read or download this Poutama Pounamu Overview brochure.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Poutama Pounamu Online is a blended learning course that will spread and embed understanding of cultural relationships for responsive pedagogy. The underpinning theory of action is based on over 15 years of research into what works best for Māori students and how this can work more effectively for all.
The course comprises 5 online modules and associated regional wānanga. Poutama Pounamu Online is a cascading model of PLD - each participant shares their learning with a minimum of three other people in a learning group they establish.
Participation can be funded through the region’s Professional Learning and Development budget.
Principals and/or Kāhui Ako Lead Principals apply for 21 PLD contact hours for each participant (and their learning group/Ākonga). This can be a stand-alone proposal or part of a larger, school-wide or Kāhui ako-wide PLD application.
We have recently developed a second and complementary Blended Learning offering that directly engages Rangatahi and whānau to enrich and align home, school and community collaborations.
Further information
If you have further questions please contact:
- The Poutama Pounamu team: poutamapounamu@waikato.ac.nz
- Liz Eley (Poutama Pounamu): elizabeth.eley@waikato.ac.nz | 022 067 1673
- Margaret Egan (Poutama Pounamu): margaret.egan@waikato.ac.nz | 027 704 9720
Who is it designed for?
Poutama Pounamu Online involves strategic Community of Learning/Kāhui Ako personnel in activating their own learning and then spreading that learning to others. It is designed for those who have an established role in change management and developing professional capability across schools and kāhui ako.
Participants in the first cohort included 19 principals (including 4 kāhui ako Lead Principals) and 40 teaching staff (including school leadership roles and kāhui ako across-school and within-school leads). Other participants include Early Childhood representatives in kāhui ako, PLD providers, RTLBs, Ministry of Education staff and a Board of Trustees representative.
Those involved will accumulate evidence within an online portfolio for professional appraisal and accreditation purposes. There is also a pathway for those wishing Master’s level qualifications.
Roles
Over 12 months participants (Kaiwhakaako) will engage with web-based materials and record their responses online. Expert feedback will be provided to each Kaiwhakaako by the Poutama Pounamu tutors.
When they are ready, each Kaiwhakaako will convene a group (Ākonga) and facilitate their engagement with the same materials.
Every Kaiwhakaako will be supported locally to ensure the time and space necessary to undertake this work. These supporting individuals (Kairaranga) will assist in ensuring others are also available to participate as Ākonga.
The Modules
1: Agentic Responses to the Fabric of New Zealand Society
2: Culture, Language and Identity
3: Cultural Relationships for Responsive Pedagogy
4: Educationally Powerful Connections
5: Ako: Critical Contexts for Change
Comments from participants
- The content was engaging and provided plenty of starting points for conversation/discussion
- The materials are fantastic. They are thought provoking and provide a range of perspectives and collection of voice that is not always easy to access.
- Looking at the role of a teacher was very good as it showed the clear agency that teachers have in addressing the issues we face in NZ.
- My own understanding has deepened considerably and I’m beginning to see group agency develop
- It was awesome to see 7 teachers opting into this group.
Regional Wānanga
A series of regional wānanga provide opportunities for face-to-face engagement with the tutors and others undertaking the course.
- Great wānanga thanks! Very thought provoking and great to
get my head into some theory. - Awesome couple of days. Great discussion. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you for igniting the flame. Feel hugely motivated and empowered. Kia ora. - I have new understandings, new ideas and new learnings.
- I am not the same educator that arrived yesterday. Thank you.
- read or download the Poutama Pounamu Overview brochure (PDF)