Undertaking 32 weeks long learning journey through the Mind Lab postgraduate programme this year as an addition to the full time teaching workload, was challenging regarding time frames and deadlines, however it was extremely useful, inspiring and insightful experience for me as a practicing teacher at the same time. Would I do it again? Yes, definitely, and I am convinced we reached the point in teaching practice that this is becoming a necessity.
“Education is undergoing the paradigm shift” became a popular statement in the last decade or so. Recognition of a rapidly changing world that should be reflected in the contemporary education is starting to gain momentum and educators became a part of a very challenging, yet inspiring process. When stepping aside to evaluate those new mega trends, two of these are already starting to take place and are shaping themselves as a norm in the near future education.
Social media is where digital generation is at home and which transformed their way of communication and their focus of social interest. Educators had to acknowledge and accept that this created new possibilities for student centered learning and building professional networks on a global scale.
Rise of civilization created the need for societal norms defined as citizenship to enable its functionality and existence. Consequently, to provide a required boundaries, rules and laws followed. With the rise of digital technology, the need for another set of norms was established. Digital citizenship was formed that users can apply to a value neutral technology acts of responsibility and no harm.
On the 9th December this year, our school hosted two very engaging and inspiring speakers Manu Faaea-Semeatu and Marcus Akuhata-Brown to present professional development session on increasing engagement for Pacifika and Maori Students. Both speakers touched the specifics of their own cultures, however the main message for us teachers brought forward was the importance of using two cornerstones: relationships and trust. The focus of this article are two areas that we should use in our teaching practice to establish better engagement and higher achievement for Pasifika and Maori students.
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