From Good to Great: The 10 Habits of phenomenal educators for Pacific learners
Status
Completed: 30 June 2021
Project Details
An 18-month project to identify phenomenal educators and teaching practices that are of immense benefit to Pacific students in tertiary education and to inform institutional and sectoral improvements. A collaboration of Victoria University of Wellington and Weltec.
Aims:
The main aims of the project were to:
- identify, analyse and describe phenomenal educators who have effective teaching and learning practices in place for Pacific learners
- identify and describe the preferred learning styles of Pacific learners
- develop a toolkit which encompasses the learnings, titled: From Good to Great: The 10 Habits of Phenomenal Educators for Pacific Learners - The Kato Toolkit.
Methodology:
This project used an appreciative inquiry method involving:
- a review of Pacific tertiary literature
- a questionnaire/survey of Pacific learners’ to identify their learning style preferences
- development of 15-20 case studies about phenomenal educators
- Talanoa group discussions with Pacific learners
- video-mentaries of Pacific learners
- development of a Toolkit titled: From Good to Great: The 10 habits of Phenomenal Educators for Pacific Learners
- a focused dissemination of the Toolkit combined with a professional development programme.
Team
Cherie Chu
Project Co-Lead
Victoria University of Wellington (VUW)
Janice Ikiua-Pasi
Project Co-Lead
Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)
Arden Perrot
Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)
Dr Fiona Beals
Project Advisor
WelTecPale Sauni
Project Mentor
Status
Funding
$240,130.00 (excl GST)
The Kato Toolkit
The Kato toolkit was developed for tertiary educators and educators who educate or teach Pacific adult learners in tertiary organisations (formal and non-formal) in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Kato is a Niuean word meaning a handmade woven basket. In Niuean custom, the Kato is usually gifted between people. The team have used the concept of the Kato for the educator’s toolkit as it is about gifting change or transformation to the educator.
Pacific students want their educators to bring their Pacific cultures into the classroom and into their teaching, and to demonstrate ‘phenomenal’ teaching practices that are habitual.
What is the Toolkit’s purpose?
To support educators in planning and developing teaching and learning theory and practices for the success and development of Pacific learners. The project team have identified the teaching and learning skills of educators that have benefits for effective teaching.
Cultivating effective teaching and learning habits enables educators to be good learners and teachers.
How can I use this Toolkit?
The Kato is organised around a set of 10 Habits of phenomenal educators. They can be used in order from one to 10 or they can be used separately depending on what you need for your teaching.
Introducing the 10 habits of phenomenal educators
- Habit 1 Fenua: Ground Yourself in a Pedagogy of Reflection
- Habit 2 Moana: Know Your Pacific Learner and Context
- Habit 3 Vaka: Educate with Phenomenal Pacific- Centric Methods
- Habit 4 Le Teu le Va: Building Teaching and Learning Relationships with Pacific Learners
- Habit 5 Ola: Develop Phenomenal Practices
- Habit 6 Teatea: Instil Motivation & Good Work Habits
- Habit 7 Aupuru: Embrace Creativity & Enthusiasm
- Habit 8 Putuputu: Create a Pacific learning community
- Habit 9 Arofa: Enable mentoring to be a natural part of your teaching and manage the ‘wobbles’ that arise
- Habit 10 Tiama: Deconstruct and emancipate your learners’ experiences
A gift for tertiary educators to help them transform the way they embrace and celebrate Pacific cultures and learners in their classrooms and learning spaces.
- 30 June 2021
The Summary Report of this project focuses on the researchers’ methodology and design, including the preferred learning styles of Pacific learners. It also documents student talanoa of their experiences with phenomenal educators.
- 30 June 2021
The Full Report includes 11 case studies describing the phenomenal educators involved in the project. It outlines the methodology, which is built around an Appreciative Inquiry approach.
- 30 June 2021
Join the Community of Pacific Practice on Facebook. Here you'll find resources and tips from Pacific educators that will help you to support your Pacific learners.
The project aims to investigate the effects of implementing the Kato Toolkit for Professional Learning and Development (PLD) on educators' knowledge and practices, as well as its influence on outcomes for Pacific learners.