You can access the free, self-directed Ako Aotearoa Educator Pathways through the Pathways Awarua website.

This complementary content will allow you to explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time, providing practical skills and knowledge.

How to register

To access the modules, visit the Pathways Awarua website and sign up as an Educator. Once registered and logged in, select the “Educator Pathways” tile to get to UDL Pathway and other educator pathways offered by Ako Aotearoa.

Pathways Awarua regularly offer free webinars for educators to familiarise themselves with the learning platform.

 

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Educator Pathway

Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to help you get started with incorporating UDL principles into your practice. 

UDL will support you in creating more flexible and inclusive teaching and learning environments.

The UDL Educator Pathway currently features three collections:

• Collection 1 looks at what UDL is, why we need it and how to get started with UDL.
• Collection 2 provides an overview of the three principles of UDL, Engagement, Representation and Action & Expression, and explores how these principles can be applied to create an inclusive learning environment.
• Collection 3 explains that putting UDL into practice is a journey, which can be taken step-by-step. It also includes a wealth of ideas for further learning opportunities.

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

Developing Learner Agency Educator Pathway

Learner agency is the art of purposefully navigating through your own learning journey. By integrating principles of learner agency into our practice we can support learners to take greater control of their educational journey, making their learning more enjoyable, engaging, and effective.

This Educator Pathway equips tertiary educators with the essential skills, strategies, and knowledge to foster learner agency. You will find a wealth of tips, practical strategies, activities, and resources.

The ‘Developing Learner Agency Educator Pathway’ includes five collections:

• Collection 1: Understanding learner agency
• Collection 2: A framework for learner agency
• Collection 3: Strategies to develop learner agency
• Collection 4: Becoming a master learner
• Collection 5: Supporting learners to solve problems.

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

The Pacific Cultural Centredness Educator Pathway

Help your Pacific learners achieve greater success by building your knowledge, confidence and cultural competency.

Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to support your understanding of different Pacific nation's cultures.

Seven interactive modules included in this cultural pathway are based on different Pacific nations: Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu. 

Each module focuses on:

• The core values held by each Pacific nation.
• Participation in activities and reflection to help embed the values in your knowledge bank.
• Gaining practical tools to help you implement the values when engaging with Pacific learners.

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

The Language, literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Educator Pathway

Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to build your understanding of evidence-based approaches to teach language, literacy and numeracy.

Language, literacy and numeracy skills are essential for building learner confidence and success across all areas of life and learning.

This Educator Pathway was designed to support educators in building a strong understanding of some of the key elements of language, literacy and numeracy. It introduces the skills that underpin these elements and describes effective approaches for teaching language, literacy and numeracy strategies.

The LLN Educator Pathway features ten collections:

1. Introduction to Language, Literacy and Numeracy
2. Workplace Language, Literacy and Numeracy
3. Numeracy | Developing number skills
4. Numeracy | Fractions, decimals and percentages
5. Numeracy | Measurement
6. Numeracy | Statistical skills
7. Language and Literacy | Phonological awareness
8. Language and Literacy | Decoding and spelling
9. Language and Literacy | Reading comprehension
10. Language and Literacy | Writing skills

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

Kiwi Lingo WordFit

This resource was developed for learners who have English as a Second Language (ESL). It provides learners with an opportunity to explore, and check their knowledge of, New Zealand slang.

The ‘Kiwi Lingo WordFit’ includes 100 words. Each module displays a set of five words at a time. The first screen tests the learner's existing knowledge using image and audio cues. Subsequent screens provide practice through a series of interactions that help the user learn unknown words. These include activities for reading, listening to and spelling the word, finding the meaning, and using the word in sentence.

To access the WordFit resource, visit the Pathways Awarua website and sign up as an Educator. Once registered and logged in, select the ‘Learner Pathways’ tile, and then the ‘WordFit’ tile.

 

The Neurodiversity Educator Pathway

Understanding and embracing neurodiversity—the natural variation in how people think, learn, and process information—is essential for educators who want to create more inclusive learning environments. Many learners experience the world through a neurodivergent lens. These learners often face challenges not because of their differences, but due to systems and environments that are not designed with their needs in mind.

This Educator Pathway was designed for educators to support them in building their understanding of neurodiversity and neurodivergence. It explores cultural worldviews of neurodiversity and describes practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent learners.

The Neurodiversity Educator Pathway features six collections:

• Introduction to neurodiversity
• Autism
• ADHD
• Dyspraxia
• Dyscalculia
• Dyslexia

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

The Māori Cultural Capability Educator Pathway

Help your Māori learners achieve greater success by building your knowledge, confidence and cultural capability for Te ao Māori (the Māori world).

This Educator Pathway is designed to support you in embedding te reo Māori and Māori values in your practice.

The Māori Cultural Capability Pathway comprises four interactive modules:

• Ako (learning/teaching)
• Manaakitanga (caring for each other)
• Rangatiratanga (empowering students)
• Whanaungatanga (relationships)

This online tool encourages educators to engage in deliberate acts of consideration, application, and reflection on some of the pedagogies for their own practice with Māori learners.

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

The Talanoa Numeracy Educator Pathway

The Talanoa Numeracy Educator Pathway is designed to infuse Pacific flair, wisdom, and energy into the teaching and learning of numeracy.

The lessons in this Educator Pathway will make teaching numeracy easier by focusing on engaging learners in rich numeracy discussions. This is the perfect place to find fun, engaging numeracy activities and a model to introduce them effectively.

Talanoa is the Pacific art of storytelling and discussion that leads to consensus and decision-making. Storytelling and discussion are powerful tools for educators and learners to make sense of and apply numeracy. Storytelling places numeracy in meaningful contexts, while discussion facilitates learning and understanding.

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

The Digital Literacy Educator Pathway

The key objective of this Pathway is to assist educators in supporting learners’ digital literacy development to promote digital inclusion and digital equity. This includes critical and creative thinking skills and the development of digital skills, i.e., the ability to navigate in digital environments and use digital tools.

The Digital Literacy Educator Pathway currently features four collections:

• Collection 1 looks at what digital literacy is, presents a range of digital literacy frameworks, and explores the interplay of digital literacy and remixing.
• Collection 2 has a wealth of resources, strategies, icebreakers, and activities for teaching digital literacy.
• Collection 3 helps you familiarise yourself with 250 specialised words for digital literacy.
• Collection 4 is about cyber security and covers key areas to help educators securely navigate the digital world.

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up

 

Digital Literacy WordFit

The ‘Digital Literacy WordFit’ includes 100 words. Each module displays a set of five words at a time. The first screen tests the learner's existing knowledge using image and audio cues. Subsequent screens provide practice through a series of interactions that help the user learn unknown words.

These include activities for reading, listening to and spelling the word, finding the meaning, and using the word in sentence.

To access the WordFit resource, visit the Pathways Awarua website and sign up as an Educator. Once registered and logged in, select the ‘Learner Pathways’ tile, and then the ‘WordFit’ tile.

 

The Tapatoru Educator Pathway

The Tapatoru Educator Pathway is a free, online self-directed course that supports the Tapatoru programme.

The Tapatoru Ako Professional Practice Award is a values-based professional development initiative focused on fostering inclusive and effective learning environments and elevating the practice of tertiary educators and trainers.

The programme is built on four core values:

• Whanaungatanga (building relationships)
• Manaakitanga (showing respect and care)
• Wairuatanga (nurturing the spirit)
• Aroha (empathy).

The Tapatoru Educator Pathway currently includes ten professional learning and development collections:

1. What is the Tapatoru?
2. Planning your PLD
3. Unpacking your values
4. Embedding language, literacy and numeracy
5. Māori cultural capability
6. Pacific cultural centredness
7. Learning differences
8. Technology in education
9. ESOL teaching
10. Ako Explored

Visit the Pathways Awarua website to sign up