Manako offers a wide range of courses, workshops and self-paced online learning, specifically developed to support educators working with adult learners.

Each month we will be focusing on a particular theme. We will share resources, research and information around this theme alongside three or four 50-minute, online workshops during the month. 

Free self-directed learning

In addition to the live workshops, you will be able to access our free, self-directed Educator Pathways available 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, reinforcing the practical skills and knowledge gained during the workshop.

In-house options

All of our available workshops can also be booked privately by organisations. We can also tailor our offerings to meet specific learning needs within your organisation. Get in touch with us to find out more.

March 2025 | Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

During March 2025 the spotlight will be on Universal Design for Learning.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, to provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to put UDL into practice. Our free, self-directed UDL course will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) workshops - Explore ways of putting UDL into practice in these interactive workshops.
• UDL Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to support you in creating more flexible and inclusive teaching and learning environments.

April 2025 | Learner agency

During April 2025 the spotlight will be on Learner Agency.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer a series of four workshops which will provide you with essential skills, strategies, and knowledge to foster learner agency. Our free, self-directed Learner Agency course will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Learner Agency online workshops - Get tips, strategies, and resources to help your learners develop a positive learner identity and organise their personal learning strategies.
• Developing Learner Agency Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to support you in fostering learner agency.

May 2025 | Pacific leadership principles

During May 2025 the spotlight will be on Pacific Cultural Centredness, with a specific focus on Pacific leadership principles.

We will offer three workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to enhance your leadership skills and support learners and communities. Our free, self-directed Pacific Cultural Centredness Pathway will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Pacific leadership principles workshops - Develop an understanding of tautua (service) as a cultural principle and its transformative potential in education and leadership. The workshops provide opportunities to understand and apply cultural aspects of service and leadership across diverse educational and organisational settings.
• Pacific Cultural Centredness Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to let you explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time.
• Pacific Cultural Centredness course - For those wishing to further develop their understanding of Pacific cultural values and principles, and strategies to engage learners. This course is offered in-house only.

See all Ako Aotearoa Pacific Learner Success courses »

June 2025 | Workplace language, literacy and numeracy (LLN)

During June 2025 the spotlight will be on Workplace LLN.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to support learners in the workplace. Our free, self-directed Workplace LLN course will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year.

• Workplace LLN workshops - Gain practical skills and strategies for identifying priority learning areas, using assessment results, and designing targeted instruction.
• Workplace LLN Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to let you explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time.
• Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool - Gain an introduction to the National Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Tool and the related Learning Progressions framework. This course is offered in-house only.

July 2025 | Language and literacy

During July 2025 the spotlight will be on language and literacy education.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to teach and embed language and literacy in your practice. Our free, self-directed Language and Literacy Educator Pathway, and LNAAT Educator Pathway will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Language and literacy workshops - Create a toolkit for supporting learners’ language and literacy development.
• Language and literacy Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to let you explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time.
• LNAAT Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to let you explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time.
• Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool - Gain an introduction to the National Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Tool and the related Learning Progressions framework. This course is offered in-house only.

August 2025 | Neurodiversity

During August 2025 the spotlight will be on Neurodiversity.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to support neurodivergent learners. Our free, self-directed Neurodiversity Educator Pathway will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Neurodiversity workshops - Learn more about neurodiversity and neurodivergence, the challenges it can pose for learners, and how to put support in place.
• Autism | Supporting learner success - Explore effective strategies for working with autistic learners. This course is offered in-house only.
• Dyscalculia | Supporting learner success - Explore effective strategies for working with dyscalculic learners. This course is offered in-house only.
• Neurodiversity Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to let you explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time.

September 2025 | Māori cultural capability

During September 2025 the spotlight will be on Māori cultural capability.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to embed te reo Māori and Māori values in your practice. Our free, self-directed Māori Cultural Capability Educator Pathway will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year.

• Māori Cultural Capability workshops - A series of workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to embed te reo Māori and Māori values in your practice.
• Enhancing Māori Cultural Capability - Increase your awareness of Māori knowledge, values, and learning/teaching methodologies, and how to apply these to your teaching context. This course is offered in-house only.
• Māori Cultural Capability Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to support you in embedding te reo Māori and Māori values in your practice.

See all Ako Aotearoa Māori Learner Success courses »

October 2025 | Numeracy

During October 2025 the spotlight will be on Numeracy.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, which will provide you with practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to support learners’ numeracy development. Our free, self-directed Numeracy Educator Pathway will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Numeracy workshops - Gain practical skills and strategies for teaching and embedding numeracy.
• Numeracy Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to let you explore the topic in greater depth at your own pace and in your own time.
• The Talanoa Numeracy Educator Pathway - Designed to infuse Pacific flair, wisdom, and energy into the teaching and learning of numeracy.
• Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool - Gain an introduction to the National Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Tool and the related Learning Progressions framework. This course is offered in-house only.
• Numeracy Toolbox | Developing number skills - Develop your learners’ numeracy skills. This course is offered in-house only.
• Numeracy Toolbox | Developing learners’ fractions, decimals, percentages and proportional thinking - Designed to make hard stuff easy, this course will boost your confidence and ability to teach numeracy to anyone. This course is offered in-house only.
• Developing statistical and measurement skills - This course supports educators to develop learners’ statistical and measurement skills. This course is offered in-house only.

November 2025 | Digital literacy

During November 2025 the spotlight will be on Digital Literacy, with a special focus on cyber security.

We will share resources, research and information around this theme. We will also offer four workshops, which will provide you with practical skills and knowledge to enhance digital security and support learners in developing protection strategies. Our free, self-directed Digital Literacy Educator Pathway will be available on Pathways Awarua throughout the year. 

• Digital Literacy workshops - Take charge of your digital security – join us to build stronger defences and ensure a safer online environment for both you and your learners!
• Digital Literacy Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to support learners’ digital literacy development to promote digital inclusion and digital equity.

Tapatoru - Available all year

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

• Tapatoru Ako Professional Practice Award – a facilitated, in-house, whole-organisation professional development programme aimed at building staff capability in professional practice, knowledge and values.
• Tapatoru Educator Pathway - Independent learning on Pathways Awarua, designed to support you in fostering inclusive and effective learning environments and elevating your teaching practice.

See all Ako Aotearoa professional learning courses and workshops »