An overview of the Manako Workshop series

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

Each month during 2025 we focussed on a particular theme. We shared resources, research and information around this theme alongside three or four 50-minute, online workshops.

March 2025 | Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

During March 2025 the spotlight was on Universal Design for Learning. Ako Aotearoa offered four workshops, providing practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to put UDL into practice.

The workshops were facilitated by Chrissie Butler, a UDL and inclusive design and practice specialist, passionate about the value inclusive design can bring to education and the workplace.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework designed to help educators create inclusive, barrier-free learning experiences that accommodate learner variability. By offering flexibility in how learners access information, engage with learning activities, and demonstrate their understanding, UDL supports more equitable and engaging learning environments.

There’s no such thing as an ‘average learner.’ Each learner brings a unique mix of needs, interests, and strengths. They come from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, with varying language abilities and attention spans. What captivates one learner may not resonate with another. The UDL framework empowers educators to embrace this diversity, offering practical tools to design inclusive learning experiences that support everyone.

Read a comprehensive guide to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) on our Blog

Supporting content | The UDL Educator Pathway

The pathway looks at what UDL is, why we need it, and how to get started with implementing UDL principles into your practice. 

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

April 2025 | Learner agency

During April 2025 the spotlight was on Learner Agency. We offered a series of four workshops with Dr Damn Whitten that provided essential skills, strategies, and knowledge to foster learner agency.

The concept of Learner Agency centres on a learner’s ability to take charge of their own learning journey. It recognises that learners can choose what they want to learn, assess their ability to learn it, and determine how to approach the learning process—all while taking personal responsibility for their progress.

Read about how fostering Learner Agency can support literacy and numeracy education on our Blog

Supporting content | Developing Learner Agency Educator Pathway

The ‘Developing Learner Agency Educator Pathway’ covers understanding learner agency, developing a framework for learner agency, and introduces strategies to develop learner agency.

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

May 2025 | Pacific leadership principles

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

The workshops introduced an understanding of tautua (service) as a cultural principle and its transformative potential in education and leadership.

Based on the intergenerational lifecycle model of ‘tautua’ (service) by Fa’aea & Enari (2021), these workshops explored the Samoan tautua lifecycle. O Le Ala I Le Pule O Le Tautua –The Pathway to Leadership is through Service. These workshops explore the three stages of servanthood: Serving to Serve, Serving to Lead, and Leading to Serve.

The workshops provided practical and reflective opportunities to understand and apply cultural aspects of service and leadership across diverse educational and organisational settings.

Explore Innovative approaches to support Pacific learners in tertiary education on our blog

Supporting content | The Pacific Cultural Centredness Educator Pathway

The seven interactive modules included in this cultural pathway are designed to support your understanding of different Pacific nation's cultures. Each module focuses on The core values held by each Pacific nation and gives practical tools to help you implement the values when engaging with Pacific learners.

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

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

During June 2025 the spotlight was on Workplace LLN. We offered four workshops, which provided practical skills and strategies for identifying priority learning areas, using assessment results, and designing targeted instruction.

Supporting content | The Language, literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Educator Pathway

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.

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

July 2025 | Language and literacy

During July 2025 the spotlight was on language and literacy education. We offered four workshops, which provided practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to teach and embed language and literacy in your practice. Create a toolkit for supporting learners’ language and literacy development.

Supporting content | 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.

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

August 2025 | Neurodiversity

During August 2025 the spotlight was on Neurodiversity. We offered four workshops with experienced, sector experts from Altogether Autism, ADHD New Zealand and more, to provide practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to support neurodivergent learners. 

Participants learned about neurodiversity and neurodivergence, the challenges it can pose for learners, and how to put support in place.

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 and often face challenges not because of their differences, but due to systems and environments that are not designed with their needs in mind.

To support educators in recognising and valuing neurodivergence, each session explored practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent ākonga. This knowledge will help educators grow their confidence and capability in recognising and valuing neurodivergence, and in making small changes that can have a big impact on learner engagement, equity, and learner success.

Read a call to action for Educators and Policymakers to support Neurodivergent Learners in Tertiary Education on our blog

Supporting content | The Neurodiversity Educator Pathway

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.

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

September 2025 | Māori cultural capability

During September 2025 the spotlight was on Māori cultural capability. 

Embedding te reo Māori and Māori values in teaching practice is essential for creating inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural foundation. When educators intentionally incorporate Māori kupu and principles such as manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and ako, they affirm the identity, language, and culture of Māori ākonga. These practices benefit all learners, promoting cultural understanding and enhancing engagement and wellbeing. 

To support educators into incorporating these practices, Ako Aotearoa offered a series of four professional development workshops throughout September. Each session focussed on a specific concept or practice, providing practical strategies and insights to help educators confidently embed Māori cultural capability in their teaching. 

Supporting content | The Māori Cultural Capability Educator Pathway

The Māori Cultural Capability Pathway comprises four interactive modules, designed to increase cultural awareness of Māori knowledge and values. 

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

October 2025 | Numeracy

During October 2025 the spotlight was on Numeracy. Ako Aotearoa offered four workshops with Dr Damon Whitten - a specialist provider of professional development to the tertiary sector, with a background in adult literacy and numeracy - which provided practical skills, strategies, and knowledge to support learners’ numeracy development. 

Numeracy is woven into everyday life, from managing time and interpreting data to comparing prices and following a recipe. It’s not just a classroom skill; it’s essential for navigating work, home, and community settings. Yet many adult learners experience anxiety or lack confidence when it comes to numbers. 

For these ākonga, the right support from a knowledgeable and empathetic educator can make all the difference. With effective teaching strategies, educators can help learners not only build the practical skills they need but also develop confidence and even enjoyment in working with numbers. 

Supporting content | 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.

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

Supporting content | 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. 

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

November 2025 | Digital literacy

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

Ako Aotearoa offered four workshops, Facilitated by Michael Grawe, Pathways Awarua Professional Learning Manager, that  explored practical strategies for safeguarding digital environments in tertiary education.

In an increasingly digital world, protecting digital classrooms and safeguarding sensitive information can be critical skills for tertiary educators to know and be aware of. Educators play a critical role not only in managing their own digital platforms and student data, but also in helping learners recognise digital risks and develop safe online practices. These workshops are designed to support educators across all disciplines — whether teaching online, managing digital tools, or working with learner information.

 

Supporting content | 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. 

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

 

Ako Aotearoa Educator Pathways | Free self-directed learning

Find out more about our available Educator Pathways

You can access our free, self-directed 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.