Ako Aotearoa

Promoting reflective and interactive learning with AI conversations

Background:

This project led by Dr Nasser Giacaman from the University of Auckland has designed, and is trialling two types of AI-powered verbal conversational assessments:

• Reflection: Where the AI engages students in real-time dialogue

• AI Student: Where through role reversal, student will play the role of tutor who will ‘teach the AI’.

By integrating verbal conversational AI, the research aims to create a more engaging and interactive environment that encourages deeper reflection and sustains deeper student interest. The timely and personalised responses from the AI will prompt students to think and reflect deeply about the subject matter, developing critical thinking skills. 

The role reversal (AI student) will enable a novel learning assessment type that helps students better articulate their course learning material learning and reinforce their learning by teaching others.

The Co-thinker project hub will be updated by the project team in the coming months with project videos, resources and news updates. 

The Co-thinker Project Hub

https://co-thinker.digitaledu.ac.nz/

The Co-thinker project hub will include

• A short introduction/overview of Co-thinker, what it has been designed to achieve and the benefits to both students and educators
• A demo of the student experience – the Reflection and AI student modules, demonstrate how they interact with it (speech, text, reo Māori options), any immediate feedback provided
• A demo of the educator experience – how it can be set up to assess learner outcomes.

Presentation at the 2024 Ranga Auaha Ako Research Hui

Project leader Nasser Giacaman, Piata Allen, and Raina Song gave a presentation about their project at the Ranga Auaha Ako (University of Auckland’s Education Office) Research Hui in October 2024.

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA)

The report presents the rationale, research processes, findings and details for the development of an AI chatbot to support the attainment of academic writing skills by bridging and foundation ākonga.

Gen AI provides many opportunities, when used appropriately, for supporting bridging/foundation ākonga and their kaiako. This report could be used as a start towards informing how Gen AI can be utilised to underpin a shift towards more ako and ākonga-centred learning.

Download the report:

REPORT | Guidelines for supporting foundation/bridging ākonga to evaluate and utilise Gen AI to improve writing and reading (PDF, 2Mb)

Background:

This research project, led by Dr Selena Chan from Ara Institute of Canterbury, was completed in June 2025.

This project investigates the specific challenges, impacts, and potentials of utilising Gen AI to support the learning of reading and writing or beginning te reo Māori for Aotearoa foundation and bridging ākonga.

The integration of Gen AI into the ako of foundation/bridging programmes, requires careful learning design. The main goal of these programmes is to ensure ākonga attain the academic literacy skills necessary for further study or work.

There is a need to ensure that Gen AI supports academic literacies without compromising ākonga engagement with the deliberate practice required to attain the literacy skills.

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA)

This report synthesises the design, implementation, and evaluation of InclusiveAI.nz, a website with resources intended to support inclusive approaches to assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand by building AI literacy for diverse ākonga and for educators.

The recommendations highlight the importance of co-designing resources with learners to enhance engagement and relevance, and discusses assessment approaches that clarify AI use and promote student confidence and competence. ​

Download the report:

Empowering Aotearoa: An inclusive approach to AI literacy in tertiary education (520Kb, PDF)

Background:

This project was completed in December 2025 by Tim Gander from academyEX and Geri Harris from AUT.

InclusiveAI.nz is a website with resources intended to support inclusive approaches to assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand by building AI literacy for diverse ākonga and for educators.

Visit the Inclusive AI Web Portal | https://inclusiveai.nz/

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA)

An equitable and outcome-focused approach in Aotearoa New Zealand

As a scoping study, this project outlines the current landscape, focusing on the challenges and opportunities AI presents for institutions such as Private Training Establishments (PTEs), Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs), and universities.

This project has led to the creation of 3 guides.

Resource download:

Volume 1 – Artificial intelligence (AI) in education

Volume 1 offers an in-depth exploration of artificial intelligence’s (AI) evolving role in education, with a focus on Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse tertiary sector. These insights reveal both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into tertiary education settings.

Download volume 1 (PDF, 800Kb)

Volume 2 – Practical AI applications for educators

Volume 2 equips educators, leaders, and policymakers with practical strategies for integrating AI into teaching and administration. Educators will find tools, approaches, and step-by-step guidance to support the effective and ethical use of AI in classrooms and beyond.

Download Volume 2 (PDF, 2Mb)

Volume 3 – Leadership and policy in education

Volume 3 shifts the focus to leadership and systemic change, this volume aims to equip education leaders with the tools to develop inclusive policies, design responsible AI frameworks, and address equity challenges in the evolving educational landscape.

Download Volume 3 (PDF, 1Mb)

Background:

As AI continues to reshape education, its successful integration hinges on thoughtful planning, ethical frameworks, and a commitment to inclusivity. While AI offers transformative potential, its benefits must be equitably distributed, ensuring that underserved communities are not left behind. Educational institutions have a responsibility to embed cultural responsiveness into AI tools and practices, particularly in diverse settings like Aotearoa New Zealand.

This project, completed in 2025, aimed to build educator, and organisational capability with using AI tools.

Resources prepared by Graeme Smith and Michael Grawe.

Co funded by the Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA)