Thursday, November 09, 2017

Ako Aoteoroa National Projects in progress colloquium- 2017

Ako Aotearoa National Projects Colloquium 

Wellington turns on a blue dome day for a one day colloquium at Te Papa. National Projects currently funded by Ako Aoteoroa report on work in progress or on their final findings / results.

Mihi whakatua / welcome with Dr. Joe Rito, deputy director and Dr. Beatrice Dias-Wanigasekera, project funds manager. Joe provided summary of work undertaken on getting the various national projects going. Beatrice summarised Ako Aoteoroa’s strategic objectives with National Projects and the goals of the colloquium. In particular, the synergies between various projects and opportunities for projects to work together into the future.

Our project on eassessment is first up. I provide an overview, rationale and methodology. James Gropp from the aviation engineering school in Blenheim provides details of the Nelson Malborough Institute of Technology sub-project. James emphasised the need to ensure learning is a goal in problem based learning, not just the completion of a task. I then close with preliminary themes. 

Next up, Drs. Barbara Kensington-Miller, Sean Sturm and Amanda Gilbert from University of Auckland and Victoria university present on their project - making the invisible visible: illuminating undergraduate learning outcomes beyond content and skills. Used a role play to bring across the message about that students are subject focused when asked to describe their attainment. Yet, completing a degree encompasses not only knowledge but also a large range of skills and attitudes. Framework used as an observation tool to identify attributes considered invisible or aspirational. The details of attributes would then be useful to students,  lecturers/tutors and employers. Provided an example from psychology with empathy as an attribute. Goes through specify, explain, embed and nudge (how does this translate beyond class and course) with examples in learning objectives, activities and observable behaviour. Guides now prepared for students, lecturers and employers. Roadshows, workshops and conferences also used to disseminate model. 

After morning tea, 3 sessions. First up, Neil Ballantyne from the Open Polytechnic and Dr. Jane Maidment from the University of Canterbury on enhancing the readiness to practice of newly qualified social workers. A three year, three phase project. Neil presented background and overview. Phase one was a stock take of current curriculum. Then, find out from stakeholders how competent new graduates are. Then include the capabilities into revised framework. Curriculum would be the declared, taught and learnt. Used a data visualisation platform called Tableau (a free / public version app) to complete analysis of the curriculum documents from 14 institutions. Progressing into phase two. 

Second presentation with Professor Susan Geertshuis and Narissa Lewis from University of Auckland on embedding employability in the curriculum: strategies for the development of employability attributes with advanced and research informed programmes. Detailed background and rationale and the four Es employability model. A simple pedagogical model to guide teaching required. Especially with capabilities like ethical and professional practice, independent and critical thinking, integrity, social responsibility, proactivity, adaptability etc. all of of these are difficult to teach. Four Es are excite, explore, exhibit and extend to underpin transformation teaching. How do you also recognise capabilities students attained outside of studies, for example in their communities, and co-curricula opportunities. Next step is to collect exemplar cases to support four Es. Check www.futurereadygrads.ac.nz

Third up, Dr. Qilong Zhang, Meghan Rush, Tina Mischewski and Jon Sadler from Toi Ohomai Institution of Technology on a cross disciplinary comparison as the approach to developing work ready plus graduates. Talked about the process and the challenges of a collaborative project. Project developed five discipline specific work ready plus models - health studies, creative technology, early childhood, management and construction from level 3-4 to 8-9. Meghan presented on the findings from the level 7 health studies. In particular to make visible how employability priorities are embedded through the programme. Jon presented various issues historical and emerging. 

After lunch, three more presentation beginning with Professor Dory Reeves and Lena Henry from the University of Auckland on Te Whaihanga- preparing built environment professionals to work with Maori. Main goal to develop an online video and supporting material for teaching and learning in planning, architecture, engineering and landscape disciplines. Encompasses knowledge on why professionals need to be able to work with Maori; a learning assessment tool to have values and principals to be embedded; a video and supporting material to assist with how to deal with situations; and to be used in facilitated workshops. The three core values are mana, rangitiratanga and kaitiakitanga. 

Then, Mark Williams, Kylie Taffard and Loretta Garrow from the Building and Contruction Industry Training Organization share their project on - what are the characteristics of an effective learning journey for women entering trades? Kylie presented background and here the items presented fits into the larger project. The other objectives are to understand employer demands and industry needs. The first part to inform further change projects relating to education and industry practices and processes. The project will use data from interviews with women who are successful in the trades, to develop personas. Influencers tended to be intrinsic, included setting goals, challenge themselves, love/ passion of the materials and type of work and knew they had transferable skills. People with influence include family - usually male, teachers and pre-trade tutors, potential employer and WINZ. barriers include needing to defend choice of career, women who had not been successful, difficulty in getting position, training may be challenging and logistical issues with assessments and off job training, special treatment can be unsupportive. Relationships in the job important, along with supportive managers, having a mentor, working with a team, positive responses from other tradies and customers, aspects of the work and satisfaction with work. Events included completing pre trade, respect of peers and others, first pay cheque. They had a plan for the future. Shared drafts of personas for feedback. 

Third presentation is with Mike Styles and Dr. Lesley Petersen from Primary ITO present on their work to evaluate effectiveness of support interventions for dyslexic learners in multiple learning environments. Extended on some of the items presented at the recent NZVET research forum. Included background of the study and rationale for work to extend the work beyond the primary industry context. Detailed the project details. 

Dr. Stanley Frielick, Director of Ako Aoteoroa completes a summing up of the day.

A poroporoaki / farewell closed the colloquium.


Colloquium progressed on to a networking session with Central hub colloquium presenters, running concurrently at the same time. Seven , just completed Ako Aoteoroa national project reports were also launched to celebrate Ako Aoteoroa’s first decade. 

Projects are:
Weaving our worlds - strengths plus evidence based approach to increase academic achievement of Maori Health Sciences students.
Ako whakaruruhau - supporting Maori trades apprentices in the workplace
Learning in undergraduate mathematics - a set of seven guides to improve outcomes for mathematics learners
A pedagogy of Pacific learner success - success factors underpinning the Pacific Bachelor of Nursing and Social work at Whitireia.
Language in the trades - learning and teaching trade specific language for trades
Learning analytics data and teaching / learning design - using learning analytics to inform teaching
Ka whanau mai te reo: kei tua o te kura - support for Maori learners as they transition from Maori schools into tertiary. 


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