Ako
Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success: The Māori Education Strategy 2008 - 2012 emphasises the importance of ako – effective and reciprocal teaching and learning – for, and with, Māori learners and the conditions that support it.
Evidence shows that high-quality teaching is the most important influence the education system can have on high-quality outcomes for students with diverse learning needs. Evidence also shows that effective teaching and learning depends on the relationship between teachers and students and students’ active engagement.
The concept of ‘ako’ describes a teaching and learning relationship where the educator is also learning from the student and where educators’ practices are informed by the latest research and are both deliberate and reflective. Ako is grounded in the principle of reciprocity and recognises that the learner and whānau cannot be separated.
The key aspects of ako are:
- Language, identity and culture counts – knowing where students come from and building on what students bring with them
- Productive Partnerships – Māori students, whānau and educators sharing knowledge and expertise with each other to produce better outcomes.
Taking a ‘personalising learning’ approach that puts every student and their achievement at the heart of education and recognises that one size does not fit all.
Personalising learning is about partnerships focused on learning and about a whole education system where everyone sees themselves as having an important role to play and accepting the associated personal and professional responsibilities.