SEED projects 2019 – A new Canvas for teaching and learning

Who are we as a bicultural educators? A module for Canvas

Dr Esther Fitzpatrick

Dr Esther Fitzpatrick, Jill Murray, Sandra Chandler, Dr Maria Cooper, Dr Te Kawehau Hoskins, Katene Paenga, Ruth Lemon, Heather O’Neil, Jamie Denton, Richard Durham (Faculty of Education and Social Work)

The School of Learning, Development and Professional Practice is exploring strategies to engage students and colleagues in our commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi. In partnership with colleagues in Te Puna Wānanga, we wanted to provide an innovative response to the following objective of the university: Develop and implement strategies to assist all staff and students to have a knowledge and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi relevant to [our] discipline. The focus was to enhance students’ understanding of historical and contemporary responsibilities as partners to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

As part of the project, a resource that can be used on the canvas online site was created to engage students at the beginning of their degree or diploma to develop an understanding of non-Maori history and responsibility to the Treaty. Prior to the project a module to enhance bicultural practice for staff and students did not exist in our programmes. The module is available on Canvas where students can interact with the Marae spaces at Epsom Campus as a 360 degree image. Embedded in the image are (1) links to important content knowledge on the powhiri process of engagement and (2). You tube video of different aspects of the powhiri process.

The grant supported design collaborations across the faculty, including teaching staff and colleagues from the digital team and Te Puna Wanaga with ongoing work throughout the year. The resource was trialled with colleagues who teach in undergraduate, graduate diploma and postgraduate courses. The development of this resource in Canvas provides flexibility as it can be used by different programmes and courses. It can also be used within face-to-face and online facilitation. It provides students and staff with access to important knowledge of engagement in developing understanding of bicultural identities of all people of Aotearoa New Zealand and increased understanding and responsibility to Te Tiriti o Waitangi today.