A Transdisciplinary Approach to Teaching Social Practice: Master of Social Practice at Unitec New Zealand

Cultural Pedagogy and Transformative Learning: Reflections on Teaching in a Māori Environment in Aotearoa/New Zealand

“…I never felt so connected to an inanimate object in my life. (Napan, 2013, K. Napan, personal communication, October 22, 2018)…”

“…The principles of ako permeated the spirituality and social practice course taught in the Master of Social Practice transdisciplinary program offered at Unitec from 2004 to 2016. The program was envisaged to transcend disciplinary boundaries and provide a space for advanced practitioners to engage with novel ideas and creative ways of carrying out social practice (Napan, 2013; Napan & Connor, 2014).…”

“…I never felt so connected to an inanimate object in my life. (Napan, 2013, K. Napan, personal communication, October 22, 2018)These sensations come unexpectedly and contribute to the transformative aspect of learning but only if a student or a teacher was open to it. If not, this remained only a memorable sensation that, frequently, kept bringing people back to this amazing place of collaborative learning.…”

“…Elements of the ACCI process in this particular situation merged with principles that are embedded in a Māori worldview and pedagogy. For an effective application of ACCI to manifest, seven qualities need to be present, all of which are compatible with the notion of ako and Māori learning principles (Napan, 2017). These qualities are context, trust, relevance, choice, flow, integration, and integrity.…”