Ulearn 2020 - Keynote #1 -Janelle Riki-Waaka on redefining success for all learners

 Ulearn, the elearning conference for the schools sector in NZ, is now an online conference for this year. Since there have been a paucity of relevant conferences due to the pandemic, many of our team are attending this conference this year. Due to other work commitments, I will be viewing keynotes (2 today and 2 tomorrow) over the next few days and then thrawl through the other presentations at a later date for relevant presentations.

Janelle Riki-Waaka

Offered the opportunity to re-imagine learning and also the associated outcome of success. Encouraged teachers to hope on the ‘waka’ which aligned with their objectives. Everyone in the waka needs to paddle in the same direction and therefore aspirations of all in the waka needs to be the same.

How do we define success? Not one definition of success works for all learners so it is important to work out what success means. Queried whose voice is missing from the conversation? Need to ensure we have all, who are impacted on, to provide their perspectives. Will learning has designed contribute to learners’ aspirations. How can we discover the unknown potential in our learners? Education is to help learners find out about what they are good at, their passion and attributes. Need to remove the F word (failure) – as failure is not just something borne by the learner. Important to not only teach the engaged but also re-engage those who are unsure about their educational purpose. Shared her experiences at school and compared to those of her son twenty plus years later. Onus still put on learners to be responsible for their learning but not all have the social capital or support to ‘succeed’. Important to look at the overall system and to gauge the ways individual learners and their supporters view success. The current emphasis on ‘school-based’ definitions of success needs to be re-negotiated. Some of the traits of independent thinking and assertiveness, are not necessarily supported at school. Instead, the predominant cultural viewpoint is sustained, leading to dis-engagement but those whose ideals do not match. Challenged teachers to reimagine success in a uniquely Aotearoa way. Quoted Ta Aparina Ngata’s call to not look to the past but to innovate into the future. Assimilation into the dominant culture, as the current school objective has not worked. Surveyed Maori and non-Maori adults as to what they considered was important at school. All value reading the most and Maori’s valued digital literacies above others. With skills, communications was highest. Problem solving, critical thinking, creativity also slightly higher valued by Maori. Attributes had kindness and respect being high valued. History and cultural awareness /heritage, valued higher by non-Maori. Overall, attributes were most valued followed by skills, than cultural awareness and then literacies.

Proposed the use of personalised criteria to measure success – based on attributes, skills, cultural values ad literacies. Grades may not always be appropriate. How do we grade an attribute – since it shifts with context, development and motivation. How do we grade being brave, able, bold?  A scaled approach to  show progress more informative and formative. Success needs to be defined by learners, not the system. Failure replaced by potential and passion!