Posted on 3 March 2020
Open Polytechnic and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (TWoA) are working in an innovative partnership to digitise course content for one of New Zealand’s largest te reo Māori programmes.
The project involves converting Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Te Ara Reo Māori programme for blended delivery on Open Polytechnic’s iQualify online learning platform, including face-to-face teaching and learning support provided by TWoA tutors.
Along with deploying the iQualify platform, redevelopment work includes creating digital content and audio and video features.
Open Polytechnic Chief Executive, Dr Caroline Seelig, says the collaboration is a good example of two tertiary organisations combining their respective strengths for the benefit of New Zealand.
“Open Polytechnic is New Zealand’s specialist online learning provider and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is the largest Māori tertiary education organisation, so it’s exciting to be able to work together on such an important project.
“We developed iQualify because we wanted a truly learner-centric online learning platform that met our needs but that was also very flexible in the way it could be used by partners.
“It’s great to be able to work with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa as they innovate and move into blended learning.”
Te Taiurungi – Chief Executive Officer – of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Ururoa Flavell, says the organisation has embraced the iQualify teaching and learning delivery platform. He says iQualify was helping to transform tauira and their whānau towards success in education.
“It has transformed how we move our delivery models to include an online and digitally-blended learning medium.”
“The interactive approach for students through technology and face-to-face delivery, marae experience, and practical exercises allows us to continue providing our programme nationwide to address the appetite the country has for the Māori language. So our collaboration with the Open Polytechnic has been hugely beneficial to both of us and will excite potential learners.
“The collaboration experience with Open Polytechnic throughout this redevelopment project has been vast and mutually beneficial.”