Sailiga tomai ma malamalama’aga fa’a-Pasifika—Seeking Pasifika Knowledge to Support Student Learning: Reflections on Cultural Values Following an Educational Journey to Samoa

Abstract

Transforming practices in initial teacher education and school and early childhood education contexts to support the success of Pasifika students and children can be challenging. Palagi educators, in particular, may find their practices are constrained by bureaucratic systems, processes and professional norms in ways that limit thinking about and responses to different ways of being and doing. Drawing from the experiences of a diverse group of educators during an educational journey to Samoa led by an esteemed Samoan leader, colleague and mentor, this article argues culturally based pedagogy holds the key to thinking and moving beyond some of these constraints. The article suggests that understanding Pasifika cultural values and integrating these into pedagogy is a critical first step for educators, before concluding with several practice messages. While these messages focus on Pasifika communities, students and children, they can be adapted for other ethnic groups.

Sustaining the Integration of Technology Pedagogies in Higher Education after the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The use of technologybased pedagogies profoundly changed instruction in higher education institutions (Marcelo & Yot-Domínguez, 2019). Integrating technology in the teacher training process made it simpler to transition to a student-centred learning model where the lecturer no longer has entire control of the learning process, but students are leading in their own learning (Surtees et al, 2021). Learning management systems (LMSs) are currently a crucial part of the instructional process for higher education students (Turnbull et al, 2021).…”