Kristy Northcroft | The Floating Classroom - Te Wānanga Wai Whakarewa Webinar

Melinda Webber - Ngā Iho Pūmanawa: Māori Concepts of Giftedness

Melinda is a Professor of Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau / University of Auckland and Pou Matarua (Co-Director) of the Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Centre of Research Excellence. She leads a number of research projects focused on better understanding the effects of Māori student motivation and academic engagement, culturally sustaining teaching, localised curricula, and enduring school-family-community partnerships for learning. Whakapapa narratives provide a way for teachers and learners to understand the importance of kōrero tuku iho in comprehending their identities and relationships within their environments. In this presentation, Melinda discusses existing concepts of giftedness and use kōrero tuku iho to offer a new perspective on its meaning. By utilising the Mana Model as a framework, she suggests methods for redefining giftedness, exploring its manifestations, and identifying what taitamariki require to realize their potential. We are grateful to Kahu Pūtoi who have made this webinar available to Ako Panuku kaiako.