ACE Aotearoa has been awarded an Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation grant to enable study into the efficacy of Teaching and Learning Circles (TLC) within the adult learning environment. Specifically, the research will investigate how the implementation of TLCs in adult and community education influences teaching and learning practices, including identification of perceived benefits and challenges as well as impacts on learner outcomes.
The eight-month research project will be led by Dr Cherie Chu-Fuluifaga, a highly accomplished and respected researcher with expertise in Pacific education and the experiences of underrepresented learners. Her previous research projects have focused on identifying and promoting effective strategies to support the educational success and wellbeing of Pacific learners in Aotearoa New Zealand for Ako Aotearoa. Dr Fuluifaga will be supported by ACE Aotearoa Sector Capability Manager, Tai Samaeli and Teaching Standards Advisor, Jennifer Leahy. Cherie will lead the research component of the project while Jennifer and Tai are facilitating the workshops. The two sites selected to pilot the Teaching and Learning Circles are Far North REAP and Hagley Adult Literacy Centre.
The research supports the ACE Aotearoa philosophy of enhancing educational experiences through innovative and reflective teaching strategies and collaborative learning approaches.
TLCs serve as a cooperative and reflective platform that enables and facilitates educators to engage in professional development to enhance teaching practices by providing a supportive space to share experiences, exchange ideas and reflect on their teaching methods. From this collaborative concept starting point, we anticipate that our educators will feel more confident about the adoption of more innovative teaching strategies and classroom techniques. These will also be shared more widely amongst educators with a shared vision.
TLCs are acknowledged for promotion of continuous professional growth. They allow educators to expand their knowledge, gain new insights and deepen their understanding of effective teaching methods. This environment then encourages peer learning and mentorship, facilitating educators’ learning from each other’s experiences and expertise.
ACE Aotearoa and Ako Aotearoa expect to see some progressive outcomes from the TLCs, including improvements in teaching practices as educators adopt innovative strategies and refine their classroom management techniques through shared experiences and collaborative reflection. The project will also likely lead to significant professional growth among educators as they gain new insights and deepen their understanding of effective pedagogical methods via peer mentorship and continuous development opportunities.
We will report on the research project as we progress through the various research phases, says ACE Chief Executive Officer | Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Hannah Pia Baral.
“This is an exciting opportunity not just for the researchers involved in the project, but also for the dedicated teams that deliver adult learning programmes across Aotearoa and our ākonga who look to us to ensure delivery at the highest levels of professionalism. This will enable the exploration of new models of best practice delivery, all of which are focused on better outcomes for ākonga. We are excited about the potential of this project and we look forward to sharing outcomes with the wider ACE sector,” Hannah says.