QTR&D Project: Maori Medium
The Quality Teaching Research and Development in Practice Project (QTR&D) is an exploratory research and development project, funded by the Ministry of Education. This project is intended to support teaching and learning within social studies/tikanga-a-iwi across Maori medium and Samoan bi-lingual/bi-literacy teaching settings. The outcomes of the QTR&D project will inform policy, and future research and development work with teachers in schools.
The purpose of the QTR&D project is to build on existing knowledge to understand more about quality teaching. QTR&D will be developed as a collaborative research and development process between Ministry, academics, research facilitators, schools, teachers, students and their parents/caregivers, whanau and communities. The project is based on the premise that teacher inquiry, supported by productive learning partnerships, is a critical contributing factor to improving the quality of teaching and learning outcomes for diverse learners.
Project PrinciplesThe project principles underpinning the research and development design of the QTR&D project will include:
- a recognition that ‘culture counts’
- ako (reciprocal teaching and learning)
- the need for productive partnerships and co-construction of knowledge / learning processes
- the need for multiple, structured opportunities to learn
- the need for high quality evidence-based practices linked to enhanced Māori student and Pasifika student outcomes
- the need for collective inquiry processes which engage teachers’ personal theories; and
- the need for culturally inclusive and responsive learning communities.