LEARNING DESIGN THROUGH A MAURI-CENTRIC LENS

Lee Turner from Skillpod explores an approach that’s culturally relevant and inclusive in any context, leaving learners with all the right feels.

OK, so you’re a designer tasked with the mahi (work) of designing a module based on the content supplied by the subject matter expert. You jump in from your usual starting point. Maybe it’s aligning with the business strategy, identifying the performance gap or thinking about the theory that informs your choices.

These are all good, but I also like to make sure there is consideration of mauri from the outset of a project.

Mauri is the life force and source of emotions, present in everyone and everything. It’s what makes us unique, gives us energy, and connects our physical tinana with our wairua (spiritual being). Applying a mauri-centered lens means we take a more holistic approach when we create learning, to not just develop cognitively but to tautoko (support) spiritual, emotional and social wellbeing.

Yup, it’s a biggie to foster all of these things in a little microlearn but by considering the whole person and their wellbeing we have the opportunity to impact not just workplace behaviours but also whānau (family) and community. It can help us to connect with a person’s sense of identity and belonging. To create content and experiences that are culturally relevant, inclusive and respectful to strengthen akonga mauri and their connection to the learning.

There are many ways that we can approach mauri-centred design, with subtle choices resulting in a big impact when it comes to designing for meaningful, regenerative and purpose-driven learning. We can start by considering how we welcome people into the experience. This aligns with the concept of manaakitanga in te ao Māori. It’s a value commonly described as kindness, hospitality, generosity and support. It’s actually a much deeper concept but as with most Māori kupu there isn’t a way to literally translate without losing the depth of the concept.

The way we welcome learners, with written, visual and audio can have a huge impact on engagement and belonging. Try asking “how does the introduction to this learning make you feel” and you might be surprised how many times the emotional reaction is little to nothing. Does the introductory text or audio make you feel welcome, do you see yourself reflected in the content and design choices? Are the objectives of the learning expressed in a way that you can connect to in your context or are they a set of bullet points that leave you cold?

As we move through the design process we can also contemplate how the experience is contributing to the growth of individuals both within the professional context and their personal lives. If we develop activities and resources that allow akonga to bring their context in rather than us providing the scenarios, we provide opportunities for the learning to be deeper and transferable. For example, when we think about skills for minimising conflict we can call on learners to share their wider experiences beyond just workplace conflict. I’m pretty sure I’ve developed some high-level conflict resolution skills with four teenage daughters that could be applied to a professional context!

By acknowledging the whole person and what they bring we encourage a sense of belonging and value their mauri. We need to move beyond generic, static content and instead be looking to embed authentic pūrākau and opportunities for learners to make connections and apply reflective thinking. We need to design with care, respect and the understanding that the real value in any learning experience is in the people it serves, uplifting and empowering mauri.

Popoia te kakano kia puawai. Nurture the seed and it will blossom.

Lee Turner is one half of Kim and Lee - two learning geeks from Aotearoa who are on a mission to raise the recognition of Human Skills and the power they have to help real people achieve their potential.

Lee comes armed with 25 years as an educator with a masters in eLearning and Kim with a background in design and engagement. Together they are smashing your microlearning experience with Skillpod. Connect with Lee here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-lee-turner/