MIT2020; School Hall scenario bringing a wide range of perspectives to the challenge ( a confronting experience for some!)

MIT Seaside Hui

MIT teachers came together at a Seaside Hui to begin work on the design process of creating a digital tool to address challenges faced within our Manaiakalani schools. 

Session 1

After a leisurely start to our day, swim on the beautiful beach, breakfast and morning coffee we came together for the first time as a group.

Activity: Role Play

Dorothy and Matt welcomed us into a 'mock' school hall to a 'whanau hui' to discuss some of the issues within our local Coromandel School.  

We were each given a card with the character we were to play, all concerned parents interested in the challenges that were to be discussed.

As each challenge was presented (by Matt the 'Acting Principal') we were to voice our concerns and opinions from the perspectives of the character we were playing. Dorothy (playing an ERO officer visiting the school) gave another level of perspective, the possible perspective of the Ministry of Education and the questions they may ask regarding the challenges we have identified. 

To be fair it took me a while to work out that the challenges we were role-playing were in fact, each of the challenges we had identified in our Moonshot Proposals. When I did it was actually really confronting to hear other perspectives of parents who saw this challenge differently to me. It also illustrated that actually, the challenge that I had identified was not actually the problem that I needed to focus on. It became apparent through this process that the challenge was in fact:

Partnering with Whanau to implement the school-based ENGAGE programme at home. 

How can we communicate better with Whanau so they can be partners in the Programme, empowering all parties involved?