Thursday 21 January 2016

What is MDTA? What is Manaiakalani?



So you may know by now that I am lucky enough to be a MDTA student in the Manaiakalani cluster.

So what does that mean?

What is MDTA? What is Manaiakalani? 


To quote the Manaiakalani website, it is 'an education programme achieving significant improvement in student achievement outcomes for 12 mostly decile 1A schools in the Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure. This is Auckland’s oldest state housing community and 95 per cent of students are Māori and Pasifika. By offering students full digital citizenship, the Manaiakalani Programme is not only achieving improved educational results, but also realising the potential for enhanced employment and life outcomes for our students.'

So what does that look like in the community? The trust behind Manaiakalani focuses on 'schools delivering the Manaiakalani programme have the resources they need to make the most of the opportunities available through digital technologies'. The trust is made up of parents from within the community, as well as business people and philanthropists

Manaiakalani Trust has existed since 2011, and has 12 schools involved in the Manaiakalani cluster. There is now a Manaiakalani Outreach programme throughout New Zealand, with other schools joining in on the journey.


The Manaiakalani Digital Teacher Academy is one of the many things the Manaiakalani Trust supports, along with its many sponsors. I am lucky to be one of 10 students on board for a two year programme, where we teach full time in the Manaiakalani schools, and do a Digital Immersion programme as well. The digital programme involves doing a post graduate diploma (Education/Honours) at the University of Auckland.

In my everyday life, that means I work as a teacher full time, and study towards my Honours degree part time. I do get more time off school than a regular beginning teacher, as we one afternoon and one whole day a week at the university. 

My teaching is done at one of the Manaiakalani schools, where I co-teach with my mentor Archana (click here to view her professional learning blog). 

As a part of the MDTA programme, we get opportunities to present at GAFE and ULEARN, other schools within and outside of the cluster, and share our ever-growing knowledge.

It is going to a very stressful and busy two years, but wow, what an opporunity! 


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