ako is a Māori concept that refers to the reciprocal relationship between teaching and learning. It emphasises the idea that teachers are also learners and can learn from their students. In order to be an effective teacher, we must also be open to learning. The New Zealand Curriculum promotes this concept within their framework as a way to encourage all teachers to learn from their students and build positive relationships.
In a traditional teacher-centred environment, the teacher is considered the master of all knowledge and the deliverer of content for students to accept and retain. Students would sit in rows of desks and passively listen to their teacher talk. However, in a learner-centred environment, ako positions the teacher as a guide, who can learn and grow along with the students. As guides, we can seek to inspire learning through discovery, inquiry and shared learning experiences.
Students have opportunities to work together with their peers, share and express their opinions, expand their knowledge and be active participants in their own learning process. The Maori concept of tuakana-teina (older person-younger person) also draws on this idea that we can learn from each other, whether it is between teacher and student or peer to peer.
Students come from different backgrounds and have their own experiences, knowledge and ideas, which should be utilised in the classroom. Giving students a voice allows them to feel a sense of mana whenua (belonging). This approach acknowledges them as a valued member of the school community and an active participant in their own learning and the learning of others. This shifts the balance of power in the classroom. Students can teach the teacher or even teach their classmates. The teacher is not expected to know everything and should be willing to say ‘I don’t know but let’s find out together’.