Decolonized Assessment Framework

Honoring Māori and Western Knowledge Systems | Aromatawai-ā-Iwi

An assessment philosophy and practice framework that honors both mātauranga Māori and contemporary educational approaches, prioritizing holistic development, community connection, and authentic learning demonstration.

The Problem with Colonial Assessment

What We Reject:

  • Individual competition over collective learning
  • Standardized tests that ignore cultural context
  • Assessment disconnected from community
  • Single-moment, high-stakes evaluation
  • Academic knowledge privileged over practical wisdom
  • Assessment as punishment or control

What We Center:

  • Collective achievement and peer support
  • Cultural protocols and community involvement
  • Ongoing portfolio development and reflection
  • Multiple ways of demonstrating knowledge
  • Integration of practical and academic learning
  • Assessment as celebration and growth tool

Mātauranga Māori Assessment Principles

Whakatōhea

Collective responsibility and mutual support

  • • Students support each other's learning
  • • Group achievements celebrated
  • • Peer teaching and mentoring
  • • Shared accountability for class success

Whakapapa

Connections to whānau, iwi, and community

  • • Learning connected to family and place
  • • Community members involved in assessment
  • • Sharing learning with whānau
  • • Understanding learning as gift to ancestors

Manaakitanga

Caring for others through learning and knowledge

  • • Assessment creates opportunity to help others
  • • Knowledge shared generously
  • • Learning used to serve community needs
  • • Respect and care in all interactions

Mauri Ora

Holistic wellbeing and life force enhancement

  • • Assessment considers spiritual, emotional, mental, physical
  • • Focus on growth rather than judgment
  • • Recognition of different learning styles
  • • Celebration of unique gifts and strengths

Te Rōpū Aromatawai - Assessment Methods

1. Portfolio Development - Te Kete Mātauranga

Learning Journey Documentation

  • • Reflection journals with regular entries
  • • Photo documentation of learning experiences
  • • Audio recordings of oral presentations
  • • Video reflections on growth and challenges

Knowledge Artifacts

  • • Research projects and investigations
  • • Creative works (art, poetry, performance)
  • • Community action projects
  • • Traditional knowledge explorations

Community Connections

  • • Whānau interview recordings
  • • Community member feedback
  • • Service learning documentation
  • • Cultural protocol demonstrations

2. Community Presentations - Hui-ā-Whānau

Formats & Approaches

  • • Traditional oral presentations with cultural protocols
  • • Multimedia storytelling combining digital and traditional
  • • Performance-based demonstrations (haka, waiata, drama)
  • • Interactive workshops teaching others
  • • Community forums on local issues

Audience & Purpose

  • • Whānau and extended family members
  • • Local community organizations and leaders
  • • Younger students as learning audience
  • • Policy makers and decision makers
  • • Cultural practitioners and kaumātua

3. Peer Teaching & Mentoring - Ako-ā-Tamariki

Teaching Opportunities

  • • Older students teaching younger classes
  • • Peer tutoring and study group leadership
  • • Community workshop facilitation
  • • Digital content creation for learning
  • • Cultural practice teaching and modeling

Assessment Focus

  • • Clarity of explanation and communication
  • • Cultural appropriateness and respect
  • • Ability to adapt to different learning styles
  • • Patience, kindness, and encouragement
  • • Collaborative learning environment creation

4. Community Action Projects - Mahi-ā-Iwi

Project Types

  • • Environmental restoration
  • • Cultural preservation initiatives
  • • Social justice campaigns
  • • Community garden projects
  • • Youth leadership programs

Assessment Criteria

  • • Community benefit and impact
  • • Collaboration and teamwork
  • • Cultural protocol observance
  • • Innovation and creativity
  • • Sustainability and long-term thinking

Documentation

  • • Process journals and reflection
  • • Community feedback collection
  • • Impact measurement and evaluation
  • • Media documentation of progress
  • • Future planning and handover

Inenga Aromatawai - Assessment Rubrics

Holistic Growth Assessment

Dimension Beginning (Timatanga) Developing (Tipu) Proficient (Matatau) Advanced (Tohunga)
Cultural Identity Exploring connection to culture Growing cultural confidence Strong cultural grounding Cultural leadership and mentoring
Critical Thinking Beginning to question narratives Analyzing different perspectives Independent critical analysis Sophisticated systems thinking
Community Connection Learning about community Participating in community Contributing to community Leading community initiatives
Collaboration Working with others Supporting group goals Facilitating group processes Building consensus and resolving conflict
Innovation Following established approaches Adapting existing solutions Creating original solutions Systems-level innovation and design

LF Team Integration - Collaborative Assessment

LF_English Integration

  • • Oral communication assessment in cultural contexts
  • • Persuasive writing for social justice
  • • Media literacy and critical analysis
  • • Storytelling across multiple genres

LF_STEM Integration

  • • Scientific observation and data collection
  • • Mathematical modeling of social systems
  • • Technology design with cultural protocols
  • • Environmental science and kaitiakitanga

LF_TheArts Integration

  • • Performance as knowledge demonstration
  • • Visual arts for social commentary
  • • Digital media and creative expression
  • • Cultural arts and traditional practices

LF_Te_Ao_Māori Alignment

  • • Cultural protocol assessment
  • • Te Reo Māori integration
  • • Traditional knowledge validation
  • • Whakapapa and identity development

LF_LiteracyNumeracy Support

  • • Culturally responsive literacy assessment
  • • Numeracy in social and cultural contexts
  • • Multiple literacies recognition
  • • Traditional counting and measurement systems

All Kaiako Collaboration

  • • Community assessment partnerships
  • • Cultural authenticity validation
  • • Specialist knowledge areas
  • • Real-world application assessment

Implementation Protocols

Immediate Actions for Monday Prototype

Assessment Tool Development

  • • Create portfolio templates for each unit
  • • Develop community presentation guidelines
  • • Design peer teaching assessment forms
  • • Build action project evaluation rubrics

LF Team Coordination

  • • Share assessment frameworks with all LFs
  • • Coordinate cross-curricular assessment approaches
  • • Establish Kaiako consultation protocols
  • • Plan community engagement for assessment

Assessment as Celebration of Learning

Our assessment approach transforms evaluation from a tool of judgment into a celebration of growth, learning, and community contribution. Students are assessed not just on what they know, but on how they use that knowledge to serve others and build a more just world.

"Mā te huruhuru ka rere ai te manu" - With assessment as feathers, our students learn to fly.