Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions

Students will engage with design thinking as a creative and cultural practice, drawing on toi Māori — the arts as an expression of whakapapa, identity, and community values — to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Students will explore how Māori artistic traditions embody sophisticated design thinking rooted in tikanga and te ao Māori.

Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria

• ✅ I can apply the design thinking process (empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test) to a creative challenge.
• ✅ I can identify how Māori visual arts traditions reflect design principles and cultural values.
• ✅ I can evaluate my design process and explain how I incorporated feedback to improve my work.

Differentiation & Inclusion

Scaffold support: Provide step-by-step design thinking templates for entry-level access. Offer extension tasks requiring students to independently identify a community need and develop a prototype solution, integrating cultural design principles.

ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach design vocabulary (prototype, iteration, empathy, ideation). Allow students to sketch ideas before writing. Visual communication is a valid mode of expression in arts and design contexts.

Inclusion: Offer choice in materials and media to ensure access for all learners. Neurodiverse learners benefit from clear task structure, visual exemplars, and the tactile nature of prototyping. Ensure the classroom environment supports creative risk-taking without judgment.

Mātauranga Māori lens: Connect design thinking to toi Māori — the mauri (life force) in creative work, the role of whakapapa in informing aesthetic choices, and the principle that great design serves the wellbeing of the collective (whanaungatanga). Explore how Māori weaving, carving, and tā moko embody iterative design processes refined over generations.

Prior knowledge: No specialist prior knowledge required. Best positioned after foundational arts exploration.