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Inclusive Education

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Date
18 September 2025
Link
inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/supporting-pacific-learners/ask-the-student-what-will-help-and-consider-a-learner-profile

Ask the learner what will help

Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Knowing your Pacific learners and their contexts’.

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Find out about students

Find out about students

Kaiako and ākonga talk about creating environments with students at the centre, where Pacific students have the focus and learning support they need.

Video hosted on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/120408493

Source: Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | The Ministry of Education

Closed Captions

Support self-advocacy with learner profiles

Support self-advocacy with learner profiles

Create opportunities where students can tell you what supports their learning and what gets in the way.

Having students create a learner profile for themselves is a great way to have them develop a better and fuller understanding of who they are as learners ...

This develops their independence and places them in a better position to self-advocate for the tools, learning materials, and presentation options that can optimise their learning experiences.

Naryn Searcy

Source: UDL Resource (opens in a new tab/window)

Source:
UDL Resource

Build an interactive profile of your learner

Build an interactive profile of your learner

Provide alternatives to traditional learner profiles that are more student-interactive, engaging, and inclusive.
  • Important people
  • Cultural connections and experiences
  • Languages spoken
  • Things the student is good at
  • Memorable life experiences
  • How they like to unwind and relax
  • Likes and interests
  • Dislikes and things they avoid
  • How they like to learn and what helps
  • Things that make it hard for them to learn
  • What they do when they need help.

Innovate with getting to know your learner

Innovate with getting to know your learner

Learner profiles can help school staff build relationships with ākonga and their whānau, understand their perspectives and design learning to meet learner needs. There are many creative and innovative ways to build knowledge about your learner.

Creative alternatives to learner profiles:

1. All About Me Interviews

  • One-on-one chats with a teacher or peer using simple, structured questions.
  • Use visuals or yes/no prompts.
  • Record answers through voice, video, or drawing:
  • "What do you like at school?"
  • "What helps you learn?"

 

2. Video Introductions / Self-Presentations

  • Learners record short videos introducing themselves.
  • They can show their strengths, interests, and needs.
  • Great for visual and verbal expression — use prompts or interview formats.

 

3. Photo Collages or Vision Boards

  • Learners select photos of people, places, things, or activities they like.
  • Use magazines, printed photos, or digital tools (like Canva or Book Creator).
  • Add labels or short captions if appropriate.

 

4. Learning Choice Baskets

  • Use a basket or box filled with objects that represent learning preferences (e.g., headphones, timer, picture of a friend, fidget, iPad).
  • The learner selects what helps them learn best.
  • You can record their choices as a profile.

 

5. Interactive Poster or Wall Display

 Create a classroom wall or board where learners can add post-its or pictures under categories:

“I feel calm when…”

“I like learning with…”

“I want to get better at…”

Useful resources

Useful resources

Website

PATH Planning

PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) is an ākonga and whānau centred approach to meeting specific learner needs.

Publisher: Interactionz

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Know your Pacific learners”:

Return to the guide “Supporting Pacific learners”

11440 [Pasifika-students.jpg]

Supporting Pacific learners

How to use this site

Guide to Index of the guide: Supporting ākonga Māori

Understand:

  • How to use this guide

Strategies for action:

Key resources:

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This is a Ministry of Education initiative​​​​​​​. We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes.

This information was downloaded/printed from the Ministry of Education's website "Inclusive Education". Except where otherwise noted it is Crown Copyright 2018.

Information on the Inclusive Education website is regularly updated so we recommend you check the website version of this information to ensure it remains current.