Contemporary Secondary Teaching Approaches for Aotearoa New Zealand
Learn about effective pedagogical approaches for secondary school teachers.
Course overview
Developed in partnership with PPTA and Victoria University of Wellington, this 5-point micro-credential course is taught over one school term. It includes online self-paced modules, 3 live online webinars and a one-day face-to-face workshop, with some small assessment activities. Full course enrolment costs are funded by the PPTA, including costs for travel to attend the workshop (more information on this is provided below under Further Information and once the course starts).
This micro-credential will be an opportunity for kaiako to get a taster of a range of topics to gain a deeper knowledge of effective pedagogical approaches to enable them to teach confidently and inclusively across all levels of secondary schooling.
In partnership with
What you'll learn
- Gender, cultural and neurodivergent identity
- Trauma informed approaches
- UDL and class differentiation
- Restorative practices
- Inquiry learning
- Collaborative learning
- Connected curriculum
- Effective pre-assessment
- Feedback and feedforward
- Planning for depth and complexity
- AI learning opportunities and challenges
Course modules
This micro-credential course is delivered as five modules over 10 weeks:
-
The Teenage Brain: Identity formation and relationships
-
Establishing Conditions for Autonomy: Fostering student agency
-
Building Mastery: Working within students’ “Goldilocks Zone”
-
Connecting Purpose: Secondary context and the “Real World”
-
The Tech World: AI in the classroom
Further Information
Format
This course combines online and in-person components. It begins with self-paced learning, followed by a 1-day in-person workshop, and three interactive webinars outside of school time. This blended approach allows flexibility while providing opportunities for face-to-face collaboration.
This micro-credential is total of 50 hours (5 points [Level 8, post-graduate]) of learning made up of:
- 1-day in-person workshop
- 3 x 90min webinars
- Self-paced learning modules
- Assessment and reflection tasks
Workload and Assessment
This micro-credential involves 50 hours of learning, including a 1-day in-person workshop, webinars, self-paced learning modules, and assessment tasks.
Assessments include:
- 2 assessments
Requirements to pass:
- Attend all webinars
- Attend in-person workshop
- Complete all assessments
What You'll Receive
This course is a university-approved micro-credential worth 5 points (Level 8, post-graduate), assessed to meet academic and industry standards. Upon successful completion, you will receive:
- A digital badge
- Academic credit recorded on your official Victoria University of Wellington academic transcript
All credentials include the total CPD/PLD hours completed.
University credits achieved may be used through ‘credit transfer’ to stack towards future qualifications. These digital credentials are portable, verifiable, and designed to support both your current role and long-term career advancement.
Reimbursements
The PPTA will cover travel, accommodation, and childcare costs, up to the total value of $500 (including GST), in order for you to attend the workshop. The cost of TRDs are not covered by the PPTA.
More information about reimbursements will be given upon registration and reimbursement forms will be available to course participants via email after the face-to-face workshop.
Contact
If you would like more information about this micro-credential, please email:
Crystal Collins
Programme Coordinator Education
or
Elizabeth Craker
Education Programme Manager
What is a Micro-credential?
A micro-credential is a formal credential that acknowledges specific skills and knowledge gained through learning programme or activity. These credentials are assessed and meet industry standards, allowing you to demonstrate mastery in particular areas. Our micro-credentials carry University credit at defined level (eg undergraduate or postgraduate) and credit may be used towards further learning. Micro-credentials are designed to be stackable, creating a pathway to further qualifications or career advancement.
Study towards a Master's degree using micro-credentials
This course has been developed to specifically focus on supporting secondary teachers to build classroom and leadership capability. By successfully completing this course and any two of the below micro-credentials participants achievement can be recognised towards the Master of Secondary School Leadership (MSSL) and Master of Education (MEd) programmes at Victoria University of Wellington, opening up potential further learning and career pathway opportunities.
Here's what others are saying
“Looking at things through a different lens opened my eyes to new ideas and ways of approaching things”
“This course has made me reflect on what I am currently doing that supports students across different levels and what broader decisions about my teaching I need to make to ensure the learning environment is effective”
Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options
04 Jul 2025 | Online
Duration: 10 weeks
Can’t make these dates or want a private course?
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