Rate My Professor Lauren Wilson

Lauren Wilson serves as a Professional Practice Fellow at the University of Otago College of Education, based at the Invercargill campus. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) qualification from the Dunedin College of Education (BEd(Tchg)(DCE)), as listed in the University of Otago 2023 Calendar. In this capacity, she plays a key role in delivering initial teacher education programmes, with a focus on professional practice papers that integrate te ao Māori, bicultural approaches, and inclusive teaching strategies essential for educators in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Lauren Wilson lectures in EDCR155 Whakatakinga Marautanga me Tikanga ā Iwi, introducing students to the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. The paper examines influences shaping the education system, including whose voices, values, and beliefs are represented, the underpinning values, vision, key competencies, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, planning processes, and all curriculum learning areas. It covers Tikanga ā Iwi / Social Sciences, encompassing New Zealand history, culture and identity, social inquiry, and effective pedagogy. Learning outcomes include demonstrating awareness of Te Tiriti's significance, examining personal cultural understandings, understanding the structure and language of Tikanga ā Iwi, analyzing pedagogical approaches and stereotypes, and developing planning and assessment skills. She is also part of the teaching staff for EDPR251 Te Mātauranga, which explores Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership through whakapapa, pūrākau, whakataukī/whakatauāki, and tikanga o ngā iwi in various contexts like tāonga pūoro, rongoā, waiata, maramataka, rāranga, and toi. Additional topics include Pasifika education initiatives, constructions of culture and ethnicity, Universal Design for Learning, Deaf culture, professional relationships, ethical teaching, and inclusive practices. In EDCR301 Living Curriculum at Invercargill, she co-teaches on Te Whāriki as a socio-cultural bi-cultural curriculum, historical and contemporary influences, curriculum areas extending learning dispositions like responsibility, reciprocity, and resilience, bicultural implementation of te ao Māori, and community of learners in early childhood settings. Furthermore, she contributes to EDPR202 Relationships in Inclusive Settings, addressing effective relationships, family diversity, te reo Māori and tikanga in early childhood, and inclusive contexts for ability, gender, culture, poverty, spirituality, EAL learners, and heritage languages. Through these contributions, Lauren Wilson supports the development of culturally responsive teachers equipped for diverse educational environments.