What is a knowledge system?
In this recorded webinar Pauline Waiti and Rosemary Hipkins explore the idea of knowledge systems with examples from science and mātauranga Māori.
The report Enduring Competencies for Designing Science Learning Pathways introduced the idea of exploring both science and mātauranga Māori as knowledge systems. Thinking about knowledge as a system is likely to be an unfamiliar idea for many teachers. In this webinar we unpack the metaphor, using familiar science concepts to show which of them might be appropriately explored through both knowledge lenses (i.e. science and mātauranga Māori) and when this might not be helpful.
This is an awesome and profoundly important and vital discussion – this discussion today has helped me heaps.
Teacher
The aim of the session is to show how our thinking habits and frameworks are influenced by our primary knowledge system, in ways that can be invisible to us. Having two knowledge systems to draw on is a taonga because it helps us become aware of differences in how we see the world that might otherwise remain hidden.
This was a perfect start to some critical thinking and reflection.
Participant
What is a knowledge system? – slideshow
This slideshow, from the webinar What is a knowledge system? provides additional support for the video tutorial.
Use the Slideshow menu for further options, including view full screen, and go here for the download option.
This session will be valuable for all educators.
You can download the video and slideshow presentation.
| Topic | Slideshow number(s) | Video timecode |
|---|---|---|
Introducing the Science Learning Hub and presenters | 1–2 | 00:00 |
Index | 3 | 00:29 |
Why ask the question ‘What is a knowledge system?’, definitions | 4–5 | 04:25 |
The CMP model applied to knowledge systems | 6 | 07:51 |
Unpacking knowledge systems – the Rena disaster | 7–11 | 11:00 |
Diffusion | 12 | 20:54 |
Cosmic phenomena | 13–14 | 25:17 |
Naming and grouping things | 15 | 27:56 |
Complex systems behaviour | 16 | 30:28 |
Emergence – fire | 17 | 31:37 |
Te reo o te Repo | 18 | 33:36 |
What ‘equal status’ might (and might not) look like… | 19–20 | 37:00 |
Participant questions | 21 | 48:41 |
SLH links, keep in touch and thanks | 22 | 53:41 |
Related content
Watch part 1 of : Enduring competencies for designing science learning pathways.
Watch part 3 of this webinar series: Learning benefits of a knowledge systems approach to science.
Science Learning Hub resources mentioned in the webinar include:
The video He awa whiria – braided rivers shares the analogy of a braided river for the weaving of knowledge streams.
Useful links
The article Enduring competencies for designing science learning pathways by Rosemary Hipkins, Sara Tolbert, Bronwen Cowie and Pauline Waiti introduces the idea of exploring both science and mātauranga Māori as knowledge systems.
Knowledge systems are complex, learn more about complex systems in Rosemary Hikpins’ book .
The initiative Mana ōrite mō te Mātauranga Māori supports equal status, support and resourcing for mātauranga Māori in NCEA.
References
Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there, Energy Research & Social Science , Volume 70, 2020, 101724, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101724.
Kaitiakitanga: Utilising Māori Holistic Conservation in Heritage Institutions. Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies , 20(1), p.2. https://doi.org/10.5334/jcms.215.
Acknowledgement
Thank you to Pauline Waiti and Rosemary Hipkins. Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrua.
