Te Tairāwhiti students have been enthusiastic participants in the trial of a locally created, innovative new mobile app that rewards NCEA credits - Kaitiaki.

Scientist and igameandlearn.com IT developer Ian Ruru (Ngāti Porou) says Kaitiaki is the first Māori mobile game-based learning app developed to engage and educate New Zealand school children.

“Kaitiaki is a revolution for the education system because it is designed to deliver qualifications through a bilingual gaming platform. It is a fun way for our children to gain NCEA credits and is the perfect excuse for playing video games.”

Improving educational achievement in low decile schools is Ian’s motivation behind Kaitiaki. “New Zealand has one of the highest proportions of disengaged students of any OECD country. The majority of students in low decile schools are Māori and are more likely to leave school educationally disadvantaged,” says Ian.

"This disadvantage manifests itself in poor statistics around youth unemployment, social assistance, criminal offending and ill health. I propose that an accelerated roll-out of game-based e-learning to schools and improving the school-to-work transition will reduce youth unemployment and the resulting social issues."

With Whānau Integration, Innovation and Engagement Fund (WIIE) funding from Te Puni Kōkiri, and supported by the Tairāwhiti Whānau Ora Regional Leadership Group, all agree this exciting project is a way to get whānau totally engaged with their tamariki and their learning.

And if that’s not enough, Te Tairāwhiti Regional Director Mere Pohatu says Kaitiaki is an example of the creative enterprise happening in the Tairāwhiti region.

“Kaitiaki has been created locally using mātauranga Māori and the latest IT. The rural broadband roll out to remote schools has meant Kaitiaki has been able to be trialled in local schools and been a big hit with the kids. It’s also a fun way for whānau to engage with what their children are learning at school.”

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mangatuna principal Tania Crawford says Kaitiaki is a fun adventure game that could be played by all ages. “Our tamariki are learning about New Zealand marine biology and the Māori culture. As an added bonus this is one of the few iPad apps in Te Reo Māori. Tau ke!”

Ian says the app is proving to be popular with students because it integrates mātauranga Māori with Science. The game is designed around the biology of the kōura (crayfish). Ian’s cousin Wiremu Ruru plays the role of Tangaroa and instructs the players in Te Reo on how to become a kaitiaki (guardian or caretaker). Players learn and are assessed as they go through the levels of the game. Mastering the game comes with the ultimate reward of NCEA credits.

"Ultimately, Kaitiaki may herald a new genre of e-learning whereby improving student achievement results, in low decile schools, will improve outcomes for Māori youth."