Te aro ki ngā wero - Approaching challenges  

Finding ways to approach challenges. Using the Element, Challenge and Approach cards, along with the Approaching challenges activity sheet, learners can find ways to approach challenges. Learners can select Approach cards to help them find a starting point, make connections and explore their reasons why. Using this methodology, learners can develop a holistic approach to facing challenges, problem-solving and goal setting. 

Ata: Resource collection 

This activity is part of the Ata collection of resources. See the resource carousel below for more.

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Learners will 

• Explore existing and new areas of focus or interest. 
• Identify and explore strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement. 
• Identify a holistic, self-led approach to challenges, problem-solving and goal setting. 
• Describe where they are at in their learning and identify what their needs and strategies are. 
• Become empowered and resourceful in their learning strategies. 
• Develop a voice and contribute to an individual or collective learning pathway. 

Ways to use the resource 

• Use outcomes from the Developing strategies activity as a precursor to this exercise. 
• Use blank Ata cards to develop new challenges or perspectives. 
• Capture outputs in a format of your choice. 
• As a teacher, reflect on the same questions and compare the perspectives. 

Shown here: The Approaching challenges activity sheet with five cards placed on it. One Element card and a related Challenge card, along with three Approach cards. 

Instructions 

What you will need 

• Element, Challenge and Approach cards
• Approaching challenges activity sheets: One per person or group 

Activity 

1. Preparation 

Learners should have completed the Developing strategies activity or selected a challenge and its related element that they or their group wish to focus on. 

2. Prepare activity sheets 

You’ll need to print or photocopy one Approaching challenges activity sheet for each person or group. 

3. Defining an approach 

Take the pre-selected Element and Challenge cards and place them on the activity sheet. 

Locate the Approach cards. Select three questions from the cards that you’d like to explore as part of your approach to this challenge. 

4. Discuss and capture 

Using the selected approach questions, discuss and capture your responses in a format of your choice.. Based on your responses, develop a plan for approaching the challenge. 

5. Customise 

Using the questions on the Approach cards as a guide, develop and explore factors that will help you approach challenges. Use group discussion and blank Ata cards to capture your ideas. 

Downloads

See Materials that come with this resource to download:

• Ata blank cards (.pdf)
• The A3-size Ata Approaching Challenges activity sheets in pdf format. 
• Ata Approaching Challenges activity sheet (.pdf) 
• The Ata Approaching Challenges cards in jpg format. 
• Ata Approaching Challenges cards (.zip)
• The Ata Approaching Challenges cards on print-friendly A3-size pages. Files are in pdf format. 
• Ata Approaching Challenges cards (.zip)
• Teacher support material for the Ata Approaching Challenges activity. 
• Ata Approaching Challenges teacher support material (.pdf)

Next steps 

• Teachers can use insights to inform future lesson plans and areas of learning inquiry. 
• Use the strategies developed here in learning conversions using the Learning stories activity sheets. 
• Follow up on how learners are progressing with the Check-in activity sheet and Shift cards.