Online Courses

Check out our series of short courses on FutureLearn! These free courses will live on FutureLearn as a professional learning and development tool for current and future culture & heritage educators in our sector going forward.

All of our courses were created with your needs and schedules in mind- they are short (2-6 weeks, 2-3 hours a week), flexible (take part when it suits you), free, and practical. We want you to use these without pressure, in the ways that best suit you. They are also designed to allow you to discuss and ask questions of each other as you shape your practice, policies, and programmes through these courses.

Please join us for practical, free, flexible learning experiences- we look forward to learning with you!

Some info on our courses:

1. The courses are FREE, you do not need to go with the subscription option, a free account is all you need.

2. The nature of the free account is that you will have access to (for example) a four week course for four weeks from the date of signup. For that reason, we encourage you to time your sign-up for when you hope to have a little time to engage with the topic, e.g., the school holidays may be a good time for you to sign up!

4. The courses are for you to use as suits you. You do not need to work through all the content in order, especially if time is precious. We encourage you to rifle through the content and spend time in sections that are most interesting or useful to you.

Learning During and After COVID-19:
Developing Online Education Programmes

While we are enjoying the return of our tamariki to our institutions in person, we all recently learned that creative solutions and new skills are crucial to future-proofing the valuable education services and access to taonga we offer.


Digital and distance offerings are a valuable add-on to our in person programmes, and allow us to reach a much broader audience than we otherwise could.


We must also be prepared for and anticipate further waves of illness, and the precautions that come along with that. It is more important than ever that we ensure our sector has the skills and knowledge to roll with punches, whatever lies in store.


Enriching curriculum through culture and heritage in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Aotearoa features a unique education system that celebrates its diverse cultural heritage.
On this four-week course, you’ll explore these frameworks and learn how culture and heritage organisations can enhance teaching and learning practices.


  • Discover the connection between cultural heritage and education

  • Learn how to enrich experiences of multicultural education

  • Explore bicultural, formal education within the context of Aotearoa

  • Develop teaching and learning strategies for culture and heritage organisations within the New Zealand curriculum



Best Practices for Culture and Heritage Education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Teaching in the culture and heritage sector in Aotearoa New Zealand can differ widely depending on the setting.
On this six-week course, you will:

  • Develop reflective practice techniques and teaching strategies

  • Create inclusive education environments and learning programs

  • Improve collaborative school and community engagement

  • Expand your understanding of educational policies, from child protection to health and safety

Object-Based Learning (OBL) in the Cultural Heritage Sector of Aotearoa New Zealand

Examine the impact of object-based learning within the stimulating learning environments of culture and heritage contexts.
On this three-week course, you will:

  • Identify the advantages of object-based learning in cultural heritage contexts

  • Learn how to set up handling collections and touch tours using OBL

  • Explore the unique aspects of Māori artefacts

  • Enrich teaching and learning opportunities within the culture and heritage sector

Connecting Across the Culture and Heritage Sector in Aotearoa New Zealand

Focusing on the cultural sector in Aotearoa New Zealand, you’ll discover how to collaborate and interact with educators nationally and around the world, sharing practice and deepening your understanding of education beyond the classroom. Develop your knowledge of networking practices in the context of culture and heritage organisations

On this two-week course, you will:

  • Develop your professional learning network

  • Learn what it means to be a connected practitioner

  • Build connections using digital media tools

  • Further your professional outreach as a digital citizen