Position

Senior lecturer

Teaching areas

Initial Teacher Education, Bachelor of Education (Primary, Pasifika)

Biography

Zeba is passionate about growing teachers and the mahi they do to build our future citizens. She believes that learners of the 21^st century need educators who are not only learner-focused but also future-focused.

Zeba began her education career in South Auckland as a primary school teacher. Throughout her 20-year career in education, she has taught across year levels and undertaken many roles such as Transition leader, ESOL Coordinator, Associate Principal, and most recently Deputy Principal and in Communities of Learning (COLs).  

Her experience as SENCO and Masters in and Speech-Language Therapy have contributed to her expertise around Special Learning Needs. Zeba completed her Master’s thesis researching the language development of young children from bilingual backgrounds.

Why I love MIT

I love being part of a great team who are focused on creating transformational teachers who will inspire, motivate, and succeed our ākonga.

What it's like to study at MIT

Studying at MIT means working with tertiary staff who are experienced and dedicated to their students. We offer small class sizes and personalised learning experiences to support our ākonga with their educational aspirations.

Our BEd Primary Pasifika programme is truly one of a kind. Through School-based learning our students have increased opportunities to experience life as a teacher; and the integration of Pasifika principles, reflects the diversity of our local context.

Publications

Gadd, M; Parr, J; Robertson; Carran, L; Ali, Z; Gendall, L; Watson, K,      (2019).  Portrait of the student as a young writer: some student survey findings about attitudes to writing and self-efficacy as writers; Literacy UKLA; https://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12178. 54(4)  226-235)

Parr, J; Gadd, M; Carran, L; Robertson, J; Watson, K; Gendall, L; Ali, Z, (2018). Generating positive outcomes by Years 5 to 8 priority learners in writing: An inquiry into effective teacher practice. Teaching and Learning Research Initiative

Ali, Z,  (2013). Early Lexical Development in Hindi speaking toddlers in New Zealand (Master’s thesis) University of Auckland, ResearchSpace@Auckland,  http://hdl.handle.net/2292/19948

Research interests

Zeba is an emerging researcher. She has broad interests around literacy and future-focused learning. Her previous research involvements have been in bilingual language development and teacher pedagogy in writing.

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