Unit rationale, description and aim
Through the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration, the Australian Governments have renewed their commitment to celebrating and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge and histories and ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are supported to imagine, discover and unlock their potential. The EDAB units in this course focus on developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pre-service teachers to become exceptional teachers and role models while exploring and developing their cultural identity, personal wellbeing.
This unit critically examines policies associated with Aboriginal identity, government and community, as well as Aboriginal people’s responses to these over time. The unit is embedded within Australian Aboriginal ontological frameworks enabling pre-service teachers to become more aware of local Aboriginal Knowings and knowledge sources. A range of expressions of Aboriginal cultures and identities through visual and performing arts will be explored.
The aim of this unit allows the pre-service teacher to explore and critically reflect on the concepts of Aboriginal ‘identity’, ‘heritage’ and ‘culture’ within diverse Australian contexts including their own identity.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Understand and contextualise Aboriginal relationsh...
Learning Outcome 01
Explore the concept of ‘identity’, ‘heritage’ and ...
Learning Outcome 02
Identify key features of culture and understand th...
Learning Outcome 03
Describe the interrelationships between past, pres...
Learning Outcome 04
Explore various genres and expressions of Indigeno...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander understandings of and relationships to ‘Country’
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander world views, Knowings and identities
- Theories of identity (Indigenous, national and global)
- Concept of Self Identity in an Australian government and now community context
- Concept of ‘Culture’: what is meant by culture and how do we identify
- Language/land/lore and their relationships to cultures and identities
- Diversity of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities considering rural, remote/isolated and urban communities
- Contemporary expressions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities in the visual and performing arts and elsewhere.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks and their weightings are designed to allow pre-service teachers to progressively demonstrate achievement against the unit learning outcomes. A range of assessment procedures are used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes and professional standards and criteria consistent with University assessment requirements. (http://www.acu.edu.au/policy/student_policies/assessment_policy_and_assessment_procedures).
This unit focuses specifically on APST 1.4 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and 2.4 Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The three assessment tasks are sequenced to allow feedback and progressive development of knowledge and understanding of the content. By completing Task 1 the pre-service teacher will have the opportunity to consider the concept of identity, heritage and culture. Task 2 builds on the ideas explored in task 1 through collaborative learning. Pre-service teachers will explore their ‘Aboriginal Identity’ and present their understandings in a culturally safe environment. In Task 3 will further explore conceptions of ‘Aboriginal Identity’ in society.
Minimum Achievement Standards
The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome.
In order to pass this unit, students are required to complete all required assessment tasks as per the Assessment Policy and gain an overall pass mark.
Electronic Submission, Marking and Return
Assessment task submission and return of marked assessment will be done through Turnitin on Canvas. Tasks will be marked and returned three weeks after the assessment is completed.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 On-line discussion of designat...
Assessment Task 1
On-line discussion of designated readings (between Residential Blocks) for personal reflection and critical analysis of the concepts of ‘Identity’, ‘heritage’ and ‘culture’.
30%
Assessment Task 2 Presentation on ‘Identity’, ‘H...
Assessment Task 2
Presentation on ‘Identity’, ‘Heritage’ and ‘Culture’.
In groups, participants will present their understanding of their own identity through story using a variety of mediums. Participants may use film, computer technology, song, dance, art and/ or any medium to explore their own personal feelings about identity. This will involve personal reflection as well as conversation with their student colleagues about their perceptions. Upon review of all presentations, participants will identify the different/similar understandings and experiences of ‘Aboriginal identity’.
40%
(20 minutes in class presentation)
Assessment Task 3 Essay: Critically analyse and...
Assessment Task 3
Essay: Critically analyse and reflect on the question below.
What is ‘Aboriginal identity’ in Australia today and what is the relevance of it in Indigenous education today?
30%
Assessment Task 1:
Online Discussion 1:
1. Read NSWAECG, (2011) ‘Aboriginality and Identity: Perspectives, Practices and Policies’
2. Reflect on your own personal feelings about the issues raised. Write a personal reflection which stories your journey as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. This is not a description of what you have read.
The following questions may help
- What does the paper say that identity is?
- What is the relationship between identity and culture?
- What is Aboriginal identity?
- Is Aboriginal identity important in Aboriginal education today?
- How do I relate to my Aboriginality?
- What is my personal identity?
3. Collate all reflections and the issues raised in the online discussion and add a new discussion post about your reflections
4. Reflect and comment on at least 2 other student’s entries.
Online Discussion 2:
Read either i) Dodson, M., (1994) The Wentworth Lecture. The end in the beginning: Re (de) finding Aboriginality’ in Australian Aboriginal Studies, 1994, vol.1 OR ii) Peters-Little, F., (2000) ‘The Community Game. Aboriginal Self-Definition at the Local Level’, in AIATSIS Research Discussion Paper, 2000, no.10
1. Reflect on your own personal feelings about the issues raised in your chosen paper. Write a personal reflection which stories your journey as an Aboriginal person. This is not a description of what you have read.
The following questions may help:
- What does the paper say that identity is?
- What is the relationship between identity and culture?
- What is Aboriginal identity?
- Is Aboriginal identity important in Aboriginal education today?
- How do I relate to my Aboriginality?
- What is my personal identity?
2. Collate your reflections and the issues raised in the online discussion and add a new discussion post about your reflections
3. Reflect and comment on at least 2 other students’ entries.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This course is offered in a multi-mode. Pre-service teachers are required to attend two compulsory residential schools on campus each semester and to complete course work and assignments within their home communities.
Teaching will include lectures, workshops, Talking Circles, presentations, Yarns and on-line discussions.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy.
AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL
On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:
Representative texts and references
Required text(s)
Australian Curriculum https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) www.acara.edu.au
Recommended references
Battiste, M., & Henderson, J. Y. (2000). Protecting Indigenous knowledge and heritage: A global challenge. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada: Purich.
Bird Rose, D. (1996). Nourishing terrains. Australian Aboriginal views of landscape and wilderness. Canberra, ACT: Australian Heritage Commission.
Blair, N. (2015). Aboriginal Education: More than adding perspectives. In Noelene L. Weatherby-Fell (Ed). Learning to Teach in the Secondary School. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.189-208.
Grossman M. (Ed) (2003). Blacklines: Contemporary critical writing by Indigenous Australians. Carlton, Vic: Melbourne University Press
Hampton, R., & Toombs, M. (2013). Indigenous Australians and health: The wombat in the room. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.
Heiss, A. (2012). Am I black enough for you? North Sydney, NSW: Random House Books.
Heiss, A., & Minter, P (Eds) (2008). Macquarie PEN anthology of Aboriginal literature. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin.
King, T. (2003). The truth about stories. A native narrative. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Moreton-Robinson, A. (2000). Talkin' up to the white woman: Indigenous women and feminism. St Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press.
Taylor, K. (Ed). for Neidjie, B. (1998). Story about feeling. Broome, WA: Magabala Books
Oxenham, D. (1999). A dialogue on Indigenous identity: Warts ‘n’ all. Perth, WA: Curtin University.