Understanding Indigenous Education and Perspectives
Overview
This unit builds and strengthens students’ understanding and application of knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, identity, languages, histories, status, challenges, place-based pedagogies, contributions and perspectives in education settings. In particular, the unit facilitates deeper thinking when exploring and critically analysing key policies and curriculum documents that have shaped pedagogical approaches and content over time. Students will be exposed to the socio-political histories and deliberate how methods in the current frameworks connect traditional and contemporary perspectives from Aboriginal peoples leading to stronger cultural awareness and designing an authentic and meaningful curriculum.
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Demonstrate and apply a sophisticated understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on learning, and pedagogical approaches that can be effectively integrated to maximise student learning outcomes.
- Demonstrate a deep knowledge of global and local education policy surround Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and current positioning, and use critical thinking to analyse and understand the impact of education systems across time from a socio-political perspective.
- Apply critical thinking to understanding ethical approaches to designing and implementing learning programs that are responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, doing and being where meaningful and contextual tools are used to measure impact on student learning and wellbeing.
- Demonstrate contextual, innovative and ethical approaches to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and families to maximise opportunities for student learning, outcomes and life achievements as well as professional growth.
- Use high level problem-solving, critical and creative thinking to investigate complex local and global issues and curriculum frameworks that impact upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learning and masterfully articulate the implications of these issues and provide potential solutions to bring about positive change.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Study | Group | 50% | 4,5 |
| Report | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3 |
Content
- Policy, curriculum and positioning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in educational contexts.
- Students will navigate complexities of history and contemporary pedagogical approaches where they will critically locate curriculum frameworks, identify and engage educational resources and learn to articulate socially just philosophy and pedagogical approaches.  Students will investigate
- Place-based pedagogiesÂ
- Authentic, responsive and meaningful curriculum and learning opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
- Educational resources Â
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.