Andrew O’Connell, academic, coordinator of the “Perspectives in Aboriginal Education” unit at the University of Western Australia

Laurence Fewster, trainer at “Marr Mooditj”- Indigenous Training Organisation, Perth, Western Australia

Thematic area

AT and wider social issues (e.g. gender, environment, conflict, etc.) – in particular, Indigenous education and knowledges – privileging and prioritising Indigenous perspectives and knowledges by means of podcasting and how podcasting can be a means for teaching and learning concepts that are limited or constrained by existing curricul.

Abstract

This session will look at how technology – podcasting in this case – is instrumental for “Closing the gap” – a term used in Australia to mean “enabl(ing) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and governments to work together to overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians” (https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement) but a term, which can arguably be applied more broadly, in an international context, to mean building bridges with peoples and cultures currently excluded (for whatever reason) by existing educational frameworks and paradigms. We hope our specific example can and will be applied more broadly.

Target audience

Teachers who want to explore how podcasting can be a way to create resources not readily available for certain Learning Areas – in this case Indigenous Education and Indigenous knowledges – and how podcasting can be a tool for teaching and learning concepts that are still not fully developed in existing educational frameworks as well as knowledges not readily, or easily, communicated by existing educational paradigms.

Learning outcomes of the session

At the end of the session the participants will:

1. Have a deeper insight into ways in which current educational frameworks might be non-inclusive. 
2. Have a better understanding of how podcasting can be a tool to address gaps between learners and curricula – in particular:
   1. how podcasting can be a tool for promoting inclusivity by increasing accessibility to resources
   2. how podcasting can be a tool for creating new knowledge – knowledge that is not (or poorly) embodied by exisiting paradigms
   3. how podcasting can be a tool for teaching and learning knowledges not (easily) captured educational paradigms

Special requirements

None