AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL EDUCATION - Essay Example

Swarna1 ID 5488 Order # 137585 16 November 2006 Australian aboriginal education Theoretical perspectives for concept of positive educational experience for aboriginal communities:Theoretical perspectives for developing positive educational experience of indigenous communities in Australia must integrate all successful strategies experienced in various case studies. The main objective should be the enrichment of learning experience and preparing the students to participate in a more democratic and respectful society.

Several management practices for enhancing the student positive self concept must be given preference (FN1). It includes formation of strong instructional groups for meeting the academic and affective needs of students, positive interaction between teacher and students and regular feedback to the students regarding their learning progress. Usage of incentives and rewards for student and teacher motivation, special programmes for backlog students and higher involvement of community and parents are also important for developing positive self concept among the aboriginal students.

Research based school improvement projects like CTF (Creating The Future) developed by Northwest Regional Educational Library, U.S.A have to be implemented for better learning process in aboriginal students in Australia. Curriculum is to be prepared after consultation with Aboriginal education workers, teachers and local community members of Australia.Development of curriculum in proportion with cultural history of aboriginal students is to be done.Balanced coverage of rural and urban aspects is crucial.

Respect the native language of aboriginal community (FN 2) as it facilitates the learning process.Freeness in expression by the students must be the key. Balanced encouragement of both aboriginal and dominant languages (FN 3) is to be implemented.Selection of teachers with experience in aboriginal education is highly essential.Knowledge of social setting of aboriginal students plays vital role in better learning process.Student specific action plans must be given priority. Teachers with diverse linguistic knowledge have to be preferred.

Curriculum that generates interest by incorporating video, audio, digital images and work samples has to be ncorporated.Imparting training to the recruited teachers is vital for effective aboriginal education.Description of programme / concept / strategies :1. Preference will be given to identifying the level of understanding of the aboriginal students for better educational experience. The motto should be to enhance the student positive self concept.2. Curriculum will be prepared by thorough discussion with experienced teachers, aboriginal educational workers, policy makers, private agencies and local community members.3. Strategic educational programmes like CTF can be implemented which gives emphasis on thorough training to the teachers at different tiers. 4. Student feed back is must for improvisation.5. Social and cultural history of the students must be taken in to consideration.6. Student specific action plan has to be formulated and the teacher to student ratio has to be increased for effective communication.7. While selecting the teachers preference must be given to the experience and linguistic Knowledge.

This will facilitate the learning process.8. Urban and rural cultural attributes must be given equal preference. 9. More incentives to teachers working in remote villages to encourage their long stay with out drop out percentage.10. The content of the education must be informative and easily digestible with help of effective audio – video aids, digital maps and posters.11. Involvement of parents and taking their feedback would of immense help in promoting the interests of aboriginal education (FN 4).12. Conducting aboriginal sports and cultural day, and aboriginal awareness days would certainly help in arousing positive educational experiences.

Positive role of this concept for teachers of indigenous students in communicating indigenous communities:The teaching process involves more flexibility while delivering the message to aboriginal students. With the change in time, the necessity of aboriginal students will vary and hence it should allow the education in more flexible manner by incorporating new principles. By adding diversified aspects like student self concept, rural and urban mix up, cultural and social aspects, effective audio-video aids, and student specific needs these strategies would certainly help the teacher of indigenous students to deliver a better job.

Similarly, the encouragement given to the teachers in the form of incentives and selection of experienced and native teachers enhance the efficiency of teaching aboriginal students in Australia. Moreover, these strategies will provide a wider platform for teachers of indigenous students in understanding the needs and problems of students and formulating contextual class room teaching methods and hence they will be successful in generating positive educational experience among aboriginal communities in Australia.

ReferencesFN 1: Kathleen Cotton. 1993. Building Positive Student Self-Concept. Stevenson-Carson School District. Stevenson, Washington. North West Regional Educational Library. http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/7/snap25.html.FN 2: Lester Irabinna. 2001. Rigney Building Stronger Communities: Indigenous Australian Rights In Education and Language. Voice of the Land, volume 21. http://www.fatsil.org/papers/research/rigney-1.htm FN 3: Gary Partington. Reconstructing Aboriginal Education. http://edoz.com.au/educationaustralia/archive/features/abed4.

htmlFN 4: School District 35 (Langley) - Aboriginal Program. http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/effprog/sd35.htm