Reflections
Researching key political events, forces and socio-culturally-driven decisions that have been made over the course of Australian's civilisation will allow students to become aware of the causal relationship between political decisions and the formation of the Australian culture. Research, especially when applied in a group dynamic, facilitates authentic learning (Vygotsky, 1978) - as seen when the student's researched the evolution of the Australian culture. In addition, the process of researching aligns with the second stage of the 5E’s model – ‘Explore’ –allowing students to gain insight into a concept or idea (Bybee, 1997). Creatively exploring concepts and ideas is a holistic medium for students to extend on their current knowledge-base, as seen when the …show more content…
Using dramatic play equips students with the first-person perspective of being a key political figure, such as a politician. Embodying the roles and responsibilities of one of Australia's Prime Ministers assists the students in realising the significance of decision-making. Introducing the students to an Aboriginal elder during an incursion visit deeply impacts the children's existing schema of what it means to be an Indigenous Australian, whilst reflecting on the residual effects of colonisation. Working directly with Indigenous Australian’s illustrates an active participation amongst the cross-curriculum priority of ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’ in addition to instilling values of integrity, identity and belonging – all of which underpin the humanities and social sciences (Reynolds, 2014, p. 4). Consequently, teaching the values of democracy is foundational to the Melbourne Declaration (MCEETYA, 2008, p.
Researching key political events, forces and socio-culturally-driven decisions that have been made over the course of Australian's civilisation will allow students to become aware of the causal relationship between political decisions and the formation of the Australian culture. Research, especially when applied in a group dynamic, facilitates authentic learning (Vygotsky, 1978) - as seen when the student's researched the evolution of the Australian culture. In addition, the process of researching aligns with the second stage of the 5E’s model – ‘Explore’ –allowing students to gain insight into a concept or idea (Bybee, 1997). Creatively exploring concepts and ideas is a holistic medium for students to extend on their current knowledge-base, as seen when the …show more content…
Using dramatic play equips students with the first-person perspective of being a key political figure, such as a politician. Embodying the roles and responsibilities of one of Australia's Prime Ministers assists the students in realising the significance of decision-making. Introducing the students to an Aboriginal elder during an incursion visit deeply impacts the children's existing schema of what it means to be an Indigenous Australian, whilst reflecting on the residual effects of colonisation. Working directly with Indigenous Australian’s illustrates an active participation amongst the cross-curriculum priority of ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’ in addition to instilling values of integrity, identity and belonging – all of which underpin the humanities and social sciences (Reynolds, 2014, p. 4). Consequently, teaching the values of democracy is foundational to the Melbourne Declaration (MCEETYA, 2008, p.