Working with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators enables you to develop suitable teaching methods, contextualised programs and engaging activities. This will ensure culturally responsive educational experiences for students to engage with and access the curriculum, participate in learning and achieve positive learning outcomes.
Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators can ‘utilise the languages in the classroom to develop deep understanding and encourage high order thinking. Interweaving first language and Standard Australian English in instruction, explanation, group discussion and reflection gives students numerous opportunities to understand curriculum content and develop language abilities.’ (Aboriginal teacher, NT).
Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators know the local cultural setting, linguistic background and stories of the students they teach and use this knowledge to inform which teaching strategies they use. Learning through language and culture has a strong focus on ‘how’ knowledge is transmitted.
“Engage students with story sharing, use of visual representation and making connections with country. New ideas and understandings are formed using existing knowledge and perspectives as a link to the ‘cultural interface’ or common ground between Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing and doing.” (Aboriginal teacher, NT)
Teacher Professional standards (Graduate)
1.3 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
3.3 Use teaching strategies