As more and more interest appears in the those wishing to study aboriginal issues, the question arises as to what is the most effective way in communicating this knowledge. The online course or distance education model is becoming increasingly more popular and it is evident that the there must exist a way to bring these two areas together. This article represents a survey of distance education courses that focus on First Nations issues and how the curriculum is developed and delivered. Its very interesting to consider that challenges in this educational model and the distinct challenges in communicating the ideas and cultural sensitives that are essential to this subject.
Tag Archives: eLearning
Statement Connecting Blog to Research
In my early research for this course, I was very inspired by an Australian blog posting about Victorian Indigenous Communities and Digital Storytelling. Based on my response to this post, as well as the themes of our initial readings, I would like to focus my research on the use of digital storytelling as a strategy for indigenous education. This topic is of particular relevance for me, because in our work with Digital Education Strategies at Ryerson University, my colleagues and I promote digital storytelling as a useful strategy for teaching and learning. As such, I would like to deepen my understanding of this technique and its pedagogical value.
Some of the topics and questions that I would like to explore include:
- The role of storytelling in Indigenous culture.
- To what extent can Indigenous storytelling, which is anchored in strong oral tradition, be conveyed through digital tools?
- The process of creating digital stories and the intrinsic value of this process.
In addition to our course readings and the sites which I have already shared through my Module 1 weblog, here is a preliminary list of references:
Hopkins, C. (2006) Making Things Our Own: The Indigenous Aesthetic in Digital Storytelling. Leonardo , Vol. 39, No. 4, Pacific Rim New Media Summit Companion, pp. 341-344
Wilcox A.C., Harper S.L., Edge V.L. (2013) Storytelling in a digital age: digital storytelling as an emerging narrative method for preserving and promoting indigenous oral wisdom. Qualitative Research, 2013; 13(2):127–147.
Connecting Statement – eLearning and Traditional Indigenous Health Literacy
Due to systemic neglect and forced efforts at assimilation, the disparities between the health status of the indigenous and non-indigenous population are significant with poorer health outcomes for Indigenous peoples. One of the key obstacles in achieving good outcomes in health care is the health literacy of the individual. Indigenous peoples, with their background of residential schools and exposure to racism have had difficulty in utilizing Western models of health literacy. Our Western definition of health literacy is the ability to read, understand, and use healthcare information to make decisions and follow instructions for treatment. The Indigenous learner, health literacy is defined as being aware of one`s own emotional health and in addressing one`s emotional needs one heals the body. A learner who uses this emotional knowledge model is frequently at a disadvantage in a health care system that is not sensitive to this reality due to a lack of educational resources. The goal of this research project is to create an online eLearning course that will educate and engage the user in the most common issues regarding indigenous health care and what be done at a local level to improve them. This eLearning module will seek to demonstrate unique Indigenous perspectives in the transmission of knowledge regarding emotional health literacy. By using eLearning courseware, this project will serve as a means by which contemporary learning technology can be used as an educational tool for traditional Indigenous practices.
Module 1 – Post 1 – Elearning and Aboriginal Healthcare
As I have a strong professional interest in eLearning design, my curiosity regarding existing eLearning courses that interface with traditional Indigenous knowledge, led me to an interesting resource for healthcare workers in Australia.
http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/demosites/series12/12_03/content/01_home/page1.htm
This course was very interesting as it serves as a educational resource that provides a more informed educational foundation for individuals who wish to understand the current state of Aboriginal health care. This strong emphasis on the historical context allows the learner to develop sympathetic and effective strategies in identifying and resolving healthcare concerns while understanding the root causes of challenges facing Aboriginal peoples. Overall, the course is very informative, well organized, and is easy to navigate,