ABORIG 1002 - Indigenous Scholarship & the Interplay of Knowledges

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

This course will provide a foundation for students on the history of the affirmation, development and legitimization of Indigenous knowledge, theory and scholarship in Australia and internationally. Contemporary Indigenous knowledge present a counterpoint to colonial and post-colonial knowledge regimes as they are played out through education, politics, law and society among numerous other areas of the modern world. In investigating these knowledge structures students will learn about the diversity of Indigenous cultures in Australia. This will be counterpointed with study of key Indigenous cultures and associated texts in North America, Scandinavia and the Pacific. A focus will be placed on the student's capacity to apply multi-knowledges and interdisciplinary approaches for both complex understanding and the requirements of working with Indigenous communities. From this base students, will learn about the importance of applying Indigenous cultural protocols in the Australian context and in the presentation of Indigenous perspectives in everyday academic, legal, political and economic work. Students will also learn to re-conceptualise problems and question cultural assumptions by negotiating appropriate methodologies to analyse, evaluate and work independently and cooperatively. A variety of methods will be used to achieve engagement, analysis and synthesis including appropriate use of technologies, film, the analysis of texts and learning from Indigenous Elders and academics.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ABORIG 1002
    Course Indigenous Scholarship & the Interplay of Knowledges
    Coordinating Unit Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assessment 500 word Presentation 25%, 1000 word Journal entry 35%, 2000 word Essay (40%)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Kam Kaur


    Dr Kam Kaur
    Course Coordinator
    Wirltu Yarlu
    Room 105b, Schulz Building
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Understand the contested nature of knowledges in Australia including the construction of power in society
    2. Discuss the ways in which Western disciplines have impacted on Indigenous knowledges or vis-a-vis across the world
    3. Review the similarity and diversity within and between Indigenous and Western knowledges
    4. Develop complex understanding of Indigenous protocols
    5. Analyse the contemporary interactions between nation states and Indigenous people including social, historical, political, legal and economic consideration
    6. Interrogate text, film and other media around complex relationships, indiviudaly and with others
    7. Apply academic rigor and various technologies to locate, access, analyse and represent information
    8. Apply creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems 
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2,4,5,8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    7,8
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2,4,8
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Course readings will be listed for each week in the module section of the canvas page available online through MyUni
    Online Learning
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course will be team taught over the semester, comprising of myself and guest lectures, such as, Aboriginal elders, academic and professionals.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Lectures are 1 hour per week and seminars are 2 hours per week.
    Learning Activities Summary
    1. Introduction, Kaurna Welcome
    2. Introduction to Knowledge systems and theories
    3. What is Indigenous scholarship - and Indigenous peoples of the world
    4. Contested nature of knowledges - Indigenous voice: the personal is the political
    5. Australia as a nation: cultural identities and complexities
    6. Indigenous nations and Caring for Country
    7. Indigenous families, wellbeing and healing
    8. The Indigenous world, human rights and the law/lore
    9. Earth democracy and our place in the worldUsing
    10. Using Protocols to Negotiate Space
    11. Practical applications for Indigenous knowledges: Turning Points within Academia
    12. Conclusions and moving forward
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    500 word presentation Formative and summative

    26/8/2019

    25% 2,3,4
    1000 word journal Summative 4/10/2019 30% 3,4,5
    2000 word essay Summative 12/11/2019 45% 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
    For more information see the course guide
    Assessment Detail
    Presentation:
    Students are required to do a 10-15min presentation on a recently sourced article from the media or social media , (newspaper, broadcast, tweets, news etc) that is relation to an Indigenous topic. You will present your analysis in the seminar through a framework - published on my uni canvas page for this course, (under assessment tabs)

    Journal entries: 
    Students are required to carry out four journal entries, 250 words each, that are reflections on how diverse, different knowledge systems are useful in particular scenarios - refer to course readings from weeks 3 -7.

    Essay:
    Students are required choose one question from a possibility of 4 - please see the uni canvas page under assessments for more information
     
    Submission
    Assignments 2 and 3 are submitted via MyUni
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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