T4L Kids Issue 8

kids

technology 4 learning

ISSUE 8 — TERM 1, 2022

Connecting with

community Artwork created by Suzanna, a student from Boggabilla Central School on Gamilaraay Country. It represents themes of community, school, friendship and family.

kids

HEY THERE T4L KIDS!

technology 4 learning WRITERS Yvette Poshoglian Joachim Cohen Sandy Phillips EDITORIAL TEAM Mark Greentree Linda Lazenby Benjamin Cork DESIGN & LAYOUT Aditi Verma

How much do you know about the land of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands on which your school community stands?

Have you ever given an Acknowledgement of Country?

Mark Greentree​ Editor-in-Chief

For more information as well as past issues and teacher notes: visit T4L.link/T4Lkids

Meet Kirli Saunders

Teacher’s notes Download the teacher’s notes for this issue here!

Author, poet and teacher Kirli Saunders is our guide in this issue of T4L Kids. You might know Kirli’s books The Incredible Freedom Machines and Bindi.

Words mean a lot to Kirli and she shares how important meanings are behind creating an Acknowledgement of Country as a proud Gunai woman.

Learn more about Kirli here!

What Acknowledgement means to me Aimee is from the Wangaibon people of the Ngiyampaa nation. She is a teacher and currently Acting Principal Education Officer with T4L. ‘As an Aboriginal student in school I was so lucky to have Aunty Mae Robinson as a teacher, who taught me many things about our culture and people. I’m always so honoured to be asked to present an Acknowledgement of Country. I use the opportunity to ground myself where I am, reflect on who walked on this land before me, and connect physically, emotionally and spiritually. I try to weave a personal connection into the Acknowledgement as I’m writing it, how being in a place makes me feel, what I see, hear and think, what is special about it, and continue that respect for the people who have always and will always see that place as theirs.’

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Using this magazine Plan your idea for creating a digital Acknowledgement of Country using this design thinking model.

Research and plan a. Explore the difference between giving a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country

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b. A Welcome is usually given by a respected Elder of the community.

An Acknowledgement can be given by a non-Indigenous person and acknowledges the Country on which they stand

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Identify and define a. Read and listen to Kirli Saunders’ words b. Who will you talk to? c. Where and how will you share your draft?

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Test and evaluate a. Share your draft idea with local local Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group (AECG)

b. Take your draft idea, words, images and collaborate with your class to create a digital version c. Trial different tech tools and evaluate how you can best create a digital Acknowledgement of Country

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Produce and implement a. Write, design, record b. Build, code, make c. Share and publish

Get feedback at every stage - run your ideas past peers, teachers, adults, anyone!

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Using technology to connect to Country We all live and learn on the lands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By saying, writing or delivering an Acknowledgement of Country, we are honouring the traditions of our First Nations peoples and the lands on which we all stand.

Kirli Saunders says:

In the last few years, we’ve found so many incredible uses for technology, especially to connect us with loved ones, friends and places we haven’t been able to visit. For Aboriginal Peoples, Country is a significant part of our identity.

What is Country?

Kirli says: “ There are 250+ Aboriginal nations in Australia and around 650+ First Nations dialects and languages.”

Look at the AIATSIS map

Check out the interactive GAMBAY language map

Only Traditional Owners/Custodians of the land on which an event takes place can deliver a Welcome to Country. An Acknowledgement of Country can be given by non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to pay respect to the land on which they stand. A digital Acknowledgement of Country is delivered using technology, this is important when we’re working in collaboration online.

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Sample digital Acknowledgement of Country I acknowledge that I am hosting/recording this meeting/webinar from the lands of the [insert name] people. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, and to the Traditional Custodians of the various lands that you’re joining us from. I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people joining us today.

You can also listen to a longer poem version of Acknowledgement of Country by Kirli Saunders here!

Kirli Saunders says:

The best Acknowledgements of Country are personal, respectful, honest and caring. They include the name of the Traditional Owner/s and might even include some features of that Country or your personal relationship with or responsibility to them.

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Explore and celebrate your Indigenous Country!

Now that you have learned a bit more about a digital Acknowledgement of Country, have you begun thinking about how you could create one for your school?

Challenge 1 Can you write a digital Acknowledgement of Country with your friends or classmates for your school community?

• What will you write? Can you create a draft that will bring your school together? How could community and Elders be involved in the process?

• Think about how you could use it online or at a school event!

Challenge 2 Now, turn your Acknowledgement into a digital version!

• Could you create a video or animated version of your Acknowledgement?

• Could you create a special audio version using recorded voices, interviews, sounds or music to create a voice recording or podcast version?

Kirli Saunders says:

If you’re hosting a digital event, you may be meeting with people who are on different the Aboriginal lands to you.

Research the Country you’re hosting from and ask your guests to do the same.

Explore further! Hear from Balanggarra and Yolngu presenter Molly Hunt on how to create an Acknowledgement of Country on ABC Everyday.

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Let’s get started Investigate and research – what Country does your school stand on?

Who are the Elders in your community? Invite Elders and Custodians to visit your school or community.

How does this knowledge make you feel? In your own words, write how connecting with country and community helps you better understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and your community.

Consider the tools that you could use – both digital and manual that could help create your Acknowledgement. Here’s a template to get you started.

Draft your Acknowledgement with your class. You could collaborate using Microsoft Teams or on a Google Doc. Could you share it to create a final draft you are happy with?

Think about how you will share your digital Acknowledgement out across your school and your community. Could you create a video or an audio recording?

Can you make your Acknowledgement a part of every school day? How could this information share culture across our friendships, family and community relationships?

Who can help you along the way with feedback?

Don’t forget to reach out.

TECH TIP A great platform to share what you have learnt is Google Jamboard - watch the T4L Kids videos for ideas!

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Let’s investigate!

Many of us have seen or heard someone give a personal Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country at an assembly, or special event.

Creating a digital Acknowledgement of Country is a way for us to pay respect when we are communicating or presenting online. It’s important to acknowledge the land from which you are creating, communicating or working.

Be inspired!

There are many types of Acknowledgements of Country available online! The media you are using will determine how you create your Acknowledgement or even if it is appropriate to do so. Check out the different ways they are delivered in these videos.

Watch an animation

Explore it in AUSLAN

Explore our NSW Department of Education animated video for ideas or use it in your school

Watch and experience a student’s Acknowledgement in Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN)

Watch one school’s video

Explore in CoSpaces

Explore Callaghan Secondary College’s Acknowledgement of Country video

Could you create an Acknowledgement signposted in your Minecraft world or on Co-Spaces?

Tip: Could you use the Question Generator to create some questions to guide your research and plan your investigation?

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Build a picture of your community!

Time to build up a photo library and put your photographer’s hat on! Photos and screen recordings could make great additions to your digital Acknowledgement.

Turn your pics into masterpieces!

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Snap a photo of a building or landscape that makes your community unique

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Add a filter

3 Need ideas?

• Try Adobe Creative Cloud Express and experiment with colours and effects

Try an effect!

• Edit picture files and photos in PowerPoint and turn your photos from flat into fantastic • Check out the Everyone Can Create with Photo for iPad to bring your photos to life

Artwork tip: Be respectful when considering artworks to use for your Acknowledgement. Remember that non-Indigenous people aren’t allowed to reproduce or create Aboriginal artwork. Indigenous artworks are often connected to place, the stories and the language of the Country of the artist.

You could work with your local Aboriginal Land Council (NSW) to find out more about Indigenous artists and their works on Country near you. Be mindful not to photograph sacred places without permission from Elders. You can find out if a place is sacred by asking your AECG and Elders.

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Your creative tech toolkit!

Presentation and animation Try using PowerPoint, Slides, Keynote or Sway to create and animate a presentation.

Learn more about each of these by watching the video resources below.

Get started with PowerPoint

Try using Sway to build your presentation

Don’t forget you can also make short films and edit them with Apple Clips

Film and record Film yourself or record your class for your digital Acknowledgement using Apple Clips, WeVideo (check with your teacher), Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud Express or another tool featured in the DoE Student Filmmaker course! Check out these videos below to get ideas!

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Learn more about Canva!

Try using Adobe CC Express to film or record!

Design and create Produce a multimedia experience using tools like the Student Filmmaker course or testing out the Adobe Creative Cloud Express tools such as Adobe Photoshop.

Explore the Student Filmmaker course

Try creating with Apple Keynote

Record an audio Acknowledgement of Country Could you lend your voice or record others to create an audio file? Try recording an audio file on your device and then craft your Acknowledgement with a tool like WeVideo or Audacity. Ask your teacher for more information about WeVideo on the STEM Learning Library.

Learn how to access WeVideo via the Stem Learning Library

Learn how to record sound with Audacity

TECH TIP Look for the ‘share’ button to share with your teacher or upload a file to Google Drive or OneDrive to make your Acknowledgement accessible online.

Make sure everyone involved has given their permission for you to publish.

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Make your Acknowledgement mean

How can you make an Acknowledgement meaningful? An Acknowledgement could be suitab you’re creating an artwork or poem, think about how you can Acknowledge the land on which y considered before.

Creative types!

Studying these subjects? English/HSIE/Languages/ Creative Arts/History/Geography • If you’re creating a piece of work, think about how you could Acknowledge the land on which you are creating, writing or producing.

• Could you include an Acknowledgement at a musical concert, at an art exhibition at school, or even in a written body of work such as a book, magazine or poem?

Entrepreneurs!

Studying these subjects? Commerce/Business Studies/Legal Studies • Creating or prototyping an app? Where and how could you include an Acknowledgement in the design process and how would the user experience it?

• Making an elevator pitch or creating a new product in Business Studies? How could you share your Acknowledgement with potential investors or clients?

Designers!

Studying these subjects? Science & Technology/ Digital Technologies & ICT/Design & Technology/ • Are you building an online world in CoSpaces or Minecraft? Could you signpost an Acknowledgement of Country which considers what lands you are producing your online worlds on?

• Have a look at the sample of a signpost on page 8.

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ningful everyday

ble at many events including, a sports gathering, or a debate at school. Diving deeper, if you create. There are many opportunities to Acknowledge Country that you may not have

Student leaders!

For students keen to develop their leadership skills • Are you giving an official speech at assembly, or even giving a presentation in your class? Could you share your digital Acknowledgement before addressing your audience?

• Are you a prefect, house captain, debater or a school leader? How could you share the Acknowledgement with classmates?

Sporty types!

Studying these subjects? English/HSIE/Languages/ Creative Arts/History/Geography • Are you hosting a tournament or sports event at your school? There could be an opportunity to share an audio Acknowledgement with visiting guests to your school.

• Other events could include swimming and athletics carnivals – make sure you investigate the lands on which each of these are held as it may be different to the land which your school stands on.

Tech gurus!

Studying these subjects? Science/Maths/STEM/ Digital Technologies and ICT • Could you extend this idea of an Acknowledgement in your STEM lessons?

Could you express it through robotics or other technologies?

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