Search

Many reasons can be offered for teaching about Australia. The field of Australian studies offers many opportunities for U.S. teachers and students to critically analyze aspects of their own culture, for there are many experiences in the history of Australia that parallel the U.S. experience. Australia and the United States have strong ongoing economic, social, and political ties. A study of Australia reveals interesting interactions between an extremely old geological landscape and the evolution of its unique fauna and flora. The Aboriginal people in Australia have possibly the oldest indigenous culture still operating. Teaching about Australia can profitably be included in the curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade as part of a global perspective in social studies education. Teachers can begin with basic geography lessons to locate Australia on a world map, noting its size, major geographic features, climatic zones, demographic distribution, location of major cities, and state borders. A historical perspective can be used to enhance understanding of different cultures in Australia. The use of a range of Australian literature, art, films, and visual and oral primary source materials can be a useful entry into an understanding of the values and assumptions underlying Australian culture. A study of issues facing Australia today can enhance students' inquiry skills and enable them to form generalizations that may be useful in explaining issues facing the United States. A 16-item bibliography is included. (JB)

PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) PHOTO (COLOR) Mallorca also has a bike park with several trails for all levels, and it was very close to my hotel. "Trail Mix" is our selection of the best photos that MBA readers send us each month. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the nature and role of Australia's Civics and Citizenship Education. It notes that Civics and Citizenship Education sets of values, including knowledge and importance of democratic values, deliberately or unintentionally. It states that the basis of Civics and Citizenship Education is the view that active citizenship is desirable. It also notes that knowledge and understanding under the Civics and Citizenship Education is important to be placed in the curriculum but needs to be more considered and fine-tuned sensitively.

The author comments that the Australian Citizenship Test does not have any connection with the Australian values. He states that Australia most likely view the good citizen as knowing about national structures and history rather than learning about citizenship-related issues such as school democratic structures and opportunities within the wider community. He suggests that the Citizenship Test should concentrate on some major process of a liberal democracy that include a number of civic knowledge components.

Presents an educational unit that offers opportunities for Australian students to engage in a number of clarification exercises, to consider if their school offers opportunities for them to practice decision-making skills and to appreciate the diversity of peoples. Concepts that will be developed throughout the unit such as social justice and identity; Links of the unit to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards; Activities that have the contestable idea of good citizen as the issue discussed in the unit.

Presents to teaching guide on global citizenship for the middle years in Australian schools. Position of young people in consumerism; Impact of advertising on young consumers; Attitudes of students toward global branding.

Presents a study on teaching Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE) in secondary schools in Victoria. Socio-demographic characteristics of SOSE teachers; Curriculum analysis; Attitudes of teachers and students toward SOSE; Challenges being faced by SOSE teachers; Implications of SOSE on Victorian education.

The article focuses on developing civics and citizenship education (CCE) programs in schools. According to the author, the initial point in developing a CCE program is for the Humanities department to lead in articulating response from the whole school community response to essential learning in civics in accordance to Victorian Essential Learning Standards. Survey data should also be presented to the school council to be used in auditing current curriculum programs.

The article focuses on the report "National Assessment Program: Civics and Citizenship, 2004, Years 6 and 10," by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) in Australia in December 2006. It enumerates the context in which the desire to test students in Civics and Citizenship Education should be seen, including the development of national statements of learning for civics and citizenship. It explains the national testing process to be conducted.

The article evaluates the Discovering Democracy Project, which resulted from an agreement of the administrations of Prime Minister (PM) John Howard and then PM Paul Keating to educate school children about key essentials of "things Australian" and their roles in the broader world. It is stated that after producing further materials and analysis of feedback, enhancement of the project was achieved. Two key performance measures were articulated, among which is knowledge and understanding of civic institutions and disposition of skills for participation.