Leaders: Ms Julie Crough, Charles Darwin University,
Darwin
Ms Louise Fogg, Department of Employment, Education and
Training, Darwin
Full title: Curriculum Support Materials for Teachers and
Students in Northern Australia
Project 4.3.2
Summary | Objectives | Outcomes |
Outputs | Project Team |
The Tropical Savannas Knowledge in Schools project will provide
curriculum support resources and materials that enhance and improve
the understanding of Australia’s tropical savannas.
The project will involve TS–CRC (its partners) and:
- Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and
Training (DEET), teachers and schools to develop a comprehensive
and interactive website about Tropical Savannas Knowledge that
links with the Northern Territory Curriculum Framework, VET modules
and Stage 1 and 2 SSABSA courses.
- Education Queensland to develop a collaborative effort to
produce curriculum support materials according to identified
needs.
- Department of Education and Training, Western Australia to
develop a collaborative effort to produce curriculum support
materials according to identified needs
- To develop an interactive website that will facilitate and
enhance teaching and learning about the Tropical Savannas in
Australia in collaboration with TS–CRC partners and
DEET.
- To develop links and partnerships with Education Queensland and
the Department of Education and Training, Western Australia.
- To develop an interactive website (similar to the NT model) in
collaboration with the Education Departments in Queensland and
Western Australia.
- To develop other resources (e.g. CD-ROM) which are identified
during the project’s duration.
- To foster and facilitate maximum uptake and use of the website
resources and learning through professional development for
teachers.
- To explore the opportunity and potential benefits of developing
a northern Australia educators’ forum.
This project would provide a long-term opportunity to improving
land management in the savannas through improved capacity building
for school students and teachers. If students and teachers have a
more comprehensive understanding of the environment in which they
live, how it functions as well as an appreciation of the values and
perspectives about it, this will contribute to improved medium to
long-term benefits for management of the tropical savannas in
northern Australia.
The TS–CRC and its core partners represent, between them,
many of the key players in Tropical Savannas Knowledge in the
Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.
For the project to succeed, it will be necessary to ensure the
ownership by the main educational agency in the relevant
jurisdiction (NT DEET in the first instance), and to ensure that
project outputsand outcomes comply with curriculum requirements in
that jurisdiction, including relevant national standards and
priorities.
Co-investment in the project by the TS–CRC and DEET in the
NT will provide the right environment for uptake of project
outputs.
Partners (including TS–CRC core partners) that are
involved include:
- NT Dept of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts (DNRETA)
and NT Dept of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mining
(DPIF&M)
- Charles Darwin University (CDU)
- Greening Australia
- Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS)
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO)
- NT Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET)
The following organisations have been involved in ongoing
discussions are:
- North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance
(NAILSMA)
- Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Territory Education
(BIITE)
- Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
Stage 3—31 December 2005
- Involve Qld Educators in project.
- Complete learning modules (design and content) for NT
website.
- Outsource learning modules to multimedia specialists.
- Pilot website with NT educators.
Stage 4—30 June 2006
- Finalise revisions and content for NT website.
- Launch new website for NT educators.
- Involve WA educators in project.
- Develop, pilot and review two new websites for Queensland and
Western Australia.
- Professional learning (professional development) workshop for
teachers focusing on the effective use of Tropical Savannas
Knowledge – EnviroNorth – website for
integration in the classroom.
Stage 5—31 December 2006
- Launch Qld and WA schools websites.
- Develop strategy for the long-term sustainability of the
website’s maintenance.
- Ongoing updating of the research component of the web by TS-CRC
communication team.
- Evaluate uptake and utilisation of all three websites.
- Write final report.
Ms Julie Crough, TS–CRC
Ms Louise Fogg, NT DEET
Dr Peter Jacklyn, TS–CRC
Barbara White, CDU
Vicki Kane, NT DEET
Jenni Webber, NT DEET
Peter White, NT DEET
Karen Jeffrey, NT DEET
