Proposing a digital narrative

 

Proposal topic: Migration, immigration and government policies in Australia. 

 

Curriculum Links:

10 History – 

  1. The population movements and changing settlement patterns from 1750-1901 (ACDSEH080)
  2. Laws made by federal Parliament between 1901-1914 including the Harvester Judgement, pensions, and the Immigration Restriction Act (ACDSEH092)
  3. The impact of changing government policies on Australia’s migration patterns, including abolition of the White Australia Policy, ‘Populate or Perish’ (ACDSEH145)
  4. The waves of post-World War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events (ACDSEH144)

Senior Modern History

  1. ACHMH123 (Senior Modern History – Unit 3) – The changing nature and significance of Australia’s foreign policy from 1916-1949 (ACHMH123)
  2. ACHMH125 (Senior Modern History – Unit 3) – The key features of post-war reconstruction, including industrialisation, immigration, the provision of social welfare, and attitudes and policies towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and women.  
  3. ACHMH194 (Senior Modern History – Unit 4) – The nature of Australia’s response to key developments in the period, including the success of the Communists in China, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, the return of the French to Vietnam, Indonesian claims for independence, Australia’s adherence to the White Australia Policy until 1973, and the implications of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War  (ACHMH194)
  4. ACHMH195 (Senior Modern History – Unit 4) – The significance of Australia’s immigration policies on regional relationships after World War II, including the reasons for the gradual dismantling of the White Australia Policy in the period 1945-1973 (ACHMH195)

Proposed digital tools – Microsoft Sway

Rationale 

The White Australia policy was one of the first pieces of legislation the newly formed Australian Government passed through parliament.  The policy had a significant impact on the dynamics and diversity of the fledgling nation.  Originally deployed as the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, the policy was aimed ensuring only those of British ancestry would gain entry into Australia to preserve the sanctity of the British-Australian culture and the economic value of the Australian man.   This digital story will seek to investigate the policy, the reason for its introduction, its ramifications on the diversity of the Australian population and the effects of its subsequent removal during the Whitlam administration.  

Storytelling has been the predominant method in which humanity has used to convey information, cultural traditions and ideologies for centuries (Cornett, 2014).  The advent of emerging technologies and personal devices has led to the formation of digital stories and storytelling.  Digital storytelling is  an engaging and informative method that combines emerging technologies and literary works for recreational or informative purposes (Ciccorico, 2012).  The story itself is a valuable teaching tool as it integrates visual, audio and textual elements together in a manner that enhances the storyline, improves engagement and promotes literacy development (Ohler, 2013, p.94).   The inclusion of digital narratives as part of teaching and learning promotes language, literacy and ICT competency. 

This Sway project will eventually be part of a larger 3 part digital narrative detailing how migration patterns have influenced the national identity of Australia.  Teachers will be able to use this internal resource as part of their teaching practice either as individual Sway links or as part of the series depending on the needs of the students as well as in depth study they are doing.  This resource has the capability to be catalogued into the current library management system and thus can be easily accessed by staff.

The three part series will include:

  1. Movements of people – 1750-1901. (Year 9 history and 9 Civics and citizenship)
    1. the nature and extent of the movement of peoples in the period (slaves, convicts and settlers) (ACOKFH015 – Scootle )
    2. The population movements and changing settlement patterns during this period (ACDSEH080 – Scootle )
    3. The influence of the Industrial Revolution on the movement of peoples throughout the world, including the transatlantic slave trade and convict transportation (ACDSEH018 – Scootle )
    4. Experiences of slaves, convicts and free settlers upon departure, their journey abroad, and their reactions on arrival, including the Australian experience (ACDSEH083 – Scootle )
    5. The short and long-term impacts of the movement of peoples during this period (ACDSEH085 – Scootle )
  1. Australia’s migration history (Years 9&10 History)
    1. the nature and extent of the movement of peoples from 1750-1901 (slaves, convicts and settlers) (ACOKFH015 – Scootle )
    2. The population movements and changing settlement patterns from 1750-1901 (ACDSEH080 – Scootle )
    3. Laws made by federal Parliament between 1901-1914 including the Harvester Judgement, pensions, and the Immigration Restriction Act (ACDSEH092 – Scootle )
    4. The impact of changing government policies on Australia’s migration patterns, including abolition of the White Australia Policy, ‘Populate or Perish’ (ACDSEH145 – Scootle )
    5. The waves of post-World War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events (ACDSEH144 – Scootle )
  1. Australia’s National Identity in the 21st Century (Year 10 History and 9 Civics & Citizenship)
    1. How national identity can shape a sense of belonging in Australia’s multicultural society (ACHCK067 – Scootle )
    2. How and why individuals and groups, including religious groups, participate in and contribute to civic life (ACHCK079 – Scootle )
    3. How ideas about and experiences of Australian identity are influenced by global connectedness and mobility (ACHCK081 – Scootle )
    4. Continuity and change in beliefs and values that have influenced the Australian way of life (ACDSEH149 – Scootle
    5. The commemoration of World War I, including debates about the nature and significance of the Anzac legend (ACDSEH097 – Scootle )

 

REFERENCES 

Ciccoricco, D. (2012). Chapter 34 – Digital fiction – networked narratives. In Bray, J., Gibbons, A., & McHale, B. (2012). The Routledge Companion to Experimental Literature. Taylor & Francis eBooks. Retrieved from CSU Library. 

Cornet, C. E. (2014). Integrating the literary arts throughout the curriculum. In Creating meaning through literature and the arts: arts integration for Classroom teachers (5th ed,) (pp144-193) USA

Ohler, J.B. (2013). Digital storytelling in the classroom: New media pathways to literacy, learning, and creativity (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. Retrieved from https://primo.csu.edu.au/permalink/61CSU_INST/1hkg98a/alma991012780180302357