Abstract:
The Faculty of Information Technology at the University
Technology, Sydney has begun a project to improve
the participation of Indigenous Australians in the Information
Technology sector. As Indigenous students begin to move
into computer studies, issues arise of how to provide them
with an online learning environment which is culturally inclusive.
A major challenge lies in the fact that this new cohort
must share online learning with other students from diverse
cultural backgrounds. A review of several studies of Indigenous
distance education reveals that online technology must
satisfy certain conditions to be effective including flexibility,
interactivity, minimal text, and cultural appropriateness.
Generally, this Indigenous experience agrees with theories of
culturally inclusive educational technology design. However,
there remain issues of cultural specificity of certain aspects of
screen design which cannot be ignored. A model for constructing
an online learning environment is proposed consisting
of a shared domain, included in which is an Indigenous specific
virtual space and optional customization for individual learners.
