ASIA LITERACY AMBASSADORS – PARTNERING BUSINESSES & SCHOOLS

Building demand for Asia literacy

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

What is an Asia Literacy Ambassador?

Ambassadors are individuals who:

• have been influenced by the Asian region and/or by Asian communities in Australia in their life and work

• are interested in volunteering their time to link with local school communities and act as role models & mentors

• will invest their expertise in helping young Australians explore future work and life pursuits

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

School Business Partnerships

http://asiaeducation.edu.au/schoolbusiness

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

Engaging Students in Contemporary Issues

Enhancement: including your partner school

Students seek input from

students/teachers at partner school

Partner school contribution adds

another perspective to

interaction

Engaging Students in Contemporary IssuesAmbassadors share their expertise on

an issue

Students have access to a primary

source of information about an issue they are

studying

Speakers Bureau

Ambassadors share their stories: role-model / mentor

Students gain insight into a world outside the classroom,

picture themselves in the speaker’s shoes

School Business Partnerships

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

Engaging students in contemporary issues

• Curriculum based unit: not an add on 3-4 week unit• Careers unit? end-of-year elective/enrichment? opportunity to

be creative with your syllabus• Allow at least 6 weeks for AEF to match you with an ambassador• Ambassador’s role: ideally, at least 1 interaction with students and

engagement with the school over 1-3 months (negotiated)• Other partners: BRIDGE partners school, other school staff,

members of your school/local community• AEF report - June 2014: doesn’t mean the project has to end there

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

How can an ambassador contribute?

• An ambassador and/or representative of their organisation may contribute by:– Being present in the classroom– Providing input during the inquiry project on their areas of

expertise/knowledge– Being available virtually (video-conferencing)– Being available by telephone– Arranging a site visit to their workplace– Linking students to other resources– Assisting in planning the demonstration of learning and making a

presentation

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

Possibilities….

Will Chinese be the next lingua franca?• Online forum engaging Year 9

students in Melbourne, their sister school counterparts in China and 5 ambassadors (4 in Melbourne, 1 in Hong Kong)

• Melbourne-based ambassadors to visit class for debrief

Cert II in Applied Languages (Yr10): Indonesian in the workplace• Presentation from a marine

scientist who works in Indonesia• Access to the scientist’s blog• Students to write thank-you letters

in Indonesian

Why learn Chinese?• Small groups interview different

ambassadors about how speaking Chinese has helped them in their careers

• Students design pamphlets for next subject information/careers night

More ideas on our website….

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

Roles and responsibilities

• Schools:– Complete an inquiry project focused on a contemporary issue relevant to Australia

and Asia– Organise a demonstration of learning– Engage effectively with an Ambassador and other partners where relevant– Report to AEF on project outcomes

• Ambassadors:– Engage with a school over 1-3 months involving one or more interactions– Support the demonstration of learning as negotiated

• AEF:– Match ambassadors with schools– Provide support and advice for schools and ambassadors where required– Provide tools for students, teachers and ambassadors (website)

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

Engaging Students in Contemporary Issues

Enhancement: including your partner school

Students seek input from

students/teachers at partner school

Partner school contribution adds

another perspective to

interaction

Engaging Students in Contemporary IssuesAmbassadors share their expertise on

an issue

Students have access to a primary

source of information about an issue they are

studying

Speakers Bureau

Ambassadors share their stories: role-model / mentor

Students gain insight into a world outside the classroom,

picture themselves in the speaker’s shoes

Engaging Students in Contemporary Issues

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2013

Where to from here?

Identify a curriculum need or opportunity• Could be your own or another’s learning area or a co-curricular area (e.g.

career education)• How could it be enhanced by involving an ambassador or ambassadors?• ‘Contemporary issues project’ or ‘one-off’ speaking engagement?• Is there a way you could involve your partner school? Explore ‘contemporary issues’ project: http://asiaeducation.edu.au/engagingstudents• Register a project by clicking on ‘Project Registration Form’ (this doesn’t lock

you in, but helps us to know you are interested and we will follow up with you).

Search for ambassadors: http://asiaeducation.edu.au/speakersbureau

Report back to the group:• Your idea for partnering with ambassadors

Asia Education FoundationThe University of Melbourne

Telephone: +61 3 8344 0000Email: aef-support@asialink.unimelb.edu.auWebsite: asiaeducation.edu.au

Contact:

© The University of Melbourne – Asia Education Foundation, 2012