Asia Literacy – imperatives for

the Australian Classroom

RMIT2014

Why Asia???

Imperatives:

• Moral

• Economic

• Professional

Morally….. Be a good neighbour - we live in the region!What are the countries of Asia?

Economically – we are tied to Asia

“India, China and other Asian nations are growing and their influence is increasing. Australians need to become ‘Asia literate’, engaging and building strong relationships with Asia.”

Goal 2:All young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens

“active and informed citizens…are able to relate and communicate across cultures, especially in relation to cultures and countries of the Asia-Pacific.”

Professionally – it is in our curriculum

www.australiancurriculum.edu.au

Australian Curriculum

General Capabilities

Intercultural Understanding• Includes the skills to critically reflect on one’s own

culture as well as positive, cooperative and respectful interactions between people of diverse cultural backgrounds at both an institutional and interpersonal level.

• Can be measured by the acquisition of critical cultural awareness, culturally respectful attitudes and positive skills for interacting across cultural groups.

• Focuses on the interaction between people by developing an understanding of self in relation to others.

Standpoints of intercultural understandingCultural

integrationCelebratory

understandingRelational

UnderstandingMulticultural

UnderstandingTrans-

formational

Help people fit into the existing structure

Build knowledge of cultural groups within the existing structure

Promote unity and acceptance in the existing social structure

Promote social equality and cultural respect

Promote action toward equality of opportunity

Developing Cultural Understanding(essential but not sufficient for

intercultural understanding)Developing intercultural understanding

www.australiancurriculum.edu.au

Australian Curriculum – Cross Curriculum Priorities

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

• Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia• Sustainability

Organising Themes

• Asia and its diversity

• Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia

• Asia-Australia engagement

Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

Asia literacyfoundational and deep knowledge,skills and understandings about thehistories, geographies, societies, cultures, literatures and languages of the diverse countries that make

up our part of the world

Organising Themes/IdeasAsia and its diversity

OI.1The peoples and countries of Asia are diverse in ethnic background, traditions, cultures, belief systems and religions. 

OI.2Interrelationships between humans and the diverse environments in Asia shape the region and have global implications.

Inspirations

Where do these images come from?

What period of time do they come from?

Where did it come from?• Write down the origin of each invention on your sheet.

Organising IdeasAsia and its diversity

OI.1 The peoples and countries of Asia are diverse in ethnic background, traditions, cultures, belief systems and religions. 

OI.2 Interrelationships between humans and the diverse environments in Asia shape the region and have global implications.

Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia

OI.3The peoples and countries of Asia have contributed and continue to contribute to world history and human endeavour.

OI.4The arts and literature of Asia influence aesthetic and creative pursuits within Australia, the region and globally.

Culture as layers

Culture is like an apple

• The Skin – Observed: Language, Food, Architecture, Fashion, Art

• The Flesh – Norms & Values: Beliefs, attitudes and conventions

• The Core – Basic Assumptions: Unquestioned behaviour - tradition

Iceberg of culture

• Layers, Iceberg and Apples• Select the model you resonate with

most.

• Discuss what resonates and why.

Human Graph

What’s the news across the nation….

http://www.netvibes.com/studies-of-asia

#India_Newsfeeds#Japanese_newsfeeds#Indonesia_Newsfeeds

#China_news

Asian Newspapers online http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/asian-newspapers.htm

Organising IdeasAsia and its diversity

OI.1 The peoples and countries of Asia are diverse in ethnic background, traditions, cultures, belief systems and religions. 

OI.2 Interrelationships between humans and the diverse environments in Asia shape the region and have global implications.

Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia

OI.3 The peoples and countries of Asia have contributed and continue to contribute to world history and human endeavour.

OI.4 The arts and literature of Asia influence aesthetic and creative pursuits within Australia, the region and globally.

Asia-Australia engagement

OI.5 Collaboration and engagement with the peoples of Asia support effective regional and global citizenship.

OI.6 Australia is part of the Asia region and our histories from ancient times to the present are linked.

OI.7 Australians play a significant role in social, cultural, political and economic developments in the Asia region.

OI.8Australians of Asian heritage have influenced Australia’s history and continue to influence its dynamic culture and society.

What is an Asia Literate school?

Studies of Asia wikispace studiesofasia.wikispaces.com