My First Blog Post

Hi, my name is Daniel. This is my first blog post for the topic we will be doing in class called 'Indigenous Australia'. I have not used blogger before so this is a new experience for me. Today in class our student teacher has showed us how to use blogger and this post will be the first of several posts we will create as we go through something called a 'webquest'. I am not sure what a webquest exactly is but our teacher said it is a blog that he has created with online links to videos and information. The webquest also has a step by step process for our small groups to go through that directs us in various activities and tasks we need to complete. I am in a group with Dave and Amanda. Each of us shall make a post each week on what we have learnt during the webquest. I look forward to making more posts here, see you then!

This is a picture of me outside a cafe in Terrigal in the Central Coast of NSW.

Week 1 - Post 1 Guide

Use this post to talk about what you discussed in class. You can use some of the questions that were used for discussion purposes in your small group as a basis for what you want to say. Other questions such as these below may also help you write about what you wish to say:

- What did you initially think the song Treaty was about? Had you heard the song before?
-  After watching the second video what was your opinion of the song? Did the song have any greater meaning to you after watching the second video?
- Can you explain the meaning of some of the lyrics in the song?
- Do you think the song writer gets their message across effectively?
- What feelings and thoughts does this song and its message bring about for you?
- What did you previously think about relations between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australian's before this lesson. Have you learnt anything new?
- What is the significance does discussing these topics have for all Australians?
- Do you think it is important to understand some of these things if you are an Australian citizen?

You can also supplement your writing by embedding a video about a related topic. Or you may want to add a photo of something that supports what you have written or a link to a web site that is related to the topic of 'Indigenous Australia'. Remember to add something. I have embedded the song 'Beds Are Burning' by Midnight Oil so that it can be seen on this example post page. Good luck with your post!

Week 2 - Post 2 Guide

Use this post to talk about what you discussed in class. You may want to focus on writing about only one of the clips you watched and discussed today or possibly all three. Your discussions may have led to some other related topics that you talked about or you may have been thinking about these topics and forming new perspectives. Feel free to use this space to write about what ever you think is relevant to your learning in the topic of 'Indigenous Australia'. You can use some of the questions that were used for discussion purposes in your small group as a basis for what you want to say. Other questions such as these below may also help you write about what you wish to say:

- What is your understanding of 'Terra Nullius' and how it relates to the colonisation of Australia in the minds of the British?
- What did you think about the game Marn Grook? Does it give you a greater appreciation for Aboriginal people and culture?
- Why do you think Doug Nicholls had such a hard time initially being accepted as a professional footballer when he was a young man?
- How did Doug use his talents to help other Aboriginal people?
- How is Indigenous football player Gilbert McAdam using his talents for facilitating the process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians?
- What is reconciliation and why is it important?

You can also supplement your writing by adding a photo that supports your writing, a screen shot for example, or otherwise embed a video or add a link to a web page that has some relevant information regarding the topic of 'Indigenous Australia'. Do add something that shows you have been learning!

I have linked a web page that has some information about Terra Nullius HERE

Week 3 - Post 3 Guide

Like you have in previous weeks, use this post to talk about what you discussed in class and about the clips you watched. You can use some of the questions that were used for discussion purposes in your small group as a basis for what you want to say. Other questions such as these below may also help you write about what you wish to say:

- What were the stolen generations?
- How did you feel hearing about Frank's story?
- Why do you think Australia had policies that allowed for the removal of Aboriginal children from their families?
- Even though this is a tragic story, why do you think it is important that these stories be told?
- Do you think the people that made and enforced the laws, such as the politicians and police thought they were possibly doing something good?
- What can we learn from this story?
- Has hearing this story affected your perception of relations between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians?

You can also supplement your writing by adding a photo that supports your writing, a screen shot for example, or otherwise embed a video or add a link to a web page that has some relevant information regarding the topic of 'Indigenous Australia'. Do add something that shows you have been learning!

I have embedded a video that has some relation to the topic of the stolen generations below.

Week 4 - Post 4 Guide

 As in previous weeks, you may use this last post to talk about what you discussed in class and about the clips you watched. In this last post you can talk about what you have learnt throughout this unit if you wish or you may simply want to talk about the topics discussed in class.

You can use any of the questions that were used for discussion purposes in your small group as a basis for what you want to say or any other questions, such as these below, may also help you write about what you wish to say:

- What does true reconciliation involve?
- If you were to be reconciled with an old friend, what would it look like, how do you think that might be comparable to the reconciliation process happening in our nation between Indigenous and non Indigenous people?
- What are some of the issues facing the Aboriginal people today? What is being done to close the gap?
- What have you learnt from this unit of study?
- Have changed your opinions or formed new perspectives throughout this unit of study?
- By studying this topic, have you a greater appreciation of Aboriginal people and culture?
- How has studying this unit of study impacted you?
- Has studying this unit of study changed how you see your place as an Australian citizen?

You can also supplement your writing by adding a photo that supports your writing, a screen shot for example, or otherwise embed a video or add a link to a web page that has some relevant information regarding the topic of 'Indigenous Australia'. Do add something that shows you have been learning!

I have made a link to a web pages about reconciliation HERE.