L1, the lecturer of Class 1
She is an associate professor who has formerly worked in education-related organisations.
L2, a tutor of Class 1
L2 comes from the second largest Aboriginal nation in NSW, the Gomeroi nation (also spelled Kamilaroi, Gamilaraay or Gamilaroi). She has a background of teaching in a school and does not sound like an academic because she does not “use all those big words” (Class 1: Tutorial 03/09/2015).
L3, the lecturer and tutor of Class 2:
L3 comes from the Gumbainggir nation and is proud of that. He researches pedagogical practices in relation to Indigenous students and believes that good teachers always share who they are. In the future he would like to argue that “what Indigenous communities say about […] learning is something that […] the rest of the world is understanding and catching up with” (Interview with L3).
S1, a student enrolled in Class 1:
S1 is an exchange student from the USA who studies at the university for one semester. She is Native American, more precisely Navaho. At her home university she is enrolled in an honours program. Her Aboriginal Studies class made her more “appreciative and curious” about her own cultural background (Interview with S1).
S2, a student enrolled in Class 2:
S2 is an Australian student who used to study psychology and social work. Now she is enrolled in the bachelor program of Aboriginal Professional Practice. She has a friend and used to have a boyfriend who are Aboriginal. About her Aboriginal Studies classes she says: “I can really see myself sticking with it and going through with it and just loving every subject and looking forward to what I’m doing and enjoying talking about it and it’s changing who I am as a person which other degrees didn’t” (Interview with S2).
S3, a student enrolled in Class 1:
S3 is an exchange student from the USA who studies at the university for one semester. She has no direct connection to indigeneity. At her home university her major subject is engineering. Through her Aboriginal Studies class she has learned “to respect other cultures more” (Interview with S3).
Nature of the research:
As this research is limited to only two classes … read more.