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The Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning Pedagogy
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Full acknowledgement to the Department of Education's Western NSW Regional Aboriginal Education Team, Bangamalanha Centre Dubbo, as the creators of the 8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning.
The Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning Pedagogy is a framework designed to help teachers to:
- guide learning through culture, and not just about culture
- include Aboriginal perspectives in their teaching methods, rather than the teaching content
The '8 Ways' framework belong to a place, not a person or organisation. They came from Country in Western NSW. The Baakindji, Ngiyampaa, Yuwaalaraay, Gamilaraay, Wiradjuri, Wangkumarra peoples and other nations own the knowledges that this framework originated from.
The Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning Pedagogy framework is expressed as 8 interconnected pedagogies that each provide a point of entry into Aboriginal ways of knowing. They likewise provide an avenue for developing ways to work with local Aboriginal communities. It is important to note, however, that every place, every People will have their own pedagogies (8Ways.online 2018).
The Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning Pedagogy is a framework designed to help teachers to:
- guide learning through culture, and not just about culture
- include Aboriginal perspectives in their teaching methods, rather than the teaching content
The '8 Ways' framework belong to a place, not a person or organisation. They came from Country in Western NSW. The Baakindji, Ngiyampaa, Yuwaalaraay, Gamilaraay, Wiradjuri, Wangkumarra peoples and other nations own the knowledges that this framework originated from.
The Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning Pedagogy framework is expressed as 8 interconnected pedagogies that each provide a point of entry into Aboriginal ways of knowing. They likewise provide an avenue for developing ways to work with local Aboriginal communities. It is important to note, however, that every place, every People will have their own pedagogies (8Ways.online 2018).
When using the 8 Ways Framework, start by identifying local Aboriginal values, systems, protocols and processes (8Ways.online 2018)
Cultural Interface Protocols for Engaging with Aboriginal Knowledge
1. Use Aboriginal processes to engage with Aboriginal knowledge.
2. Approach Aboriginal knowledge in gradual stages, not all at once.
3. Be grounded in your own cultural identity (not “colour”) with integrity.
4. Bring your highest self to the knowledge and settle your fears and issues.
5. Share your own stories of relatedness and deepest knowledge.
6. See the shape of the knowledge and express it with images and objects.
7. Build your knowledge around real relationships with Aboriginal people.
8. Use this knowledge for the benefit of the Aboriginal community.
9. Bring your familiar understandings, but be willing to grow beyond these.
10. Respect the aspects of spirit and place that the knowledge is grounded in.
(8Ways.Online)
1. Use Aboriginal processes to engage with Aboriginal knowledge.
2. Approach Aboriginal knowledge in gradual stages, not all at once.
3. Be grounded in your own cultural identity (not “colour”) with integrity.
4. Bring your highest self to the knowledge and settle your fears and issues.
5. Share your own stories of relatedness and deepest knowledge.
6. See the shape of the knowledge and express it with images and objects.
7. Build your knowledge around real relationships with Aboriginal people.
8. Use this knowledge for the benefit of the Aboriginal community.
9. Bring your familiar understandings, but be willing to grow beyond these.
10. Respect the aspects of spirit and place that the knowledge is grounded in.
(8Ways.Online)
Examining the 8 Pedagogies
8 Way Planning Checklist
- Visualise overall process (Learning maps)
- Align environmental concepts. (Land links)
- Explore different angles (Non-linear)
- Share relevant experiences. (Story sharing)
- Model learning products (Deconstruct/Reconstruct)
- Create concrete metaphors (Symbols & images)
- Apply physical knowledge (Non-verbal)
- Relate to local people (Community links)
Always begin by identifying local Aboriginal Values, Protocols, Systems and Processes
A more nuanced understanding of both the philosophy and the eight pedagogies themselves can be reached through identifying local Aboriginal values, protocols, systems and processes. These four can be found on the diagonal lines in the centre of the 8 Ways diagram:
- Values are Ways of valuing
- Protocols are Ways of being (rules that tell us how to live/be in relation to people and country)
- Systems are Ways of knowing
- Processes are Ways of doing
A more nuanced understanding of both the philosophy and the eight pedagogies themselves can be reached through identifying local Aboriginal values, protocols, systems and processes. These four can be found on the diagonal lines in the centre of the 8 Ways diagram:
- Values are Ways of valuing
- Protocols are Ways of being (rules that tell us how to live/be in relation to people and country)
- Systems are Ways of knowing
- Processes are Ways of doing
The teacher explains the value of the Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning framework (AITSL 2016).
8 Ways and Quality Teaching (8Ways.Online 2018)
The link between the Quality Teaching Framework and 8 Ways (8Ways.Online 2018)
The Interface Between the Eight-way Framework and Western Pedagogy (Drozdowski 2012, pp. 4-7).
Cultural Interface Theory
8 Ways Creative and Productive Pedagogy Activities
Cultural Interface Theory
8 Ways Creative and Productive Pedagogy Activities
Dr Grant's Indigenous Cultural Analysis Matrix measures both breadth of content and depth of perspective.
| dr_ernie_grants_indigenous_cultural_analysis_matrix.docx |
Uncle Ernie Grant shares how to acknowledge Indigenous holistic views of the world
(Queensland Department of Education 2016)
Cultural Standpoint Questionnaire
There is a strong link between culture and the way people think and learn, so an understanding of the culture of a learner is essential in maximising learning potential. Understanding the way our own culture influences our ways of learning will help us to understand the importance of this for our Aboriginal students as well. This is what we’re exploring in the questionnaire below. It is important to highlight that we’re talking about culture here, not race.
It is also important to acknowledge that there are multiple cultures in this country, all competing for space. In order to make better relationships between cultural groups, first we need to be grounded in our own genuine cultural standpoints, rather than some vague concept of “blackness” or “whiteness”.
The questionnaire helps us to clarify our cultural standpoint. (Challenging, resisting and questioning the document is a valid way of doing this too.) But first we need to understand what culture really is. It’s not about exotic food, skin tone, dances and clothing. It runs deeper, influencing the way we think, the way we do things, the way we live and relate, and the way we value things (8Ways.Online 2018).
There is a strong link between culture and the way people think and learn, so an understanding of the culture of a learner is essential in maximising learning potential. Understanding the way our own culture influences our ways of learning will help us to understand the importance of this for our Aboriginal students as well. This is what we’re exploring in the questionnaire below. It is important to highlight that we’re talking about culture here, not race.
It is also important to acknowledge that there are multiple cultures in this country, all competing for space. In order to make better relationships between cultural groups, first we need to be grounded in our own genuine cultural standpoints, rather than some vague concept of “blackness” or “whiteness”.
The questionnaire helps us to clarify our cultural standpoint. (Challenging, resisting and questioning the document is a valid way of doing this too.) But first we need to understand what culture really is. It’s not about exotic food, skin tone, dances and clothing. It runs deeper, influencing the way we think, the way we do things, the way we live and relate, and the way we value things (8Ways.Online 2018).
| 8ways_intro_cultural_standpoint_questionnaire.docx |
References and further reading
AITSL. (2016). Eight ways of learning. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.aitsl.edu.au/tools-resources/resource/eight-ways-of-learning-illustration-of-practice
Regional Aboriginal Education Team (2019). 8 Ways.of Aboriginal Learning. NSW Department of Education, Dubbo. Retrieved from https://www.8ways.online/
DET Queensland. (2013). Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in schools: A guide for school learning communities. Department of education and Training Queesland. Retrieved from http://indigenous.education.qld.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/eatsips-docs/eatsips_2011.pdf
Drozdowski, V.(2012). The eight-way framework of aboriginal pedagogy. Retrieved from https://vickidrozdowski.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/individual-investigation-of-a-learning-theory-aboriginal-pedagogy.pdf
Queensland Department of Education. (2016). Uncle Ernie Grant shares how to acknowledge Indigenous holistic views of the world [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvvNITzxiaA
University of Southern Queensland. (2017). Using the 8 ways pedagogy, Understanding Australian Aboriginal Educational Contexts. Retrieved from https://open.usq.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=7654&chapterid=702
USQ. (2018). The cultural interface. University of Southern Queensland. Retrieved from https://open.usq.edu.au/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=7448
Yunkaporta, T. (2009) Aboriginal pedagogies at the cultural interface. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Retrieved from https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/10974/4/04Bookchapter.pdf
AITSL. (2016). Eight ways of learning. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.aitsl.edu.au/tools-resources/resource/eight-ways-of-learning-illustration-of-practice
Regional Aboriginal Education Team (2019). 8 Ways.of Aboriginal Learning. NSW Department of Education, Dubbo. Retrieved from https://www.8ways.online/
DET Queensland. (2013). Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in schools: A guide for school learning communities. Department of education and Training Queesland. Retrieved from http://indigenous.education.qld.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/eatsips-docs/eatsips_2011.pdf
Drozdowski, V.(2012). The eight-way framework of aboriginal pedagogy. Retrieved from https://vickidrozdowski.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/individual-investigation-of-a-learning-theory-aboriginal-pedagogy.pdf
Queensland Department of Education. (2016). Uncle Ernie Grant shares how to acknowledge Indigenous holistic views of the world [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvvNITzxiaA
University of Southern Queensland. (2017). Using the 8 ways pedagogy, Understanding Australian Aboriginal Educational Contexts. Retrieved from https://open.usq.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=7654&chapterid=702
USQ. (2018). The cultural interface. University of Southern Queensland. Retrieved from https://open.usq.edu.au/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=7448
Yunkaporta, T. (2009) Aboriginal pedagogies at the cultural interface. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Retrieved from https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/10974/4/04Bookchapter.pdf
