Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities

In this chapter we argue that critical service learning can be a powerful and effective means of developing higher education students’ Indigenous cultural awareness and understanding. When done well, critical service learning also encourages reflection on the socio-political and environmental contex...

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Main Authors: Johnston, Michelle, Bennett, Dawn, Mason, Bonita, Thomson, Chris
Other Authors: B.-L Bartleet
Format: Book Chapter
Published: Springer 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3727
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author Johnston, Michelle
Bennett, Dawn
Mason, Bonita
Thomson, Chris
author2 B.-L Bartleet
author_facet B.-L Bartleet
Johnston, Michelle
Bennett, Dawn
Mason, Bonita
Thomson, Chris
author_sort Johnston, Michelle
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In this chapter we argue that critical service learning can be a powerful and effective means of developing higher education students’ Indigenous cultural awareness and understanding. When done well, critical service learning also encourages reflection on the socio-political and environmental contexts that influence contemporary culture and contribute to social injustice. We support our argument with the example of a Western Australian service-learning program in which undergraduate media students worked with city based Aboriginal community groups over the course of a semester. This project is of special significance because of its use of participatory action research to assist students develop relationships with their community partners and to manage individual projects. The findings expose the common ground shared by critical service learning and participatory action research, and suggest that the principles of action research can contribute to a strong and successful service learning experience.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T05:59:27Z
publishDate 2015
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-37272023-02-27T07:34:27Z Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities Johnston, Michelle Bennett, Dawn Mason, Bonita Thomson, Chris B.-L Bartleet D. Bennett A. Power N. Sunderland In this chapter we argue that critical service learning can be a powerful and effective means of developing higher education students’ Indigenous cultural awareness and understanding. When done well, critical service learning also encourages reflection on the socio-political and environmental contexts that influence contemporary culture and contribute to social injustice. We support our argument with the example of a Western Australian service-learning program in which undergraduate media students worked with city based Aboriginal community groups over the course of a semester. This project is of special significance because of its use of participatory action research to assist students develop relationships with their community partners and to manage individual projects. The findings expose the common ground shared by critical service learning and participatory action research, and suggest that the principles of action research can contribute to a strong and successful service learning experience. 2015 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3727 Springer restricted
spellingShingle Johnston, Michelle
Bennett, Dawn
Mason, Bonita
Thomson, Chris
Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities
title Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities
title_full Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities
title_fullStr Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities
title_full_unstemmed Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities
title_short Finding Common Ground: Combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with Aboriginal communities
title_sort finding common ground: combining participatory action research and critical service-learning to guide and manage projects with aboriginal communities
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3727