Schedule

Assessment
The Student Assessment Guide and Learning Plan describes the evidence required to be competent in this unit.

You can track your progress by comparing it against unit requirements and at every stage of your learning and study. You can also get support from your iTAFE mentor and advisor.

Assessment here

Study Guide

There are many ways that you might choose to make your way through the unit. The diagram and suggested sessions (below) will help to plan your learning through the unit Develop cultural competence . The sessions outlined below are a suggestion only - you may have another way that you prefer to study.

VET Open Online Courses (VOOCs)

Vocational Education and Training online courses are another choice that you can make to assist you to further understand this unit.

Each session is accompanied by a set of colour-coded resources. Please review the resources before attending each VOOC. After the VOOC, you should record your thoughts, ideas and suggestions about the session and share them with other learners. We have provided links to blog, forum and sharing tools but you can also use your own methods.

Session 1 - 30/4/14

Reflecting on your own cultural identity and biases and identifying  and developing cultural competency-Blue tiles

 

This includes

• Identifying significant events in your own family background or history which may influence current values, beliefs and attitudes
• Defining aspects of the environment which influence your own cultural identity
• Reflecting on potential impacts your own background may have on interactions and relationships with people from other cultures 
• Identifying any knowledge, attitudes or skills to be developed to ensure cultural competency
• Identifying the cultural identities of the children within the service, their families and the local community
• Critically analyse relationships, curriculum and  activities
• Identify skills, attributes or knowledge that may need to  be developed to ensure cultural competency

• Knowledge of how to navigate through framework and standards documents to find areas relevant to this unit of competency

A few points to think about for your blog:

• Why does an educator need to reflect on their own cultural identity and biases?
• How does reflecting on your own cultural identify and biases help you support children's cultural identity?
• What is cultural competence?
• How does an educator develop cultural competence? 

Session 2- 7/5/4

Support individual cultural identities and support children in developing confidence and strength in personal and cultural identity
 -Pink tiles

 This include

  

• Identifying and consulting with appropriate persons to obtain knowledge of local cultural groups 
• Supporting activities within the service to encourage and promote participation by all cultural groups 
• Processing information in a culturally sensitive way including identification of how and with whom information can be shared
• Providing opportunities for all families to share their context and cultural knowledge
• Providing opportunities for children and families to enhance their experience of cultural diversity 
• Demonstrate respect for all home languages and expose children to different language and dialects, and encourage appreciation of linguistic diversity
• Supporting experiences and environments where secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships between children, families and other adults can be established
• Communicating and interact with children to help them work towards a strong sense of identity, wellbeing and of being connected with and contributing to their world
• Implementing group activities to allow children to use collaborative processes to solve problems
• Engaging with peers, mentors or others to support individual children with specific cultural needs as appropriate
• Following community protocols when engaging with community member

A few points to think about for your blog:

• What is the importance of obtaining knowledge of local cultural groups?
• How can educators provide opportunities for children and families to enhance their experience of cultural diversity in a non tokenistic way?
• How does an effective educator demonstrate respect for home languages and expose children to different language and dialects?
• How can an educator create a sense of belonging for all children and families?
• How would an educator find out about community protocols and why is it important to follow these protocols?

Session 3 - 14/5/14

Create environments to support children’s cross cultural understanding & relationships and support the implementation of inclusive learning experiences  - Purple tiles  

This includes:

• Planning and implementing experiences that foster positive attitudes to inclusion 
• Exploring with children the culture, heritage, backgrounds and traditions of each child within the context of their community 
• Promoting establishment of constructive relationships with all children and families based on trusting relationships, respectful interactions, understandings of alternate world views and celebration of diversity 
• Using oral communication skills to role-model open, inclusive, ethical interactions with all children, families and colleagues
• Observing children’s interactions and participation to identify the need for additional cultural support and cross-cultural understanding  
• Implementing experiences that build on the diverse backgrounds of children and families within the service, broaden children’s perspectives and encourage appreciation of diversity
• Planning and implementing experiences that focus on events, customs and beliefs that are relevant to the service’s children and families 

A few points to think about for your blog:

• How does an effective educator create environments that support cross cultural understanding?
• Why does an educator need to create environments and implement experiences that support cross cultural understanding?
• A culturally competent educator is able to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures. What could an educator do to ensure effective interactions?

  

 Session 4 - 21/5/14

Research Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities- Orange tiles

This includes

• Identifying any historical issues in relation to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and the land that the service is on, including at regional and state levels
• Reflecting on contemporary impacts of historical issues including those relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

 
A few points to think about for your blog:

• Why is it important for educators to be aware of historical issues in relation to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?
• How does awareness of historical issues assist educators with their relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?
• What have been the contemporary impacts of the historical issues?