Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-sv6ng Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-20T04:03:55.971Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Making it Possible: The Evolution of Ratep — a Community-Based Teacher Education Program for Indigenous Peoples

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Frank A. York  and
Lyn Henderson
Frank A. York
Affiliation:
School of Education, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
Lyn Henderson
Affiliation:
School of Education, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
Get access

Abstract

Since 1990, the School of Education at James Cook University has produced and delivered a successful offcampus Bachelor of Education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their home communities through the Remote Area Teacher Education Program (RATEP):A community-based teacher education program for Indigenous peoples. This paper examines five key areas. One is the intersystemic management structure that has majority representation from Indigenous communities and peak education bodies as well as representation from the other three stakeholders: Education Queensland, the School of Education at James Cook University and the Tropical North Queensland Institute of Technical and Further Education (TAFE). A second area is RATEP’s innovative use of information and communication technologies in teaching and learning. A third theme is its dynamic evolution from (a) two dedicated RATEP sites in the Torres Strait to 12 sites throughout Queensland; (b) geographically remote sites to a combination of remote, rural, and urban sites; (c) a principle where students gather at a dedicated site with its own teachercoordinator to clusters where a number of students are living in different locations and the coordinator travels between these; (d) movement of sites from location to location depending on need and demand; and (e) a fixed program to a highly flexible one that allows multiple entry and exit points, including honours. A fourth area is the critical insights generated from research into the program by Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers. The final theme is the retention of graduates from RATEP within the classroom and their promotion into the administrative and advisory teaching sectors.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 32 , 2003 , pp. 77 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Catts, R., Fredericks, B.Hornagold, M.Maher, M.,& Smith, L. (1998). An investigation into the possible enhancement and extension of the RATEP project. Rockhampton: Faculty of Education and Creative Arts, Central Queensland University.Google Scholar
Henderson, L., (1993a). Interactive multimedia and culturally appropriate ways of learning. In Latchem, C.Williamson, J.,& Henderson-Lancett, L.(Eds.), Interactive multimedia: Practice and promise(pp. 165–182. London: Kagan Page.Google Scholar
Henderson, L., (1993b). Computers: A tool of empowerment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. In Loos, N.,& Osanai, T.(Eds.), Indigenous minorities and education: Australian and Japanese perspectives of their Indigenous peoples, the Ainu, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders(pp. 320–332. Tokyo: Sanyusha.Google Scholar
Henderson, L. (1996). Instructional design of interactive multimedia: A cultural critique. Educational Technology Research and Development, 44 (4), 85–104.Google Scholar
Henderson, L.,& Coombs, G. (1989). Confronting disadvantage: A demographic analysis of the first 53 graduates through AITEP. In Loos, N.,& Miller, G.(Eds.), Succeeding against the odds: The Jbumsville Aboriginal and Islander Teacher Education Program(pp. 17–34. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Henderson, L.,& Fenwick, J. (1995). A model of enhancing student support at a distance through mentoring in a cross-cultural context. In Tait, A.(Ed.), Putting the student first: Learner centred approaches in open and distance learning(pp. 84–91. Cambridge: Open University East Anglia.Google Scholar
Henderson, L., Patching, W.,& Putt, I. (1994a). Concept mapping, interactive multimedia and cultural context. In Ottman, T.,&Tomek, I.(Eds.), Interactive multimedia and hypermedia, 1994(pp. 269–274. Charlottesville: Association of the Advancement of Computers in Education.Google Scholar
Henderson, L., Patching, W.,& Putt, I. (1994b). The impact of metacognitive interactive strategies and prompts embedded in interactive multimedia in a cross-cultural context: An exploratory investigation. In Queensland Open Learning Network (Eds.), Open learning ‘94: Proceedings of the 1st international conference on open learning(pp. 181–186. Brisbane: Queensland Open Learning Network and University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Henderson, L.,& Putt, I.(1993). The Remote Area Teacher Education Program (RATEP): Cultural contextualisation of distance education through interactive multimedia. Distance Education, 14 (2), 213–231.Google Scholar
Henderson, L.,& Putt, I.(1999a). Theorizing audioconferencing: An eclectic paradigm. Canadian Journal of Educational Communication, 27 (1), 21–37.Google Scholar
Henderson, L.,& Putt, I.(1999b). Evaluating audioconferencing as an effective learning tool in cross-cultural contexts. Open Learning, 14 (1), 25–37.Google Scholar
Henderson, L., York, F., Jose, G.,& McGowan, A. (2000a, April). Learning with the internet: Empowerment in cross cultural open learning contexts. Paper presented at the American Education Research Association (AERA) Conference, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Henderson, L., York, E., Jose, G.,& McGowan, A. (2000b). Learning with computer mediated communication in remote off-campus cross-cultural contexts: Bridging the information gap. In Young, S.Greer, J.Maurer, H.,& Chee, Y.(Eds.), ICCE: 8th International Conference on Computers in Education, 1(pp. 701–708). Los Alamitos, CA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society.Google Scholar
Henderson, M. (1996). Multimedia interactivity: An investigation into learners’ mediating processes during click-drag activities. Unpublished BEd (Hons) thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.Google Scholar
Lang, M. (1993). “…A different way, the RATEP way, the local way …The impact of a Remote Area Teacher Education Program upon its students, tutors and lecturers.” Townsville: James Cook University of North Queensland.Google Scholar
Logan, L.,& Sachs, J. (1991). It opened my head: An evaluation of the first phase of the RATEP. Brisbane: University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Loos, N.,& Miller, G. (1989). Introduction. In Loos, N.Miller, G.(Eds.), Succeeding against the odds: The Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Teacher Education Program(pp. 1–17. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Macindoe, M.,& Henderson, L.(1991). Feedback to remote areas: Technology, the influencing factor. Education Australia, 15, 12–16.Google Scholar
Moyle, D.(1995). Reaccrediation review: Off campus teacher education program(Report 1). Cairns: Far North Queensland Institute of TAFE.Google Scholar
Nakata, M.(1995). Cutting a better deal for Torres Strait Islanders. In Osborne, B.(Ed.),Ibupoeydhay ziawalipo tisa ngalpun omasker: A guidebook for teachers of our children(pp. 16–25. Cairns: James Cook University.Google Scholar
Page, J.,& Miller, A. (1999). Old landscapes, new horizons: Some introductory thoughts on Indigenous peoples, information technologies, and education in Australia. Leam-IT world conference: Indigenous perspectives of learning online. Retrieved 28 June, 2003, from Google Scholar
Page, N.,& Czuba, C. (1999). Empowerment: What is it? Journal of Extension, 37 (5). Retrieved 20 August, 2003, from Google Scholar
Patching, W., Henderson, L.,& Putt, I. (1994). Interactive multimedia and thinking: A report on research in progress. In McBeath, C.,& Atkinson, R.(Eds.), Proceedings of the second international interactive multimedia symposium(pp. 389–397. Perth: Promaco Conventions Pry. Ltd.Google Scholar
Ritchie, S. (1997). Bachelor of Education review. Unpublished manuscript, School of Education, James Cook University, Townsville.Google Scholar
Van Tiggelen, J. (1996, December 11). Students graduate against the odds. Townsville Bulletin, p.1.Google Scholar
Willett, F. (1991). Report to the Minister for Education on the Queensland open learning project. Brisbane: Queensland Open Learning Project.Google Scholar
York, F.,& Henderson, L. (2001). Giving control over destinies: Students’ perspectives of an innovative cross-cultural education program. International Journal of Instructional Media, 28 (2). 137–146.Google Scholar