Critical Reflection on Cultural Identity, Education System and ICT in Education

Running head: CRITICAL REFLECTION
CRITICAL REFLECTION
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

CRITICAL REFLECTION1
Q.1. Critically examine how cultural identity impacts on the education of students from
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
The hiatus between the accomplishments of the students belonging to the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander background and the other Australian students has remained
consistent (Wilks & Wilson, 2015). Although there are several attributes contributing to this
hiatus, one of the pivotal attributes that influences the education of the students belonging to
the aforementioned background is the lack of cultural identity in the academic structure of the
various educational institutions. Identification with their own cultures provides the students
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait background with the confidence and a feeling of
belongingness, which is necessary for them to succeed in their individual fields.
According to a study conducted by Barney, several indigenous students who were
relocated to Brisbane expressed their feelings of isolation at their concerned university
(Barney, 2016). The .lack of cultural identity often makes students feel alienated among the
existing crowd and degrades their interests in the completion of the education, thereby
contributing to the hiatus mentioned previously. There are also incidents of racism and deficit
of cultural understanding from the fellow students and lecturers that further demotivates the
students belonging to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait backgrounds. Certain students in the
study also discussed the deficit in acknowledgement of diverse learning styles in accordance
with the cultural background in which they belong. It must also be highlighted that frequently
students have to choose between their cultural obligations and their education. Such choices
are difficult to make and often result in a strong obstruction in the retention of students. It can
be deduced from this study that the cultural commitments of the students must be
accommodated in the education structure to encourage them and decrease the scopes of
isolating them.

CRITICAL REFLECTION2
The dominance of white culture has become so prevalent and acceptable that the
importance of knowing and understanding the indigenous culture is often neglected. The
provision of cultural insights and acknowledgement can prove to a catalyst for enhancing
students to reach their individual aims. Several parents belonging to the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait backgrounds claim that the graduate teachers often lack the responsibility to
procure a safe learning environment for the indigenous students (Anderson & Atkinson,
2014). These issues can be resolved by the incorporation of cultural sensibility and promotion
of indigenous cultures in the regular curriculum. The contribution of the teachers in the
acknowledgement and promotion of the Australian history and cultures is pivotal for reducing
the hiatus between the students of Australia and shall encourage the students to accept and
appreciate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait indigenous cultures.
The concept of a learning community is pivotal for bridging the gap between the
indigenous students and other Australian students. Several methods like face-to-face learning
and ELearning could be applied to do the same. The students coming from the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait backgrounds have a lot to share with the people who have no knowledge about
their cultures, which can be done through group projects. Therefore, with the proper inclusion
of new and interesting approaches the gap can be bridged between the students belonging to
diverse cultural backgrounds.
Q.2. Critically examine the means by which the mission and identity of schools and
systems of education in Australia respond to broader social and cultural influences and
changing values.
Australian education system houses a variety of students belonging to diverse cultural
backgrounds. Herein arises a need to incorporate these cultural diversities and integrate every
student to eliminate any scope for discrimination of any kind. Australian academic procedure