About the project
Investigators: Dr Glenn Auld and the members of the Kunibídji community in Maningrida.
The Computers in Homes for Indigenous Australian Literacy Development (CHILD) project was proposed in 2008 to provide improved access to literacy pathways for Indigenous children. Talking Books made from a variety of remote and rural communities will be developed for Indigenous children to access on computers outside of the classroom. Recycled computers that display these talking books will be available for Indigenous families to purchase from shops or resource centres in their local communities. The money from these purchases will stay in the community.
This project began with the investigation of the literacy practices of Kunibídji children.
About Talking Books
The CHILD project will provide Indigenous Australian children with access to Talking Books. Some examples of the design of these texts are provided below. Indigenous children across Australia have found texts in their preferred language of communication to be engaging, particularly when read in at home. The opportunities for Indigenous children to see themselves in texts provides a great motivation for children to read and can be critical in developing effective literacy pathways to literacy. The Talking Books for the CHILD project can only be constructed through a respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
About CHILD CD
A CD is being developed that outlines some background to this proposal and invites you to register your interest in participating in this exciting opportunity to improve the literacy development of Indigenous Australian children. The CD contains the Talking Books and includes sounds, images and stories.
Opportunities to participate in this project
There are numerous opportunities to support this project:
- Donating an iMac computer;
- Support the authoring of talking books in minority Indigenous languages in workshops. A respectful partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people will be a feature of these workshops;
- Support the logistics of moving donated computers from major urban centres to remote communities;
- Support the documentation of literacy learning by children reading the talking books at home;
- Support the reporting of this research by Indigenous people to peak Indigenous bodies and policy makers in Australia.
Thanks
The Faculty of Education at Monash University acknowledges the generosity of Indigenous people who have supported the production of the CHILD CD. The Talking Books on this CD are embedded with their sounds, images and stories. The Faculty of Education would like to thank the members of Maningrida community who have invited Dr Glenn Auld into their homes to video the children's interaction with the Talking Books.
Who to contact about this project?
Dr Glenn Auld is keen to hear your feedback about this proposal.
Dr Glenn Auld
Ph: +61 3 990 44607
Glenn.Auld@Education.monash.edu.au
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