
WEBQUEST
Note:
Links updated January 2002. Author takes no responsibility for redundant
links. Please notify author
when links become redundant.
Note:
The SUBJECT SAMPLER and KNOWLEDGE
HUNT should be completed before the WebQuest. See also Being
Australian.
Introduction
Who
are Australians? Where have they come from? In which ways do we perceive
our 'Australianess'? Would we all answer these questions in the same way?
Food
for thought? Chew your way through this WebQuest to satisfy your hunger.
The
Question
The
main question you will be asked to find an answer for is:
What
does it mean to be Australian?
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Background
Information
Have
you already completed the Subject
Sampler and the Knowledge Hunt?
If not, you should do both of these now to get some background on Oz and
its people. You could also check out some of these links:
-
Virtual
Australia
-
History
of Immigration to Australia - from Convicts to the Gold Rush
-
50
Years of Postwar Migration
Individual
Tasks
Now
that you have some overall background knowledge, it's time to return to
the main question for this WebQuest. A questions this big and important
is better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. Things
work even better when a group of you decide to look at the question from
different perspectives. This way team members can become experts on different
aspects of the question and then come together to poll their learning.
This is where team work pays off. So are you ready to divide and conquer
this question?
Form
groups of six. Each group member must research and answer the question
from a different perspective: Vietnamese;
Aboriginal;
Greek;
Italian; British/Irish;
New
Zealand. Each group member will consider what it must be
like to be a representative of our diverse population.
Group
members must then re-form to answer the essential question: WHAT
DOES IT MEAN TO BE AUSTRALIAN?
Each
group will present their thesis in the form of an oral presentation.
All six members must speak to the question for a period of no less than
3 minutes per speaker. The team's oral presentation should be structured
with an introduction, middle and conclusion (want
help?) (which includes an answer to the question).
VIETNAMESE
Use
the links below to find out more about the Vietnamese in Australia.
Think about how a Vietnamese-Australian may experience his/her 'Australianess'
different to you. Specifically, look for answers to the following
questions:
-
What is the dominant religious
belief of the Vietnamese? In what ways might religious belief affect
the way the Vietnamese live their life? Vietnamese
Religions and Beliefs
-
What differences exist in
American (similar to Australian) family structure and Vietnamese family
structure? What sorts of problems may this present for the Vietnamese
in Australia? The
So-called Freedom of the Western Culture...
-
Read this personal story.
Why did this 18 year old leave Vietnam? Was his life endangered during
his journey? In what ways might this experience affect a Vietnamese
refugee trying to settle in Australia? Personal
Story
-
A Vietnamese, recently arrived
in Australia, many face many challenges. Belief systems vary and
language barriers exist. Imagine you are a Vietnamese person with
a health problem and you have to visit an Australian doctor. How
can 'language differences' and 'belief systems' affect your visit?
Vietnamese
Cultural/Practical Experience
-
Read Mr
Phi Lu's story. Why did he leave Vietnam? What hardships
did he face on his journey? How long did it take to finally arrive
in Australia? Think of 3 descriptive words to sum up how Mr Lu felt
when he first sighted Australian soil.
-
Scroll down to the heading
'Settlers Born in Viet Nam and Hong Kong' to find out when
the Vietnamese arrived. Read further to find out why there was
a sudden influx of immigrants.
-
Read Section 7 'Conclusion'.
In what ways do second generation Vietnamese (born in Australia) differ
from their parents (refugees)? What role does multiculturalism play
in maintaining Vietnamese culture? Indochinese
Refugee Families in Australia: A Multicultural Perspective
-
What is the connection between
organisations, such as this, and 'multiculturalism'? Vietnamese
Youth Media
-
What are some of the needs
and challenges faced by Indochinese families? Needs
and Challenges
-
Rumbaut claims that 'In the
case of the Vietnamese, differing life experiences of the children growing
up in the U.S. and their immigrant parents can turn the generational gap
into a chasm' What are some of the conditions which create this 'chasm'?
The
Biculturation of the Vietnamese Student
-
Why do Indochinese refugees
cluster in certain areas of Australia? Indochinese
Refugees in Australia
-
What are some of the contrasts
between these two sites about Cabramatta? Why might the information
presented by so different? Four
Corners: Cabramatta Fairfield
City: Cabramatta
BRITISH/IRISH
Use
the links below to learn more about the British/Irish/Scots in Australia.
Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
-
Why
did the Scot, Thomas Stevenson, come to Australia? Why did he stay?
Did he forget his homeland? Scots
Around the World
-
'British-Australianism
is only transplanted British patriotism', according to this author.
Do you agree or disagree? Development
of Australian National Identity and Culture
-
In what
ways do Scots in Australia maintain their Scottish culture? The
Scottish Australian Heritage Council Glen
Innes and the Australian Celtic Festival
-
What
was meant by 'the convict taint'? Immigration
History
-
Australians
were apparently not proud of their British ancestry in the 1950s, do you
think we are now? Immigration
History
GREEKS
Use
the links below to learn more about Greeks in Australia. Specifically,
look for answers to the following questions:
-
How
many Greek-Australians were living in Australia in 1991? 1991
Greek-Australian Census
-
Click
on 'Melbourne'. Why is Melbourne referred to as 'the third largest
Greek city worldwide'? The
Greeks in Australia
-
Which
state registered the highest growth (according to the 1991 Census) of Greek
born Australians? Where do the majority of Greek born Australians
live? Geographic
Distribution
-
Between
which two years did the majority of Greeks migrate to Australia?
In what ways do Greeks maintain their culture? History
of Greek Migration
-
Why
do many Greek migrants join community organizations? Welfare
and Community Organizations
-
Do you
recognise any of the Greek sportspeople living in Australia? Greek
Australians in Sport
-
What
is the purpose of the Antipodes Festival? Festivals,
Music and the Arts
-
'Second
generation' means that at least one parent was not born in Australia
and the 'second generation' (children) were born in Australia. What
percentage of second generation Greeks speak Greek in their home?
Why do you think so many second generation Greeks speaks Greek in their
homes? Australian
Social Trends
-
Are
second generation Greeks likely to marry other Greeks? What is the
long-term affect of this trend? Australian
Social Trends
-
Are
second generation Greeks maintaining their adherence to the Greek Orthodox
tradition or to Greek traditions generally? Australian
Social Trends Personal
Opinion of Greek Australians
-
Look
into this site extensively, bearing in mind that it is 'tongue-in-cheek'
Wog
Life
ITALIANS
Use
the links below to learn more about Italians living in Australia.
Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
-
What
do you understand by 'chain
migration'? How would 'chain migration' have affected Italians
living in Australia today?
-
Give
three reasons why Italians were welcomed into the Australian population
in the post-war era. White
Alien Immigration Report, 1944
-
When
Italians first arrived, they caused a national scandal! Why was this?
Frommers
What great food would Australians be missing out on if the Italians were
sent home?
-
Italians
have influenced and contributed to the 'Australian way of life'.
In what ways has the host country to Italian immigrants (in this case,
Australia) benefitted? Italians
for Beginners
-
Read 'Identity
and Community: What is it to be Australian?', by Professor Mary
Kolantzis. After reading her paper, briefly summarize how she would
answer the question 'What Does it Mean to be Australian?"
-
Read
Chapter Eight from Gli
Italiani in Australia. What are some problems faced by children
of immigrants from rural Italy?
-
In what
ways do Italians share their culture with the residents of Ingham? Australian
Italian Festival
-
This
is a site about two successful Aussies of Italian heritage? How does
their heritage influence their lives? Aussie
Talents Steeped in Rugged Ancient Land
-
Read
about the Italian
Heritage in New South Wales. What do you know about your heritage?
Is an understanding or our personal 'heritage' important?
-
What
are some of the conflicts faced by this second generation Australian-Italian?
Life
as a Second Generation Wog
-
Although
this article is humorous, it gives a good insight into how 'wogs' see themselves.
The
Wog Garden
-
Look
into this site extensively, bearing in mind that it is 'tongue-in-cheek'
Wog
Life
ABORIGINES
Use
the links below to learn more about aborigines in Australia.
Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
-
Read
this page, focussing on the fundamental differences and misunderstandings
between Aborigines and white settlers. How many of these differences
still exist? Aborigines:
The First Australians
-
Look
at the comparisons which are made in this article between aboriginal people
and the rest of the Australian population. What are your personal
suggestions for how these statistics can be overturned? Hutchenson
Encyclopaedia
-
According
to the author of this site, Ian Coller, aborigines have suffered a loss
of 'a common humanity'. Read the whole page. How do you think
that affects the way aboriginal people experience their 'Australianess'?
Colonialism
and Australian Aborigines
-
White
Australian medical workers can misinterpret the cultural ways of aboriginal
Australians. See how you would fare by answering these multiple choice
questions. What does this training manual tell us about cultural
differences? Culture
Training Manual for Medical Workers in Aboriginal Communities
-
In this
interview with an Australian war veteran, look for incidents of racism
during his life. Victorians
at War: Oral History Project
-
Read
what 'Kathy' and 'Amos' have to say. The
Health of Young Aborigines: Preface
-
How
can aboriginal health be improved, according to this author? Aboriginal
Health
-
What
is meant by 'The Dreaming'? How does this religion differ from christianity?
Dreaming
-
How
are schools 'failing Aborigines'?Indigenous
Attrition
NEW
ZEALANDERS
Use
the links below to learn more about New Zealanders in Australia.
Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
-
Click
on the picture of the man to learn about the haka.
Have you ever seen the All Blacks perform the haka? Why do you think
they do this before their matches?
-
Australia
has a special bond with New Zealand through the ANZAC
tradition.
-
Do New
Zealanders share our taste in cuisine (food)? NZ
Recipes
-
Approximately
how many New Zealanders emigrate to Australia each year? (a previous year's
intake is a good guide) New
Zealanders in Australia
-
Do New
Zealand immigrants to Australia have a high participation rate in
Australia's work force? (near bottom of page) New
Zealanders in Australia
-
Are
Australians' accents the same as New Zealanders' accents? Accent
on New Zealand and Australia
-
According
to this commentator, what are some differences between Kiwis and Aussies?
The
Global Etiquette Guide: Australia
-
New
Zealand has a diverse population, similar to Australia's. True or
False? About NZ
People
-
Clearly,
the All Blacks are a significant part of New Zealand culture. The
question is: Do you think it is justified for New Zealanders who
live in Australia to still support the All Blacks? Why/Why not?
All
Black Supporters' Club, Australia
Group
Synthesis
Congratulations!
Each person on your team has become an expert on one group of Australians.
Before
you meet with your group,
Check
out this site to help you review and organise your data.
Guess
what, gathering useful information isn't the same as truly understanding
a topic. What experts in the field of learning suggest is that you now
use that information in a new and challenging way. Then you'll really know
about this topic.
So
with you team members all gathered together, carefully read and try answering
the main question for this WebQuest. See where you all agree and where
differences arise. Use information,
pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc you explored to convince your teammates
that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer
to the question. Your WebQuest team should arrive at an answer that
everyone on the team can live with.
Check
out this site for help with structuring your oral presentation.
Before
your group presents its findings, ask yourselves these questions:
-
Have
we worked co-operatively as a group?
-
Are
we prepared to give our answer? (practise!)
-
Is our
presentation structured?
-
Do we
need to prepare any resources?
-
Are
our speaking roles evenly distributed?
-
Is the
correct question being addressed?
-
What
have we learnt?
Your
group can now present its thesis in the form of an oral presentation.
All six members must speak to the question for a period of no less than
3 minutes per speaker. The team's oral presentation should be structured
with an introduction, middle and conclusion (which includes an answer to
the question).
Real
World Feedback
Research
contacts you can make for each of the six ethnic groups and write a letter
to each of them asking for an answer to the question: What
Does it Mean to be Australian? Compare/contrast your conclusions
with the replies.
Conclusion
At
the beginning of this activity, you were asked about the truth. Did you
discover it? Was there only one? Did everyone on your team think so? How
did you answer the main question for this WebQuest?
You
deserve a lot of praise for all the work you've done. And so does your
brain. You've sure put that gray stuff to the test. You gained background
information, developed expertise in one particular area and got into some
pretty expert analysis. At times, you must have felt confused with ideas
spinning every which way. That's normal when you're building new mental
connections. It's funny, with each link between what you already knew and
the new learning going on, you broke another different kind of link, remember
the intellectual slavery we spoke about earlier? You're free! How will
you use these ideas and strategies as you continue to grow and learn? It's
all up to you. Good luck.
Evaluation
You
will be evaluated on the following:
-
organisation
of content
-
clarity
of voice
-
audibility
-
posture
-
preparedness
(confident approach)
-
use
of visual resources
-
expressive
voice
-
use
of gestures
-
fluency
-
eye
contact with audience
-
audience
involvement/reaction
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