How Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Participate in Higher Education with Technology

Abstract

In 2010, through the generosity of a legacy, DEHub - a consortium of 5 universities established to inform 'best practice' in distance education and based at the University of New England - advertised a scholarship throughout Australia for an Indigenous student to undertake a special research project relating in some way to both Indigenous needs in higher education and the broad field of distance education. From a group of keen applicants who came from a variety of backgrounds and locations, a successful recipient was selected. Following the awarding of the scholarship, the Indigenous scholar, staff from Oorala (the Indigenous Centre at the University of New England), and academic staff from DEHub, worked collaboratively to identify the chosen research topic. This presentation shares the preliminary findings of research into how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participate in higher education with technology. It also describes the research journey between the Indigenous scholar and the supervisor which was successfully mediated via by synchronous and asynchronous technology in the supervision process itself.