Reflection and Consolidation The Value of Follow Up Bush Trip Activities

The support and encouragement for the delivery of On Country Activities have been really valued and resulted in many positive outcomes for everyone involved. The On Country events themselves have given both Imanpa community members, staff, and students the opportunity to see the importance of Two-Way learning.

After each of Bush Trip, we have seen the value in reflective follow-up classroom learning activities to help students to deepen their understanding of two-way learning.

Documenting these activities through photographs, audio recordings, and videography has proven to be very important and by using this media in different ways helps in generating curriculum resources for curriculum plans with will positively connect to and engage students, Indigeous teachers, and Community.

Kevin taught students the Pitjantjatjara names for local central Australian animals and used a sand-tray to draw their corresponding tracks. Students then copied these tracks and were tested with the flash-cards.

Special thanks must be given to Adelaide Church and the support of Tangentyere College in developing the book 'Puli Blue Ankunytja' with students which celebrates the learning from the On Country Bushtrip. This book has breen really loved by Imanpa Community and many adults in community have appreciated that Nyangatjatjara College is bringing two-way learning back into school. This was especially evident at last year's Indigenous Literacy Day celebrations, where many indigenous men and women from Imanpa expressed happiness in seeing the online version of 'Puli Blue Ankunytja' where both culture and language are recognised and valued.

Celebrating Indigenous Literacy Day, the book productions of Adelaide Church and Tangentyere Council, and the development of 'Puli-Blue Ankunytja'.

The reflective learning opportunties that have grown from the On Country Bushtrips have aslo given community members further opportunities to positively connect with Nyangatjatjara College. David Inkamala, Kevin and Elizabeth Wilson, and Andrew Nugiary have successfully co-facilitated a review of the Puli Blue Activity with follow up activities including Tjina (Aniamal track) identification, Irmangka Irmangka (Eremophila alternifolia) bush balm and soap making, and Visual Arts activities.

On Country and follow-up On Country activities give schools the opportunity to recognise the importance of intergenerational knowledge sharing and learning, and helps to cultivate opportunities for supporting the continuation of culture.

THrough facilitating many On Country Bushtrips, I recognise the relevancy and meaning of curriculum reserouces that can be collected and 'unpacked' from visits out onto Country. I also recognise the importance of professioanlly documenting through photographs, audio recordings, and videography. There is definately value in teaching school staff the skills in these media areas. Please view the 'Puli Blue Bushtrip Activities 2024' video to see some of the follow up activities that the Imanpa students were involved with in-class after the Bush-Trip.

For a great resource fro remote teachers to become familair with, is 'Two-Way Science An Integrated Learning Program fro Aboriginal Desert Schools' It is available for download here:

https://www.publishing.csiro.au/book/7949/