IMW team train WA school teachers in Google Earth Pro as part of two way learning pilot

In September IMW Australia leader, Andrew Dowding and GIS team member, Holly Moore travelled to Broome to deliver Google Earth Pro training to West Australian school teachers as part of a two way learning pilot program. The pilot is an initiative led by the Department of Education WA, who are currently running multiple trials across the State. 

Over 20 teachers and community partners from across the Kimberley attended the two day, Two-Way Science Kimberley Workshop. Along with IMW Australia Google Earth Pro training, attendees also heard from Victoria de Bruyn, a seagrass expert and Project Officer at Environs Kimberley and Bart Pigram, a Yawuru man with over a decade of experience in the tourism industry and Principal Consultant for the Department of Education WA. 

Attendees and two way learning facilitators for the Two-Way Science Kimberley Workshop

What is two way learning?

Two way learning (commonly referred to as two way science or both way science), is a philosophy of teaching and learning that connects Western science with Indigenous science under the Australian school curriculum. Two way learning is a means of combining two different worlds of thought into one. To learn more about the benefits of two way learning, read our blog; Two way science should be part of the school curriculum, here’s why.

What happened over the two day workshop?

Mimi Majardi gave a Welcome to Country, performing a smoking ceremony for guests at the beginning of the event. Attendees then began their two way learning lessons with a trip to the Broome Bird Observatory, a local Indigenous site a few hundred metres from the Indian Ocean. With the tide out, the teachers were asked to collect data on the seagrass; photos, descriptions and locations. While doing so, Victoria shared knowledge of the seagrass and the environment it thrives in. After Victoria’s lesson, Bart shared cultural information with the group - recording his teachings to be used back in the classroom. He spoke about the bushtucker from the reef, collecting a variety of molluscs as he talked. Afterwards, the group made a fire and cooked the molluscs. While everyone ate, Bart spoke about the significance of each animal and their shells, about fish traps and more Indigenous scientific practices, translating from English to Yawuru. Inspired by the day of activities, the teachers headed back to Gimme Club to debrief and began drafting lesson plans for their own classroom of students.

On the second day Andrew, with support from Holly, showed workshop attendees how to digitally map the cultural site they had visited the previous day in Google Earth Pro (desktop version). The training materials and content Andrew and Holly delivered were based off of IMW Australia - On Demand course; Introduction to Google Earth Pro. They ran through how to add metadata to a map (descriptions, photos and videos), recommendations and advice around protocol for recording cultural sites and how data can be kept safe in digital spaces.

“Anyone working within the Indigenous mapping landscape or with Aboriginal communities would benefit from learning how to digitally map in Google Earth Pro. One of the best features it offers is it’s ability to show the earth as it is in real life. It was clear that each of the teachers had their own ideas on how they would bring this new skillset to their classes.” - Andrew Dowding, Managing Director of Winyama and Leader of IMW Australia

“Winyama’s presence and delivery of Indigenous Mapping Workshop training was very well received and allowed participants to attain the skills to document, preserve and digitally map their future ‘learning on country’ excursions with the guidance of the Aboriginal communities.” - Bart Pigram, Principal Consultant for the Department of Education WA

Each year along with our National IMW, IMW Australia can provide four in-person workshops in any State across Australia. This includes forums, conferences or events that wish to host us.

Check out our host the IMW page if you would like to apply to host our trainers at your next event.