A cross-cultural learning resource

Information technology (IT) is often seen as a driver for change and development in western culture. particularly with regard to education. In an interesting contrast, for younger school children, IT is also seen as an entertainment environment. The project Research reported in this paper is an investigation of the use of IT in a CD ROM application developed to provide a cross-cultural learning experience for age group eight to nine years, typically Grade Three of Victorian Primary Schooling. Our study concludes that CDROM technology is a viable cross-cultural communication resource, certainly for younger students and we expect transferable to tertiary level. An actual CD ROM prototype was developed and tested with a small number of Year Three students who used and explored the resource in order to verify the effectiveness of the CD ROM as a of method of communication. The results are also summarised in this paper. In terms of cross-cultural substantiation of the resource, the content of the CDROM was developed in collaboration with the Indigenous community. Specific protocols for the elucidation and communication of Indigenous culture were also adhered to, and appropriate permission's sought. The CDROM prototype features an Indigenous artefact (painting) with a detailed description provided by the artist. The project and the CDROM resource provided a viable, culturally inclusive paradigm for future developments. This approach should be transferable to a wide range of possible applications including tertiary level resources, and forms the basis of future research in this area.