Core Cultural e-Learning Impact and Currency Evaluation

Report to Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

Core is an innovative online culture learning course designed to provide a foundational framework for individual and group learning and to create increased organisational cultural capability. This evaluation aimed to assess the extent to which Core is achieving the set course objectives and to provide AIATSIS with recommendations for improvement. The evaluation drew upon a variety of datasets sourced from a mixed-methods approach. The evaluation finds that Core has been well received by learners, with survey and focus group participants consistently stating that the contents of Core are engaging and informative. This is supported by reports that core has contributed positively to learners’ understanding of and perception of First Nations histories, cultures, heritages, etc. Leaners to have completed more modules tend to report greater outcomes in terms of knowledge about and positive attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. A strong theme emerging from the findings was a need to increase a focus on race and racism, as well as maintain up-to-date content of Core. Reconciling the length of Core with time and capacity constraints appears to be a key challenge for many learners. Technical difficulties and lack of organisational support are also reported as major factors affecting learner’s engagement with Core.