AusCivics Curriculum Resources: Media Critique & Review Series

The AusCivics Media & Research team has selected a range of Australian and overseas films and television programs that comment directly or indirectly on matters related to civics, democracy, the constitution, and related current affairs. Each film or television program is critically reviewed; a short clip, with one scene or a package of highlights, is combined with questions and further analysis to engage students. Using the film/television piece as a window to the real or imagined world of the media creators, teachers will be able frame subsequent discussions and/or assignments to help students develop their own insights for today’s civics issues. "The Five Pillars of Australian Democracy" provide the organising framework for each segment and for the series as a whole. Each segment is linked directly to the respective state/territory civics curriculum. Film and television provides an intriguing lens through which to view democracies (and other kinds of societies) from a multitude of perspectives. The critiqued media segments are sourced from a diverse array of producers and cultures. ‘AusCivics’ analysis and questions are entirely non-partisan. However, through critical analysis students will be invited to form their own judgments both in relation to the techniques of storytelling and production used by producer/s, writer/s, film directors, news and current affairs presenters and guest/s; and form judgments about the issue or principle involved. This will in turn contribute to studients' ability to critically analyse the general media, political and social environment.

WHY THE ‘FIVE PILLARS’?
AusCivics formed its Five Pillars platform with the help of CEFA. The Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) Trust was established in 1994. CEFA has been educating for democracy across Australia for more than fifteen years. The board and council of CEFA is non-partisan and includes a number of Australia’s most eminent persons in history studies, constitutional and civil law, education, literature, politics and media. The Governor-General is Patron-in-Chief, and the former Governor-General sits on the CEFA board. Through many years of engagement with thousands of students and their teachers, CEFA’s original version of the Five Pillars of Australian Democracy has been tested, refined and proven as a sound basis for educating about democracy. The AusCivics version of the five pillars encapsulates the history, development, principles and values of Australia’s system of law, government and democracy in a readily understandable manner, specially attuned to the needs of schools. Of course, the content of the Five Pillars has to be approached systematically, in ‘bite-size’ segments, suitable to various school levels and consistent with curriculum guidelines. The AusCivics Media Critique and Review Series is there to help teachers achieve their student learning objectives in civics. Each media segment invite further criticism and analysis in five key areas:

1. MEDIA CONTEXT

   What is the setting, story, or circumstance shown in the media piece?
    
2. MEDIA CRITIQUE
   The AusCivics media and research team provides a professional perspective on how the elements of story, conflict, drama and production have been handled; then asks students further questions about the message, bias/balance, and intent of the material creators.
    
3. ANALYSIS & REVIEW
   How does this media segment relate to the one (or more) of the Five Pillars of Australian Democracy? What is known of the ‘real world’ circumstances — ie historical facts or current affairs — associated with the featured media clip?
    
4. THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION & AUSTRALIA TODAY
   This stage prompts awareness and analysis of how each of the media segments relates to Australian democracy, civics and citizenship; historically and today.

   A key outcome of the AusCivics program and related curriculum resources is that students will be able to identify practical links between the Australian Constitution, our system of democracy, and everyday life in Australia. They will also learn to differentiate between Australia’s system of democracy, the forms of government and society that prevail in other countries, and a range of lifestyle and societal implications resulting from those differences. These are complex areas of discussion and application worthy of university courses and adult investigation, but of course each of the segments, the questions, the materials and curriculum links must be adapted to suit the level of the participating students.
    

5. PERSONAL APPLICATION
   This segment invites personal awareness of the choices and behaviour that are possible or that may be expected in a society such as Australia. Informed voting is just one example of an ‘expectation’. Engagement in local government or community organisations are further examples. A media segment for example may create a focus on the stunt work and filmmaking techniques involved in a high speed car chase. There is an expectation that road users will drive in a manner that protects themselves and others, in which case the personal application section could help students realise the practical value of speed limits, seat belts, cautious driving techniques, drink driving laws etc, paving the way for more informed choices about personal behaviour.

CURRICULUM LINKS
Each media segment made available through the AusCivics Media Critique and Review Series has a complete set of links to relevant state/territory curriculum provided in the notes. Of course, teachers will be able to use these materials to suit their particular needs and curriculum focus.  A DVD or downloadable copy of the curriculum resource videos are available upon request to schools participating in the AusCivics festival. 

PRIZE PROGRAM
To help teachers create interest and involvement AusCivics prize projects are promoted in conjunction with auscivics.org.au and during the festival sessions. Those who are registered at MyAusCivics will automatically receive email updates notifying of new uploads and the x prize questions.

Frequently asked questions about curriculum resources.