This proposal has the explicit support of the Centre for Australian Indigenous Knowledges, the local historical elders and the traditional custodians, the Jarowair.
It aims to model, for pre-service primary teachers, effective strategies to prevent or manage ‘nature deficit disorder’ (NDD) through immersion in natural, virtual and indigenous cultural contexts.
NDD has been flagged as being increasingly prevalent among primary school students due to their increasing engagement with digital devices and media, resulting in depression, reduced creativity and significant social problems. The literature around NDD draws from extensive research in the fields of environmental psychology and educational psychology.
It is expected this will be one of the more significant challenges that primary school teachers of the future will face, yet very little research is being conducted globally in this area.
Helen