Case studies
Who’s the Boss?
Who’s the Boss, our most popular school learning program, allows students in years 5 to 7 to explore Australia’s democracy through interactive technology in exhibition-based activities and a role-play in a historic parliamentary chamber. The program is directly relevant to elements of the Australian Curriculum for those year levels, such as exploring active citizenship and the concepts of power, leadership and community service.
The first half of the program is an interactive trail that uses award-winning, touchscreen-based radio frequency identification technology. The trail is designed to deliver multi-level learning activities in a social context to challenge students’ knowledge and practice of democracy. For example, in the Prime Ministers of Australia exhibition the challenges link to aspects of leadership: one question asks, ‘Would a war hero make a good prime minister?’
The second half of the program is the role-play, which engages the students with parliamentary practice. Role-play is a powerful way to explore ideas. It is closely linked with storytelling and, through the use of imagination, assists students to retain what they have learnt.
The role-plays feature a number of historical scenarios, each shining a spotlight on one aspect of a chamber and its relationship to Australian democracy. For example, the links between Great Britain and Australia are explored in the House of Representatives Chamber through the role of the Speaker.
One Senate role-play examines the role of the Governor-General. A key element is the story of the clash between Prime Minister James Scullin and King George V over the appointment of the first Australian-born governor-general. One Year 5 student asked the question, ‘Who is more important in our democracy, the prime minister or the governor-general?’ The quality of thinking indicated by this question reflects both the value of role-play as a teaching tool and the degree to which the students are engaged.
As one student commented, ‘I liked most the Senate, the dress-up and the role-play. It was a good experience and I learnt some interesting things about previous prime ministers.’
Participants role-playing as senators, the Governor-General and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Who’s The Boss? Photo: Belinda Pratten Centre and right photo: OPH Collection