Reconciling Design Issues and Values in Simulations

Australia's geographic position in the southeast quadrant of Asia can hardly be disputed, but the historical and emotional ties, until recent times, have been with England and Europe rather than the countries to the north. As the nation take steps to adjust awareness of its location and implications for international relationships and economic development, it has simultaneously been revising its understanding of the past, with specific and ongoing concern for redressing past injustices toward indigenous Australians. The University of Technology, Sydney, actively promotes intercultural awareness among its highly diverse staff and student body, with a special concern for providing for indigenous learners and staff. As academics, the authors had an opportunity to design an interactive online learning activity for exploring issues of Reconciliation within this wider context. As they worked on clarifying a design brief, the authors realized that more fundamental beliefs and issues were shaping their discussions. This article reports on what happened when they found that they were unable to continue with the initial brief and instead moved to reconsider their separate and mutual perceptions of intercultural issues shaping the process of Reconciliation in Australia. This led to design of a simulation for values-based learning adaptable to issues of Reconciliation and other ways of achieving cultural conflict-resolution.