Imagine a university course where students of different nationalities and ages come together in the wilderness to challenge their most fundamental perceptions of society, before reflecting group dynamics by voting on their team members' contributions.

That\'s a broad-brush but otherwise real portrayal of Foundations of Indigenous Learning, an elective course offered by Central Queensland University Rockhampton to provide a broad understanding of Indigenous people and their culture, history and lifestyles.

The course was originally developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student teachers, but is starting to become popular with non-Indigenous students, particularly those who have come from overseas via AustraLearn, Study Abroad and exchange programs.

The course lecturer, Natasha Lamb, delivered a paper about the course ('Teaching in unusual places - Engaging international students about Indigenous studies') to this week's ISANA: International Education Association Conference, being held in Yeppoon from October 8-10.

Ms Lamb said students in the course were encouraged to reflect on their own and others\' lived experiences to foster their understanding of colonisation and how this has impacted on Australia\'s Indigenous people.

"Aboriginality is a lived experience and cannot be covered in a 12-week tertiary course, but it is important for students to be exposed to as many Indigenous stories as can possibly be achieved, to enhance their understanding of the diversity of the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," she said.

"Our learning environment encourages a balanced combination of academic discussion and personal reflection, while discussions urge students to participate in challenging past and present perceptions." Ms Lamb said one activity involved the class being \'invaded\' by Indigenous staff and students and being \'rounded up, put into groups and generally told what to do and say\'.

\"This helps the student to reflect upon the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual disruptions and general feeling of dislocation that has been a legacy of colonisation,\" she said.

Ms Lamb said that as part of the exploration of the importance of belonging to land, students could express themselves through artwork, poetry, pictures or personal accounts. She said course included field trips into bush and national park areas, encompassing visits to an Aboriginal midden, a \'massacre\' site, stories from a traditional custodian, bush food tips, hunting and gathering guides, viewing of ancient rock art and learning about the colonial history of the region.

Part of the course involves a peer assessment process which provides an insight into the dynamics of the various project groups.

For details call Natasha Lamb via 0409 483 323 or the conference desk at Rydges Capricorn International Resort.