Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploratory Study Investigating The Impact Of A Differentiate Framework Of Instruction On Generalist Teachers Perceived Confidence To Teach Visual Arts, Katrina Eddles-Hirsch

Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice

This article reports on an exploratory study that addressed the low confidence levels of 80 generalist primary student teachers enrolled in a mandatory visual arts course. Previous studies in this area have found that a cycle of neglect exists in Australia, as a result of educators’ lack of confidence in their ability to teach visual arts. This is believed to create a knock on effect whereby generalist primary student teachers enter mandatory tertiary visual arts units with little belief in their own art ability. This exploratory study centred on proactively applying the Tomlinson Model of differentiation in an effort to …

The Structure Of Discussions In An Online Communication Course: What Do Students Find Most Effective?, Laura Jacobi

Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of students regarding what was effective about the way in which the asynchronous discussions were structured in an upper level online organizational communication course. Surveys from 27 student participants were used, with questions focused upon the structure of discussions in the online course as compared to other online courses and to traditional classrooms. Results indicate structured and relevant discussion prompts, small group placement, visible postings, and required weekly postings as significant factors to student success. The majority of students also found online discussions more effective than live discussions in traditional …

Introducing A New Learning And Teaching Evaluation Planning Framework For Small Internally Funded Projects In Higher Education, Elaine Huber

Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice

Scholarly evaluation practices in learning and teaching projects are under-reported in the literature. In order for robust evaluative measures to be implemented, a project requires a well-designed evaluation plan. This research study describes the development of a practical evaluation planning framework through an action research approach, using primary data from learning and teaching practitioners in higher education. Underpinned by the literature, this framework is accessible to a wide range of disciplinary scholars and is accompanied by a set of recommendations that together contribute to the improvement of the evaluation of learning and teaching innovations in higher education.

Heutagogy - An Updated Approach To Masters Education, Lauren P. Richardson, Carol Mcgowan, Lee Styger

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Purpose. This paper examines the development of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) compliant Master of Business Administration (MBA) subject. The aim was to equip students with the fundamental skills they would need to become lifelong learners. We used an embedded team teaching approach as a way to facilitate heutagogical practice. Methodology. A literature search was conducted to see how the AQF requirements were being met for MBA courses. This is connected to the single case study of an MBA subject's development. Findings. The findings indicate that an embedded team teaching style proved to be beneficial in enabling the heutagogical double …

Pacific Islands Field Education (Pife) 2016 Report, Jioji Ravulo

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

We have successfully completed 4 years (2013 - 2016) of facilitating the Pacific Islands Field Education (PIFE) initiative, striving to achieve the following three key components: 1. Provide international learning opportunities for Western Sydney University students 2. Enhance social work education; including teaching, learning and research resources through University of the South Pacific (USP) 3. Promote the development and identity of professional Social Work across Oceania region. Within this active partnership with University of the South Pacific, the project has provided scope to develop ongoing relationships with community based services, whilst bolstering the manner in which social work education is …

Spirituality And Wellbeing: Primary Teacher And School Counsellor Perspectives, Suzanne Schwebel

Journal of Student Engagement: Education Matters

Addressing the spiritual wellbeing of students in New South Wales (NSW) schools is not only important for their overall wellbeing but is now part of the NSW Department of Education and Communities’ (NSW DEC, 2015) Wellbeing Framework for Schools, However, research indicates there may be challenges due to difficulties and confusion regarding how to address student spiritual wellbeing in a secular education setting. Using a qualitative design, the current study aimed to explore teacher and counsellor perceptions of spiritual wellbeing, and how these may impact their ability to address spiritual wellbeing in practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three teachers …

Educator Engagement And Interaction And Children's Physical Activity In Early Childhood Education And Care Settings: An Observational Study Protocol, Karen Tonge, Rachel A. Jones, M. Hagenbuchner, Tuc Nguyen, Anthony D. Okely

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction: The benefits of regular physical activity for children are significant. Previous research has addressed the quantity and quality of children's physical activity while in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, yet little research has investigated the social and physical environmental influences on physical activity in these settings. The outcomes of this study will be to measure these social and physical environmental influences on children's physical activity using a combination of a real-time location system (RTLS) (a closed system that tracks the location of movement of participants via readers and tags), accelerometry and direct observation. Methods and analysis: This …

Design And Implementation Of A Novel Web-Based E-Learning Tool For Education Of Health Professionals On The Antibiotic Vancomycin, Stuart Bond, Shelley P. Crowther, Suman Adhikari, Ping Yu, Jay P. Bochard, Craig S. Boutlis, Wilfred W. Yeo, Spiros Miyakis

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Education And Fertility On Female Labour Force Participation In Malaysia, Fui Yee Beatrice Lim

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Malaysia experienced rapid economic growth and an increased standard of living between 1970 and 2010. During this period, female educational attainment has also increased substantially, and the fertility rate declined. Curiously though, the rate of female labour force participation experienced only moderate growth in the span of these four decades. The underutilisation of trained human resources deteriorates the stock of human capital and therefore may be costly to a country. From the Malaysian perspective, understanding the determinants of female labour supply is of particular interest especially for policymakers considering the country’s goal to increase the rate of female labour force …

Innovation From A Distance: A Study Of Diffusion In A Regional University, Valentine Albert Robert Hazelman

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This study examined the diffusion of an innovation, a learning management system for distance and flexible learning (DFL) in a regional university – the University of the South Pacific (USP). It set out to address the following questions:

1. How does diffusion of an innovation occur in a regional university?

2. What elements of diffusion have significant influence? What are the key processes in the diffusion of a learning management system? What key stakeholders are involved in the diffusion of a learning management system?

3. What aspects of the regional setting impact diffusion?

Grounded in the work of Rogers (2003), …

Assisting Open Education Resource Providers And Instructors To Deal With Cold Start Problem In Adaptive Micro Learning: A Service Oriented Solution, Geng Sun, Tingru Cui, Dongming Xu, Huaming Chen, Shiping Chen, Jun Shen

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

No abstract provided.

A Framework Of Mlaas For Facilitating Adaptive Micro Learning Through Open Education Resources In Mobile Environment, Geng Sun, Tingru Cui, Wanwu Guo, Shiping Chen, Jun Shen

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

No abstract provided.

Organizing Online Computation For Adaptive Micro Open Education Resource Recommendation, Geng Sun, Tingru Cui, Ghassan Beydoun, Shiping Chen, Dongming Xu, Jun Shen

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

Our previous work, Micro Learning as a Service (MLaaS), aimed to deliver adaptive micro open education resources (OERs). However, relying solely on the offline computation, the recommendation lacks rationality and timeliness. It is also difficult to make the first recommendation to a new learner. In this paper we introduce the organization of the online computation of the MLaaS. It targets at solving the cold start problem due to the shortage of learner information and real-time updates of the learner-micro OER profile

Burnout In Nsw School Counsellors: How Do Years Of Experience, Career-Sustaining Behaviours And Mindfulness Affect Burnout Levels?, Amanda Rodd

Journal of Student Engagement: Education Matters

The purpose of the current study was to determine correlations between years of service and burnout experienced by members of the New South Wales Department of Education school counselling service in Australia. The benefits of participation in mindfulness and career-sustaining behaviours on levels of burnout in the sample were also explored. The 138 participants each completed a burnout inventory, mindfulness questionnaire and career-sustaining behaviours questionnaire. The participants were allocated to one of three groups: highly experienced, experienced or inexperienced. Results indicated that, as years of experience increased, levels of burnout decreased. Participation in some, but not all, facets of mindfulness …

Self-Reported Nutrition Education Received By Australian Midwives Before And After Registration, Jamila Arrish, Heather Yeatman, Moira J. Williamson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Educating midwives to provide nutrition advice is essential. Limited research focuses on midwives' nutrition education. This paper explores self-reported nutrition education received by Australian midwives before and after registration. It draws on quantitative and qualitative data from a larger online survey conducted with the members of the Australian College of Midwives (response rate = 6.9%, n=329). Descriptive and content analyses were used. Of the midwives, 79.3% (n=261) reported receiving some nutrition education during, before, and/or after registration. However, some described this coverage as limited. It lacked sufficient focus on topics such as weight management, nutrition assessment, and nutrition for vulnerable …

Changes In Medical Education To Help Physicians Meet Future Health Care Needs, Judith N. Hudson, Kathryn M. Weston, Elizabeth Farmer

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Health care needs are changing due to the rapidly ageing population and the increasing number of patients with long term conditions and comorbidities.1 This has occurred at a time of continuing maldistribution of the medical workforce in Australia and increased specialisation and subspecialisation within the medical profession and the medical education system. As the next generation of doctors will need to serve an older population and those with more than one condition, a more useful focus would be "much less on narrow disease silos and . more on the breadth of possible permutations of co-morbidity". 1 Long periods of training …

The Guide To Fostering Asynchronous Online Discussion In Higher Education, Irina Verenikina, Pauline T. Jones, Janine Delahunty

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

No abstract provided.

Lo Studio «Disinteressato» Come Nuovo Terreno Applicativo Della Scienza Dell’Educazione, Lelio La Porta

International Gramsci Journal

Cultural anthropology, educational science and philosophy are closely connected. Can this close connection find practical application ? This essay will try to answer the question in Gramscian terms, by taking into consideration the methodological approach suggested by Gramsci, with the concept of “disinterested study”, applying it the scholastic field, that is the relation of supremacy-direction to subordination that is established between teacher and learner. The starting point and laboratory is the Italian school, that is the real place in which the method of disinterested study is applied. The protagonists are the teacher (meaning anyone who is teaching), on one side, …

Prenatal Nutrition: Exploring Midwives’ Role, Knowledge And Nutrition Education, Jamila Mustafa Arrish

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Background: Good nutrition during pregnancy is considered one aspect of lifestyle that contributes to the health and wellbeing of the mother and the developing baby. In Australia and globally, most pregnant women enter pregnancy overweight or obese and do not meet dietary recommendations. Pregnant women may not receive nutrition advice despite being perceived as receptive to nutrition messages. Midwives are ideally positioned to provide nutrition advice during pregnancy as they provide antenatal care to pregnant women. According to the International Confederation of Midwives core competencies, midwives are expected to have the knowledge and skills to assess maternal nutrition and provide …

Constructing Digital Literary Texts: A Case Study Of Six Year 5 Children, Kylie Lipscombe

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Children’s lives have changed due to the increased access to, and focus on, information technology in contemporary western cultures. These new technologies enable children to access new forms of content, and they provide them with opportunities to contribute their own digital texts. Despite this, there have been few studies conducted that explore the literacy practices children require to construct digital texts, and fewer that have focused on the construction of digital literary texts, a significant expectation in Australian Curriculum English policy documents.

This inquiry examines the literacy practices of six Year 5 children during the construction of their own digital …