Education Commons^™

Some Reforms To Better Equip Young People For Tomorrow's World, Chris Robinson

2008 – Touching the Future: Building Skills for Life and Work

The changing context of schooling is examined in this paper in terms of global changes and what impact these are having on the skills young people need to have. In particular, the way work is changing, and the skills and education young people need to have to maximise their economic opportunities is explored. The key issues are that high skill jobs requiring university or high level vocational qualifications now make up the majority of jobs and they are growing at twice the rate of other jobs in Australia. Young people with university or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications (at …

Assessing Education And Training Requirements Against Uncertain Trends In The Labour Force, Gerald Burke

2008 – Touching the Future: Building Skills for Life and Work

Data analysis of skill requirements and supply are undertaken to provide guidance to policy makers. This analysis includes information on future employment by occupation and qualification, on labour force participation and on shortages. These can provide a coherent overview of what is likely to occur if current trends or policy settings persist. However, future uncertainty and data limitations suggest this information is most useful in providing a broad context within which industry, employer and individual needs can be considered.

Quality Education And Quality Work, Julius Roe

2008 – Touching the Future: Building Skills for Life and Work

This paper argues that there is no uniform trend to work which requires higher skills, higher levels of discretion and autonomy, increased teamwork, and increased multi-skilling. The link between increased opportunities for quality education and training and better quality work requires an integrated and new labour market, industry and education and training policies. The deregulatory and marketbased policies applied to education and training, labour market and industry funding and regulation over the past decade have had negative consequences. It is open to Australian governments to develop an integrated approach to industry, the labour market, and education and training that would …

Participation In The Classroom, Productivity In The Workforce — Unfulfilled Expectations, Stuart Macintyre

2008 – Touching the Future: Building Skills for Life and Work

In Australia, as in other countries, three public concerns about education can be discerned. One of them is concerned with work skills in the context of economic objectives of innovation and productivity. Another is concerned with life skills in the context of objectives of social sustainability and self-fulfilment. The third is concerned with the maintenance of cultural and intellectual standards – and has often been associated with criticism of educational progressivism. These concerns have informed Australian educational policy. The economic objective has been particularly influential in higher education; the social objective has informed school initiatives concerned with values education, and …

How Are They Doing?: Examining Student Achievement In Virtual Schooling, Michael K. Barbour, Dennis Mulcahy

Education Faculty Publications

Six years ago the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation began a virtual high school within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Designed primarily to provide courses in specialized areas to students in rural areas, where schools have difficulty in attracting second language, mathematics and science teachers. However, there has been some concern that the opportunities provided by this virtual high school are "second rate" or only able to cater to independent, self-motivated students. The purpose of the study is to examine the student achievement in standardized public exams and final course scores in the province between different delivery …

Standards For Educational, Edutainment, And Developmentally Beneficial Computer Games, R. Peterson, I. Verenikina, J. Herrington

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The results of a comprehensive review of the body of research concerning the developmental and educational value of computer gaming for children is reported. Based on the review, design criteria are proposed for educational and edutainment computer games. In addition, a hierarchy of educational, edutainment, and entertainment game categories is introduced. It is argued that a standard educational labeling system is needed to assist parents and teachers with selecting computer games. A gap in the research is highlighted with regard to the affordances of computer games to facilitate the development of young children’s higher order thinking. It is recommended that …

Measuring Knowledge Of Natural Selection: A Comparison Of The C.I.N.S., An Open-Response Instrument, And An Oral Interview, Ross Nehm, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Growing recognition of the central importance of fostering an in-depth understanding of natural selection has, surprisingly, failed to stimulate work on the development and rigorous evaluation of instruments that measure knowledge of it. We used three different methodological tools, the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection (CINS), a modified version of Bishop and Anderson's (Bishop and Anderson [1990] Journal of Research in Science Teaching 27: 415-427) open-response test that we call the Open Response Instrument (ORI), and an oral interview derived from both instruments, to measure biology majors' understanding of and alternative conceptions about natural selection. We explored how these instruments …

Exploring Scientific Literacy: How Australia Measures Up. The Pisa 2006 Survey Of Students' Scientific, Reading And Mathematical Literacy Skills, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

The PISA 2006 assessment more clearly separates knowledge about science from knowledge of science. Knowledge of science refers to knowledge of the natural world across the major fields of physics, chemistry, biological science, Earth and space science, and science-based technology. Knowledge about science refers to knowledge of the means (scientific enquiry) and the goals (scientific explanations) of science. The PISA framework further elaborates on, and gives greater emphasis to, knowledge about science as an aspect of science performance, through the addition of elements that underscore students´ knowledge about the characteristic features of science. The PISA scientific competencies can be thought …

12-Month Enrollment 2008-09, Uno Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

IPEDS 12-month Enrollment

IPEDS 12-month Enrollment annual report contains the following information:

• 12-month unduplicated headcount, by level of student and race/ethnicity and gender
• Full year instructional activity, measured in credit and/or contact hours
  • Used to compute full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment

Teacher Perception About Implementation Strategy Of B.Ed Teaching Practice In Real School Classrooms: Issues And Challenges, Wasim Qazi, Khalid Jamil Rawat, Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel, Shila Devi

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Teaching practice is the core component of all pre-service teacher education programs. Through teaching practice, a novice teacher is assumed to have inculcated a supposedly viable pedagogic experience to transfer the core competency of the subject knowledge to students in real classroom situation. This study encompasses the challenges and issues that the novice teachers experience at post-training level of their B.Ed programme of studies. The investigations also enlighten the gaps that the trained teachers have shared with the researchers. The study highlights the extent to which the on-training components of teaching practice is reflected in the attitude of the trained …

A Synthetic Teaching-Learning Model: A Contextualized Study, Wasim Qazi

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The paper aims at institutionalizing instructional technology with a view to improving the quality of education. The conceptual framework developed in this paper reviews the existing status of training programs in light of the suggested initiatives of education sectors reforms (Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan -August-2003). It has been argued that major purpose of imparting professional training to teachers and administrators should be directed towards improvement of quality of education. In stating the problem the malaise underlining the teaching-learning process has been identified as a core issue. The teaching-learning process which is the hallmark of quality of education has …

Sustainable Teachers' Development: Exploring The Effect Of Follow-Up Support An An Element, Wasim Qazi

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty and Staff Scholarship

A professional development program with built-in follow up support mechanism was offered during years 2004-06 in selected districts of Pakistan. The training reportedly had sustained impact on teachers’ attitude toward teaching. This paper investigates the role of follow up support as an element of sustainable teacher development, and the part of teachers’ learning they could have implemented over the period after the end of project. Data was collected through classroom observations, interviews with these teachers and the head teachers of these schools, and analysis of lesson plans and reflective journals maintained by the teachers. Findings affirm that the follow up …

Koinonia, Kevin Johnson, Brent Ellis, Rebecca Sok, Carl Ruby, Benjamin Kulpa, Michael Santarosa, Stephanie Santarosa, Aaron Damiani, Laura M. Rodeheaver

Koinonia

Leadership Spotlight Features
Developing Servant Leaders: The Tale of Two Questions, Kevin Johnson

Life at the Cross Roads: Living out the Eternal in the Midst of the Temporal, Brent Ellis

Leadership Process vs. Results (Regardless of Culture, Country or Gender), Rebecca Sok

Leading During Times of Conflict: Lessons from the Early Church, Carl Ruby

From Fiction to Fact, Benjamin Kulpa

Thinking Theologically
Charismatic Boy Meets Reformed Girl, Michael and Stephanie Santarosa

Book Reviews
A Review of Integrity: The Courage to Face the Demands of Reality (by Henry Cloud), reviewed by Aaron Damiani

Leadership Can Be Taught (by Sharon Daloz Parks), …

Western Educational Longitudinal Study (Wels) Spring, 2006, Follow-Up Survey Of Students Who Had Entered As Transfers In The Fall, 2005, Richard Bulcroft, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Sara Jones, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

This report presents findings from the spring, 2006, one-year follow-up survey of students who had entered as transfers in the fall, 2005.

Western Educational Longitudinal Study (Wels) Spring, 2006, Follow-Up Survey Of Students Who Had Entered As Freshmen In The Fall, 2005, Richard Bulcroft, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Sara Jones, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

This report presents findings from the spring, 2006, one-year follow-up survey of students who had entered as freshmen in fall, 2005.

Western Educational Longitudinal Study (Wels) Spring, 2006, Follow-Up Survey Of Students Who Had Entered As Freshmen In The Fall, 2003, Richard Bulcroft, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Sara Jones, Gary (Gary Russell) Mckinney

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

This report presents findings from the spring, 2006, three-year follow-up survey of students who had entered as freshmen in fall, 2003.

Group 4 Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Group 4. Thirteen students participated. All twelve took 15 or more state support credits in the fall, and all scored higher than one standard deviation above the mean verbal SAT score, except the student interested in Education, who scored higher than 600 but lower than the one standard deviation cutoff. Four of the students took 15 credits in the fall, four took 16, three took 17, and one each took 18 and 19 credits. Their interests were distributed among the colleges, as represented by Summerstart advising group assignment; with one assigned the environmental studies, CST scholars, health or math/science groups, …

Freshmen First Quarter Credit Load Assessment, Richard Bulcroft, Linda D. (Linda Darlene) Clark, Joseph E. Trimble

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Focus group formed to obtain student perceptions of reasons for taking fewer than 15 credits during their first quarter, to explore potential solutions to low credit loads in the first year of college at Western and to ascertain the impacts of taking low vs. high credit loads.

Summerstart Advisors: Credit Load Assessment, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

In Spring 2008 The Office of Survey Research informed former Summerstart Advisors that we had conducted focus groups with freshmen during Winter Quarter to find out why students are not registering for full course loads during their first quarter and first year at Western. As a part of this project, we sent Summerstart advisors a questionnaire which asked them to comment on students’ comments and to provide a context for understanding why not all students take a full 15 credit load in their first quarter. We asked advisors to provide detailed comments about why they think students perceive the process …

Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups - Selection Methodology And Participant Descriptions, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Freshmen are taking fewer credits than they have in the past, and this is potentially delaying their expected graduation. Lower credit loads also mean fewer FTE students and the possibility of falling short of state budgeted FTE. If the perceived problem is confirmed, WWU administrators would like to know why freshmen are taking fewer credits, and whether interventions are appropriate to encourage higher credit loads, or if more applicants should be admitted to fill the gap. To help answer these questions, the Office of Survey Research (OSR) conducted eight focus groups of freshmen during their second quarter at Western (Winter08). …

Excerpts From All 8 Freshmen Focus Groups, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Freshmen are taking fewer credits than they have in the past, and this is potentially delaying their expected graduation. Lower credit loads also mean fewer FTE students and the possibility of falling short of state budgeted FTE. If the perceived problem is confirmed, WWU administrators would like to know why freshmen are taking fewer credits, and whether interventions are appropriate to encourage higher credit loads, or if more applicants should be admitted to fill the gap. To help answer these questions, the Office of Survey Research (OSR) conducted eight focus groups of freshmen during their second quarter at Western (Winter08). …

Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups: Attributes And Schedule, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Freshmen are taking fewer credits than they have in the past, and this is potentially delaying their expected graduation. Lower credit loads also mean fewer FTE students and the possibility of falling short of state budgeted FTE. If the perceived problem is confirmed, WWU administrators would like to know why freshmen are taking fewer credits, and whether interventions are appropriate to encourage higher credit loads, or if more applicants should be admitted to fill the gap. To help answer these questions, the Office of Survey Research (OSR) conducted eight focus groups of freshmen during their second quarter at Western (Winter08). …

Group 1 Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Group 1. Eleven students participated. All eleven students in this group took 14 or fewer state support credits in fall quarter, and all scored lower than one standard deviation below the mean verbal SAT score for the freshmen class. Two of the students took 12 credits in the fall, four took 13 credits, and five took 14 credits. Their interests were distributed among the colleges, as represented by Summerstart advising group assignments—environmental studies, health, or math and science, four in humanities or Fairhaven, two in music or fine and performing arts, or admitted to Fairhaven college, one undecided, and none …

Group 2 Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Group 2. Ten students participated. All ten students in this group took 14 or fewer state support credits in fall quarter, and all scored higher than one standard deviation above the mean verbal SAT score for the freshmen class. One student took 12 credits in the fall, three took 13 credits, and six took 14 credits. Their interests were distributed among the colleges, as represented by Summerstart advising group assignment–Three in environmental studies, health, or math and science, three in humanities or Fairhaven, two in education, one in music or fine and performing arts, and one undecided. Five are female …

Group 3 Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Group 3. Twelve students participated. All twelve took 15 or more state support credits in the fall, and all scored below 1 standard deviation below the mean verbal SAT score. Half of the students took 15 credits in the fall, two took 16 credits, and the remaining four took 17 credits. Their interests were distributed among the colleges, as represented by Summerstart advising group assignment; with four assigned the environmental studies, CST scholars, health or math/science groups, two assigned to the undecided group, two to the Fairhaven College, music or fine & performing arts groups, one to the humanities or …

Group 3 Freshmen Enrollment Focus Groups, Western Washington University. Office Of Survey Research

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Group 3. Twelve students participated. All twelve took 15 or more state support credits in the fall, and all scored below 1 standard deviation below the mean verbal SAT score. Half of the students took 15 credits in the fall, two took 16 credits, and the remaining four took 17 credits. Their interests were distributed among the colleges, as represented by Summerstart advising group assignment; with four assigned the environmental studies, CST scholars, health or math/science groups, two assigned to the undecided group, two to the Fairhaven College, music or fine & performing arts groups, one to the humanities or …

Revitalizing The One-Shot Instruction Session Using Problem-Based Learning, Barbara Kenney

Library Faculty Publications

Problem-based learning (PBL) provides the theoretical framework for a learner-centered active instructional experience that relies on collaboration, critical thinking, and hands-on interaction with resources. When used in a one-shot session, PBL challenges the instruction librarian to strengthen and renew their pedagogical skills. Sessions are lively and provide the opportunity for students and faculty to experience library instruction in a new and dynamic way. PBL and information literacy are ideal partners with limitless possibilities for enhanced library instruction.

Becoming A Teacher In The Developing World, Ayesha Bashiruddin, John Retallick

Books

No abstract provided.

A Linguistic Analysis Of Social Attitudes Towards The Quality Issues Of Postgraduate Education In Vietnam, V. T. H. Tran, Elizabeth Thomson

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

This paper proposes the PhD project A linguistic study on social attitudes towards the quality of postgraduate education in Vietnam. The study uses Appraisal theory as the framework to analyse interviews with different stakeholders involved in the postgraduate education sector, namely bureaucrats, management, academics and students. The study aims to find out:

• What the stakeholders’ perceived quality issues in relation to MA and PhD education in Vietnam are
• Who the stakeholders’ believe to bear the responsibility for the quality issues.

Taking into account the facts that the quality of postgraduate education in Vietnam is in question and the fact that …

Mutual Adaptation Of International Students And Academics For The Sustainable Development Of International Education, Tran Ly Thi

EDU-COM International Conference

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that explores how international students from China and Vietnam in different disciplines in Australian higher education interpret and adapt to disciplinary requirements and how academics respond to the diverse needs of international students. The study employed a trans-disciplinary framework for interpreting students‘ and lecturers' practices within institutional structures. This framework has been developed by infusing a modified version of Lillis‘ (2001) heuristic for exploring students‘ meaning making with positioning theory (Harré & van Langenhove, 1999). A prominent finding of the study indicates the emergence of three main forms of adaptation, committed …