Education Commons^™

Uni-Start: A Peer-Led Orientation Activity Designed For The Early And Timely Engagement Of Commencing University Students, Sarah E. O' Shea Dr, Michelle Vincent

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Universities have both social and cultural contexts, and new students need to participate effectively in both in order to succeed in this environment. With ever increasing numbers of students and the diversity of the contemporary university population, institutions have to consider innovative ways to effectively engage individuals. In terms of supporting students, there is a need to be more proactive, initiating structures of support that reach out to students rather than an often implicit expectation that the learners themselves will take the initiative and seek out support individually. This article reflects on one approach to supporting diverse student populations that …

Understanding The Design Context For Australian University Teachers: Implications For The Future Of Learning Design, Susan Bennett, Lisa Thomas, Shirley Agostinho, Lori Lockyer, Jennifer Jones, Barry Harper

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Based on the premise that providing support for university teachers in designing for their teaching will ultimately improve the quality of student learning outcomes, recent interest in the development of support tools and strategies has gained momentum. This article reports on a study that examined the context in which Australian university teachers design in order to understand what role design support tools and strategies could play. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 academics across 16 Australian universities. The findings suggest that most Australian university teachers have a high degree of flexibility in their design decisions suggesting that opportunities exist for …

A Cross Sectional Study Of Pre-Service Teacher Efficacy Throughout The Training Years, Stuart Woodcock

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Teachers’ judgments in their ability to motivate students and promote learning can play a vital role in determining a student’s performance in the classroom and once a belief has been held for a long time, it can become difficult to change. Utilising a sample of 467 beginner and final year pre-service teachers training to become primary (elementary) and secondary teachers, the aim of this study was to examine to what extent pre-service teachers’ level of teacher efficacy changed during their teacher training years. Results showed that the training courses for primary school teachers appeared to have no influence on teacher …

Turning The Switch On! The Teachers’ Ability To Influence Student Motivation In Physical Education, Dana Perlman, Philip J. Pearson, Kim Mckeen, Gregory J. Forrest

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Student motivation is an area of importance in physical education due to the association with enhanced levels of effort, participation and aspects of learning (Tjeerdsma-Blankenship, 2008; Chen, 2001). Physical education specialists are routinely challenged by students who demonstrate behaviours indicative of low levels of motivation, such as high rates of absenteeism and severely low levels of active participation within the class setting (Ntoumanis, Peensgaard, Martin & Pipe, 2004). Bryan and Solmon (2007) indicate that the teacher is a primary driver for the development and implementation of experiences that support and/or thwart student motivation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was …

Online Practice & Offline Roles: A Cultural View Of Teachers’ Low Engagement In Online Communities, Sarah Howard, Jonathan Mckeown

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

An online community of practice (CoP) can extend teachers’ professional interaction beyond their school, but these practices are often underutilized. Using cultural theory, this paper proposes that teachers’ low engagement in online CoPs is that this “practice” is not part of their role as a teacher, individually or in their school culture. These ideas are examined through teachers’ low engagement in an online CoP as part of a research project. Findings suggest that teachers saw the online community as part of their role in the project, not as part of their “offline” role as a classroom teacher. The discussion conjectures …

Canadian And Australian Pre-Service Teachers' Use, Confidence And Success In Various Behaviour Management Strategies, Andrea Reupert, Stuart Woodcock

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The purpose of this study was twofold; first, to identify Australian and Canadian pre-service teachers’ use, confidence and success in various behaviour management strategies, and second, to identify significant differences between the two cohorts. Pooled data indicated that pre-service teachers most frequently employ low level corrective strategies, such as nonverbal body language, rather than strategies that serve to prevent student misbehaviour. The strategies pre-service teachers report most frequently employing were also those they felt most confident in. Australian pre-service teachers employ rewards significantly more, whilst Canadian pre-service teachers utilise preventative and differentiation strategies significantly more. Differences might be accounted for …

New Technologies To Support Language Learning, Lisa K. Kervin, Beverly M. Derewianka

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Language classrooms have always used technologies of various kinds, from the blackboard through to the language laboratory. In recent decades, however, there has been an explosion in the resources available to teachers, to the point where many feel overwhelmed. This chapter therefore, does not attempt to provide a comprehensive review of 'state of the art' technologies - primarily because the ground is shifting so rapidly that any such endeavour would soon be out of date. Rather, we have kept in mind an audience who are not necessarily interested in the finer points of technological innovations but who are seeking some …

Split-Attention And Redundancy Effects On Mobile Learning In Physical Environments, T C. Liu, Y C. Lin, M J. Tsai, Fred Paas

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This study investigated split-attention and redundancy effects in a mobile learningenvironment on leaf morphology of plants as a function of different combinations ofmedia. Eighty-one fifth-grade students were randomly assigned to the following threeconditions: texts with pictures embedded in the mobile device (TP condition); textsembedded in the mobile device and real objects that are outside of the mobile device(TO condition); and texts with pictures embedded in the mobile device and realobjects that are outside of the mobile device (TPO condition). Differences inperformance on comprehension tests and learning efficiency were examined acrossconditions. The TP condition was expected to perform better than the …

Using Slowmation For Animated Storytelling To Represent Non-Aboriginal Preservice Teachers' Awareness Of "Relatedness To Country", Anthony D. Mcknight, Garry Hoban, Wendy Nielsen

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

In this study, a group (N=15) of final year non-Aboriginal pre ervice teachers participated in an elective subject that aimed to raise their awarene s ab ut Aboriginal ways of knowing. A vital aspect of the course was developing the preservice teachers' awareness of "relatedness to country" which is a key belief for Aboriginal people. The non-Aboriginal pre service teachers s lected their own special place and then experienced Aboriginal ways of knowing throughout the course and vi ited local Aboriginal sites to hear and listen to stories shared by an Aboriginal Elder. At the end of the subject, the …

Understanding The Complexity Of Technology Acceptance By Higher Education Students, Sue Bennett, Karl A. Maton, Lisa Carrington

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

It is often claimed that all young people are highly adept with the digital technologies that infuse their lives, and that the way they think and behave has created a new gap between them and their teachers. It is suggested that to bridge this gap and ensure that young people are fully engaged, educators must incorporate digital technology more effectively into teaching and learning. This is problematic, however, because technology has had limited impact on education and has failed to be widely adopted as a learning support across many aspects of school and university education. More needs to be known …

Nutritional Policies And Standards For Snacks Served In After-School Programmes: A Review, Michael W. Beets, Falon Tilley, Youngwon Kim, Collin Webster

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Objective: To review and synthesize existing national and state organizations’ policies related to the nutritional quality of snacks served in after-school programmes (ASP; 15.00–18.00 hours) in the USA. Design: Systematic review of websites and corresponding documentation describing national and state-level ASP organizations’ policies, standards, guidelines and/or recommendations for the nutritional quality of snacks served within the ASP setting. Setting: ASP can play a critical role in a child’s daily dietary intake. State and national organizations have developed policies to assist ASP in selecting nutritionally appropriate snacks, yet no widely accepted standards exist. By reviewing the extent of existing policies, recommendations …

The Interactive Whiteboard: Tool And/Or Agent Of Semiotic Mediation, Pauline T. Jones, Lisa Kervin, Sophie Mcintosh

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Technologies such as interactive whiteboards, laptops, wireless connectivity and personal communications devices mark the educational zeitgeist. Their proliferation in schools is an emergent theme in educational research, yet, the impact on pedagogic discourse is less understood. This paper reports on a case study of one teacher’s work to integrate an interactive whiteboard (IWB) into a new purposebuilt teaching space. The case study is part of a larger project-in-progress which seeks to record and understand how primary school teachers use new technologies in their daily literacy sessions. Treating the literacy session as an instance of a curriculum genre (Christie, 2002), the …

The Influence Of An Autonomy-Supportive Intervention On Preservice Teacher Instruction: A Self-Determined Perspective, Dana Perlman

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of an autonomy-oriented intervention on preservice teacher’s instructional behaviors and perceptions. A total of 28 preservice physical education teachers enrolled in a secondary physical education methods course were randomly assigned to either the treatment (N=14) or control group (N=14). Data were collected using a pretest/posttest design measuring perceptions and observation of autonomy-support, as well as student motivation. Data analysis utilized repeated measures ANOVAs to examine differences. Results indicated significant changes in autonomy-support for both teachers and students exposed to the intervention.

Applying A Learning Design To The Design Of A University Unit: A Single Case Study, Jennifer Jones, S. Bennett, Lori Lockyer

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Learning designs have been proposed as a possible support to lecturers’ unit design processes. The collection of exemplary learning designs, development of tools and design languages have been the focus of the majority of activity to date. Research has only begun to explore how documented learning designs can be reused to support lecturers’ design thinking and processes. Using a case study approach to gain understandings of these processes, the study reported in this paper followed the design, implementation and reflection phases of a unit designed with the support of a learning design. Findings indicate that the process of applying a …

The ‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ Community Effectiveness Trial: Study Protocol Of A Community-Based Healthy Lifestyle Program For Fathers And Their Children, Philip J. Morgan, David R. Lubans, Ronald C. Plotnikoff, Robin Callister, Tracy Burrows, Richard Fletcher, Anthony D. Okely, Myles D. Young, Andrew Miller, Victoria Clay, Adam Lloyd, Clare E. Collins

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Background: The 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' program was designed to help overweight fathers lose weight and positively influence the health behaviors of their children. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the previously established program in a community setting, in a large effectiveness trial. Methods/Design: The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids community trial consists of three stages: (i) Stage 1 - program refinement and resource development (ii) Stage 2 - community randomized controlled trial (iii) Stage 3 - community effectiveness trial. The program will be evaluated in five Local Government Areas in the Hunter Valley Region of NSW, …

Incorporating Tgfu Into A Bachelor Of Physical And Health Education Degree At An Australian University, Philip J. Pearson, Paul I. Webb

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Pearson and Webb (2010) investigated whether Physical Educators in NSW schools had adopted the TGfU approach to the teaching of games in their classes. Forty PDHPE teachers were surveyed with questionnaires and focus group interviews to determine their knowledge and understanding of TGfU and the extent to which they had incorporated TGfU into their teaching of games in Years 7 to 10. Fifty third-year Physical and Health Education pre-service teachers were also surveyed after completing their Professional Experience in the schools of the teachers surveyed. The pre-service teachers’ observations of Physical Education classes in the schools were also used to …

Culture, Motivation, And Vocational Decision-Making Of Australian Senior High School Students In Private Schools, Jae Yup Jung, John M. Mccormick, Gary Gregory, Kerry Barnett

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of culture and motivation in the occupational decisions of senior high school students attending private schools. A theoretical framework guided the study. A questionnaire was administered to 492 Grade 11 students attending a stratified random sample of six independent (private) schools located in the Sydney (Australia) metropolitan area. Structural equation modelling was performed on the data collected. The major findings of the study centre on a new model of vocational decision-making, which provides empirical support for relationships between cultural orientation variables, expectancy-value variables, and related constructs. The findings may be …

Examination Of Self-Determination Within The Sport Education Model, Dana Perlman

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the Sport Education Model (SEM) on students’ self-determined motivation and underlying psychological need(s) in physical education. A total of 182 Year-9 students were engaged in 20 lesson units of volleyball, using either the SEM or a traditional approach. Data was collected using a pretest/posttest design measuring self-determined motivation and perceptions of the psycho-social climate. Analysis of data utilized four separate repeated measures ANOVAs for self-determination and basic psychological needs. Results indicated significant change in self-determination and relatedness for students engaged in the SEM. As such, implementation of the SEM …

Ustart@Uow And Ustart2@Uow: A Comprehensive Approach To Supporting Commencing Students From Low Socio-Economic Backgrounds, Sarah O'Shea, Pauline Lysaght, Yvonne Kerr

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Students from low socio-economic backgrounds as well as those who are the first in family to attend university often report feeling that they don’t ‘belong’ at university (James, Krause & Jennings, 2010; O’Shea, 2008). The isolation they sometimes experience may be exacerbated when families are unable to provide personal support through a basic lack of knowledge and understanding of university life. This nuts and bolts session explores two initiatives introduced at the University of Wollongong to support commencing students from low socio-economic backgrounds and to provide information for their families. The session will provide details about how this framework was …

The Secret Of Excellence In Student Services - A Case Example Of Cross-Institution Collaboration And Cooperation, Cathy Stone, Annie Andrews, Melissa Moore, Allison Cahill, Sarah O'Shea, David Said

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Movement Skill Mastery In A Clinical Sample Of Overweight And Obese Children, Dylan P. Cliff, Anthony D. Okely, Anthea M. Magarey

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Theorising Knowledge Practices: A Missing Piece Of The Educational Technology Puzzle, Sarah Howard, Karl A. Maton

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Designing Instruction For The Contemporary Learning Landscape, Fred Paas, Jeroen Van Merrienboer, Tamara Van Gog

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Proficiency Deficiency: Mastery Of Fundamental Movement Skills And Skill Components In Overweight And Obese Children, Dylan P. Cliff, Anthony D. Okely, Philip J. Morgan, Rachel A. Jones, Julie R. Steele, Louise A. Baur

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Using Computer-Based Tools To Self Manage Cognitive Load, Shirley Agostinho, Sharon Tindall-Ford, Kylie Roodenrys

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents a work-in-progress exploring how learners can manage their own cognitive load through the use of computer-based tools. Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental processing undertaken in working memory by a learner. Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) has identified evidence-based design principles that inform the development of instructional materials to support the efficient use of working memory. Much of the CLT research has focused on how to present learners with optimally designed learning materials. There has been little research that has examined how learners can implement CLT design principles to manage their own cognitive load when exposed …

Developing Capabilities For Social Inclusion: Engaging Diversity Through Inclusive School Communities, Linda J. Graham, Valerie Harwood

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The effort to make schools more inclusive, together with the pressure to retain students until the end of secondary school, has greatly increased both the number and educational requirements of students enrolling in their local school. Of critical concern, despite years of research and improvements in policy, pedagogy and educational knowledge, is the enduring categorisation and marginalization of students with diverse abilities. Research has shown that it can be difficult for schools to negotiate away from the pressure to categorise or diagnose such students, particularly those with challenging behaviour. In this paper, we highlight instances where some schools have responded …

A School-Based Intervention To Promote Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls: Rationale, Design, And Baseline Data From The Girls In Sport Group Randomised Controlled Trial, Anthony D. Okely, Wayne G. Cotton, David R. Lubans, Philip J. Morgan, Lauren M. Puglisi, Judy Miller, Jan Wright, Marijka Batterham, Louisa Peralta, Janine Perry

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Background: Physical activity levels decline markedly among girls during adolescence. School-based interventions that are multi-component in nature, simultaneously targeting curricular, school environment and policy, and community links, are a promising approach for promoting physical activity. This report describes the rationale, design and baseline data from the Girls in Sport group randomised trial, which aims to prevent the decline in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) among adolescent girls. Methods/design: A community-based participatory research approach and action learning framework are used with measurements at baseline and 18-month follow-up. Within each intervention school, a committee develops an action plan aimed at meeting the …

Mapping Place: Further Delicacy In Circumstantiation, Shoshana J. Dreyfus, Pauline Jones

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This chapter reports on our work on circumstantiation in order to better understand discursive construals of place. Our experiences teaching English literacy to students from diverse backgrounds have convinced us of the explanatory power of Systemic Functional Linguistics, particularly with respect to reading English texts. This work has been greatly assisted by our familiarity with the detailed descriptions of linguistic options provided by SFL theory. As analysts and educators, we have used the grammatical tools to identify the choices taken up (or not) by writers and to support discussions of those choices and their effects on meaning. Through this work, …

Creating Virtual Classrooms For Rural And Remote Communities, Kavita Rao, Michelle J. Eady, Patricia Edelen-Smith

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Rural and remote communities, in the United States as well as in other countries, often have only limited access to higher education. In order to pursue professional training or advanced degrees, people in these communities must leave home. This causes more than just a financial burden. Those with commitments to jobs, families, and traditional roles in the community find it difficult to leave home to further their education.

This is especially true for indigenous and native people. These people often live in villages or communities far from large cities and towns. Although they’re increasingly integrated with the modern world through …

An Experimental Study On The Effects Of Exposure To Magazine Advertising On Children's Food Choices, Sandra C. Jones, Lisa K. Kervin

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Objective: The present study sought to determine the feasibility of an experimental research design to investigate the effects of exposure to magazine advertising on children’s food choices. Design: Children were randomized to read either a magazine with food advertisements or a magazine with no food advertisements. They then chose two food items from the intervention ‘store’ to eat after the session. Data were also collected on attitudes to advertising and snack food preferences. Finally, participants’ parents were provided with a self-completion survey on food choices and other variables (n 24). Setting: Three vacation care centres in regional New South Wales, …