Education Commons^™

Educational Leadership And The University Of Guyana: A Critical Look, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

Reflective Essay On Assessment, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

An Approach To Making Emergent Curriculum More Readily Researched, Taught, And Implemented In The United States, Jane Tingle Broderick, Seong Bock Hong, Michael D. Garrett

Jane Tingle Broderick

No abstract provided.

Learning Experiences In An Online Learning Environment: A Reflection, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

Cross-Country Heterogeneity In Students’ Reporting Behavior: The Use Of The Anchoring Vignette Method, Hana Vonkova, Gema Zamarro, Collin Hitt

Gema Zamarro

Enhancing Science And Mathematics Teacher Education: Evaluating An Enhancement Module For Science Pre-Service Teachers, Geoff Woolcott, Robert Whannell, Linda Pfeiffer, Tony Yeigh, James Donnelly, Amanda Scott

Dr Geoff Woolcott

Motivated and well-trained science and mathematics teachers are a requirement for sustaining an industrialised economy. The Australian government has funded several projects to satisfy this requirement designed to improve pre-service teacher (PST) education in regional and rural Australia. One such project uses a collaboration nexus model with lesson feedback and Reflection Module in an iterative process using a repeated sequence comprised of an Enhancement Module, a subsequent Teaching Lesson and a Reflection Module. This paper reports on qualitative investigations of the effectiveness of the collaboration nexus in the Enhancement Module and comments on the value of the iterative process. Results …

The Value Of Academic Libraries: Library Services As A Predictor Of Student Retention, Ashley Ireland, Adam Murray, Jana Hackathorn

Jana Hackathorn

This study examined the predictive relationship between library use by individual students and their retention status in university settings. The methodology builds on a small number of previous studies to examine library use at the individual level to determine if use of specific library services is predictive of retention for freshmen and sophomores. Binary logistic regression yielded results that indicate a strong positive predictive relationship between library use of any kind with both freshmen and sophomore retention. These results suggest that academic libraries add value to institutional retention efforts.

Pre-Service Tecaher's Reflections On Critical Incidents In Their Professional Teaching Experiences, Peter W. Kilgour, Maria T. Northcote, Wendi Herman

Wendi Herman

This conference papers discovers the issues that cause pre-service teachers to be stressed or disappointed with their classroom performance.

This project surveyed and reported on students responses to the worst class they had taken in their professional development and why they believed it was the worst. The details of this project are detailed in the listed conference paper.

Research-Informed Guidelines For The Development Of Adaptively-Released Assessment Feedback (Araf) Strategies In Higher Education, Lindsay Morton, Alexandra Johnson, Anthony Williams, Maria T. Northcote

Lindsay Morton

Local: Research done at Avondale College.

Research-Informed Guidelines For The Development Of Adaptively-Released Assessment Feedback (Araf) Strategies In Higher Education, Lindsay Morton, Alexandra Johnson, Anthony Williams, Maria T. Northcote

Anthony Williams

Local: Research done at Avondale College.

Research-Informed Guidelines For The Development Of Adaptively-Released Assessment Feedback (Araf) Strategies In Higher Education, Lindsay Morton, Alexandra Johnson, Anthony Williams, Maria T. Northcote

Maria Northcote

Local: Research done at Avondale College.

Pre-Service Tecaher's Reflections On Critical Incidents In Their Professional Teaching Experiences, Peter W. Kilgour, Maria T. Northcote, Wendi Herman

Maria Northcote

This conference papers discovers the issues that cause pre-service teachers to be stressed or disappointed with their classroom performance.

This project surveyed and reported on students responses to the worst class they had taken in their professional development and why they believed it was the worst. The details of this project are detailed in the listed conference paper.

Treat The Cause: Evidence-Based Practice, James M. Rippe, Michael Greger, David L. Katz, John H. Kelly, Margaret Moore, Darren Morton

Darren Morton

Darren was invited by the board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to represent the Australasian Lifestyle Medicine perspective on the opening panel of the 2014 American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference in San Diego (Nov, 2014). The dialogue, intended for an international audience, was later published as the mentioned journal article.

Nationwide, Collaborative Assessment Of Medical Student Learning Outcomes: The Australian Medical Assessment Collaboration, David Wilkinson, Benedict J. Canny, Jacob Pearce, Hamish Coates, Daniel Edwards

Dr Daniel Edwards

No abstract provided.

Regional Campuses And Long Distance Relationships: Making Them Work, Robert D. Barraco Md, Mph, Margaret A. Hadinger Edd, Ms, M. Edwyn Harrison Md, Joseph M. Kaczmarczyk Do, Mph

Margaret A. Hadinger, EdD, MS

No abstract provided.

Mathematics: A Good Predictor For Success In A Health Science Degree, Gregory S. C. Hine, Ryan Anderton, Christopher Joyce

Ryan Anderton

Unpacking The Beliefs And Attitudes Of Australian Hrec Members: An Examination Of Influences On Reviewer Decision-Making, Boris Handal, Kevin Watson, Marc Fellman, Marguerite Maher, Miya White

Kevin Watson

Online Learning Environments: What Early Childhood Teacher Education Students Say, Ann Heirdsfield, Julie Davis, Sandra Lennox, Sue Walker, Weihong Zhang

Sandra Lennox

As online environments gain an increasing presence in higher education for both on-campus students and distance learners, there is a need to examine how effective these environments are for student learning. Online environments require essentially different teaching and learning strategies from those used in the traditional face-to-face contexts (for on-campus students) or with print-based material (for distance learners). This article identifies early childhood teacher education students' perceptions of their learning experiences with the advent of an online learning environment. Perceptions of on-campus and distance learners are compared, and implications for teacher education staff interested in providing high quality learning environments …

Understanding First Year University Students: Personal Epistemology And Learning, Sue Walker, Joanne Brownlee, Sandra Lennox, Beryl Exley, Kerry Howells, Fiona Cocker

Sandra Lennox

Whilst participation in higher education has increased dramatically over the last two decades, many universities are only now beginning to pay more attention to the learning experiences of first year students. It is important for universities to understand how first year students conceive of learning and knowing in order to promote effective approaches to learning. Even though an extensive body of research demonstrates that beliefs about learning and knowing influence student approaches to learning and learning outcomes, there has been no Australian research that has investigated this critical learner characteristic across first year university students.

This paper reports on preliminary …

Philosophies And Pedagogies Of Mathematics, Boris Handal

Boris Handal

The paper discusses major philosophical stances on the nature of mathematics as held by foundationalists and quasi-empiricalism supporters. It is argued that the contrasting philosophical views between the two groups parallels in many respects the pedagogical debate between behaviourism and socio-constructivism. It is also argued that behaviourism has been influenced by foundationalist conceptions of mathematics while socio-constructivism has been influenced by quasi-empirical philosophies.

From Large To Small Classes: A Classroom Window, Boris Handal, Marguerite Maher, Kevin Watson

Boris Handal

Academic Perceptions Amongst Educators Towards Elearning Tools In Dental Education, Boris Handal, Catherine Groenlund, Tania Gerzina

Boris Handal

This paper reports an explorative study about academic educators’ perceptions towards learning management systems (LMS) and eLearning tools as used in dental education. Fifty-five educators participated in an online survey which explored their views on eLearning tools within the context of their own professional training background and teaching needs. In general, educators felt that the eLearning LMS (also known as WebCT/Blackboard) was a tool that suited their teaching and learning needs in terms of flexibility, interactivity and accessibility despite a significant level of self-reported lack of competence in the technology. The paper describes current eLearning professional development initiatives in light …

If Only They Would Listen: The Lifeworld Of Academically Advanced Elementary Students, Katrina Eddles-Hirsch

Katrina Eddles-Hirsch

This study explored the lifeworld of six academically advanced elementary students in a school environment suited to their atypical needs. A phenomenological theoretical framework was used to discover the experiences of one female and one male from each of the year 4, 5, and 6 extension classes. The voices of the children themselves and their perspective of the benefits and disadvantages of attending a specialised school were heard through the phenomenological approach in this study. Differences between the genders rather than levels of giftedness were found to be the salient characteristics affecting the results of this study. Themes that emerged …

Home-School Partnership Within Mathematics Intervention, Marguerite Maher

Marguerite Maher

The Numeracy Project, as implemented in New Zealand, aims to enhance the numeracy achievement of all students and to foster parental involvement in their children's mathematics learning. This paper reports the findings of a study that took place at a high socioeconomic status primary school in New Zealand with teachers and parents of Years 1 and 2 students. Findings showed that teachers felt more confident in their ability to teach literacy than to teach numeracy. They also believed they were not fully meeting the needs of the lower achievers in mathematics. Partnership with parents in the teaching of reading was …

Teacher Education With Indigenous Ways Of Knowing, Being And Doing As A Key Pillar, Marguerite Maher

Marguerite Maher

This paper reports on a project known as the Growing Our Own Indigenous teacher education initiative. This project involves the provision of teacher education, in situ, to Indigenous assistant teachers in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Australia. First, factors leading to the development of the project are provided. Second, the theoretical and conceptual frameworks for the project are explained. Third, the collaborative self-study methodology for the study is justified. Fourth, perceived successes are described: these include community engagement, cultural responsiveness in the programme, improved attendance of children at school, and the value of collaboration for lecturers. Fifth, challenges …

Information And Advocacy: Forgotten Components In The Strategies For Achieving Inclusive Education In South Africa?, Marguerite Maher

Marguerite Maher

Commitment to a single, inclusive education system has been the aspiration of reform in education in a democratic South Africa as articulated in White Paper 6: Special needs education: Building an inclusive education and training system (Department of Education 2001). This article reports findings from a qualitative study which took place in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), which ascertained participants’ evaluation of the extent to which the policy ideals of inclusive education, as articulated in White Paper 6 were being achieved. Findings revealed that there was evidence of inclusive education beginning to be implemented in KZN in that barriers to learning for many …

Globalising The Class Size Debate: Myths And Realities, Kevin Watson, Boris Handal, Marguerite Maher, Erin Mcginty

Marguerite Maher

Public opinion reflects a ‘common sense’ view that smaller classes improve student academic performance. This review reveals that the ‘class size’ effect of increased academic performance, although significant for disadvantaged students and students in the very early years of schooling, does not necessarily transfer to other student groups. Moreover, the literature indicates there are other more cost-effective variables that enhance student learning outcomes such as those associated with teacher quality. Internationally, large-scale interventions concluded that systematic class size reductions were more resource intensive requiring more personnel, training and infrastructure. From the large quantitative studies of the 1980s to the more …

Culturally Appealing Mathematics Materials, Marguerite Maher

Marguerite Maher

No abstract available

Making Inclusive Education Happen: The Impact Of Initial Teacher Education In Remote Aboriginal Communities, Marguerite Maher

Marguerite Maher

This paper discusses the Growing Our Own initial teacher education (ITE) pilot programme which allowed Indigenous assistant teachers in their own communities to study to become a teacher with the support of a non-Indigenous teacher. There are five sections in this paper, including: (1) the underpinning theory and philosophy of one Australian university's Inclusive Education paper in their ITE course; (2) how these principles informed the Growing Our Own pilot which has made ITE accessible to Indigenous Australians in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Australia; (3) elements of the programme which have led to it becoming systemically sustainable; …

Using Wikis To Facilitate Communication For Rural, Remote, And At-Risk Practicum Students, Serena Davie, Richard G. Berlach

Serena Davie

The practicum experience is often highlighted as the core of any pre-service teacher education course. Unless effective communication mechanisms can be established to support students in off-campus locations, the practicum experience can be compromised if students feel isolated and abandoned when faced with difficulties. Such a scenario may be particularly relevant to students in remote placements or for those who have been identified as being at-risk. The main goal of this project was to determine whether a Wiki could be an effective tool for facilitating meaningful dialogue between the university, school-based personnel and students during the practicum. A Wiki was …