Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of The Teaching Of An Explicit Top-Level Expository Text Structure On The Structure Of Year Seven Children's Semantic Memory, Les Phul

Theses : Honours

In order to examine the effect of the teaching of a top-level expository structure through writing on children's schemata for text structure, children in year seven were asked to display graphically the relationships between 42 randomly presented text items related to a central topic. The text items were designed to approximate the kinds of information that may be found in an encyclopaedia or a science text about a given topic. One class of children was then allocated to the control group and the other to the experimental group. The experimental group was taught the top-level structure for a scientific report …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Retelling With The Aid Of A Story-Map Procedure With Weaker Readers, Madeleine Boekeman

Theses : Honours

This study examines the effectiveness of the 'Retelling with the aid of a story-map procedure' as an instructional approach which could help weaker readers in their second year of schooling. Based on the literature and research findings which support a view of language as a developmental, holistic and natural process, the 'Retelling with the aid of a story-map procedure' was chosen. It was hypothesised that it would help the weaker readers make connections between oral language and written language, develop meaning seeking behaviours and increase their 'data pool' of linguistic knowledge. The goal of this study was to seek answers …

Introductory Notes On Australian Social Gerontology : Edited Transcript Of A Guest Lecture For The Unit "Human Development", Delivered At Claremont Campus On Tuesday, 29 May 1990, David Wiles

Research outputs pre 2011

In a 'greying' Australia demographic realities should be articulated clearly so as to meet the challenges of the future. The aged population will 'peak' in 2021 A.D., and there is an increasing social awareness of this population trend. While the causes of longevity remain to be established, the improvement of individual life expectancy means that many seniors will spend decades in 'retirement'. Women, those of non- English speaking backgrounds, and aboriginals are sections of the aged population having special prob+ems. Comparative social policy, however, suggests that the future funding of aged care is not problematical, though national commitment is required. …

Book Reviews

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Books reviewed. Lokan, J. and McKenzie, P. (eds). (1989). Teacher appraisal : issues and approaches. Australian Education Review, No. 28. Melbourne: ACER. Christie, F. (Ed.). (1990). Literacy for the Changing World: A Fresh Look at the Basics. Melbourne: ACER. Willis, S. (ed.). (1990). Being Numerate: What Counts? Melbourne: ACER. Brennan, B. (ed.). (1990). Continuing Professional Education : Promise and Performance. (Australian Education Review No.30), Melbourne: ACER. Atkin, J., Bastiani, J., and Goode, J., (1988). Listening to Parents, Kent: Croom Helm. Ralph Pethnan. (1986) Teaching for Human Rights : Pre-school and Grades 1-4. Canberra: Australian Government PublIshing Service. VIDEO REVIEW Educating …

An Investigation Into Some Of The Processes And Strategies Underlying The Receptive Behaviour Of The Interlanguage Speaker, Kaye Malcolm

Theses : Honours

This study is based on Selinker's (1972, revised 1988) paper which describes the construct of interlanguage. Selinker claimed that the learner's interlanguage could be accounted for on the basis of three psycholinguistic processes and two strategies. He demonstrated how the operation of these processes and strategies could be inferred from the data of the learner's interlanguage performance in relation to the relevant first and second language systems, The processes and strategies identified by Selinker were: the processes of language transfer, overgeneralization and transfer of training, and the strategies of second language learning and second language communication. Selinker's claims relate to …

The Influence Of Prior Knowledge Of Expository Text Structure On Comprehension In Young Children, Zenda Johnson

Theses : Honours

The effects of the instruction of report text structure on students’ comprehension of expository material with familiar m1d unfamiliar topics was investigated in both the short and long term. Two comprehension measures were used (ability to restructure an unstructured report text through written composition, and written recall of facts). Forty two Year Three students were matched in comprehension ability based on initial general comprehension performance in a standardized test, and were assigned to either an Experimental group which received text structure instruction, or a Control group which received no special instruction. Results indicated that the instruction and practise in report …

Adventure Outdoor Education And Physical Self-Concept: The Effects Of Adventure Percieved Activities, David Lawson

Theses : Honours

(a) There were no significant differences in the Physical Self Concept of adolescents who participated in Outdoor Education adventure activities, when compared to the Control group. (t = 0.9869, p > .05). (b) There were no significant differences in the Physical Self-Concept of those adolescents who perceived the activities to be of a high adventure nature compared with those who perceived them to be of a medium adventure nature (t = -0.3405, p > .05). (c) Males did not exhibit a more significant change in Physical Self-Concept than females, as a result of the adventure activities (t = 0.3405, p > .05) (d) …

Creativity In Aboriginal Students And The Implications For Language Teaching, Raeme Goves-Jacka

Theses : Honours

The current level of scholastic success of Aboriginal students in Western Australian schools is overviewed together with some concerns regarding Aboriginal cognition. The issues which appear to inhibit in Aboriginal children the sort of cognitive development which is beneficial for schooling are reviewed. These are seen as cultural discontinuity, Vygotsky's belief in the cultural transmission of language, political constraints and the concept that different cultures with different needs produce different modes of thinking. Aboriginal child rearing practices are also reviewed together with the definition, process and product of creativity. The review also deals with the creative person, the creative environment, …

Digital Image Processing Using Mathematical Morphology, Andrew Mehnert

Theses : Honours

This dissertation is a natural extension of my undergraduate research project entitled, "Digital Image Processing”. Whilst my undergraduate project dealt with a number of classical digital image filtering techniques such as spatial convolution and frequency domain filtering via the Fourier transform, this dissertation focuses on an alternative approach employing Mathematical Morphology. In contrast to classical filtering techniques, which often geometrically distort the original image, morphological operations, used sensibly, essentially preserve shape and geometry. Mathematical morphology therefore lends itself to image processing applications requiring the identification of objects and object features within an image. Herein basic morphological operations are developed, firstly …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Computer-Assisted Strategy Designed To Change Student Misconceptions About Chemical Equilibrium, Hassan Hameed

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The main aims of this thesis are twofold. First, to identify and describe misconceptions about chemical equilibrium held by Year-12 chemistry students in the Maldives. Second, to investigate the effects of using a computer-assisted instructional strategy in changing those misconceptions. A misconception idenfication test and an interview schedule developed by Garnett & Hackling (1984) were used to diagnose student misconceptions about chemical equilibrium. The remediation aspect of the study used a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) package. The package was designed in accordance with a model of conceptual change proposed by Posner, Strike, Hewson & Gertzog (1982). The CAI package consists of …

The Aesthetic Perceptions And Preferences Of Young Children For Visual Artworks, Jacqueline Kik

Theses : Honours

Literature dealing with aesthetics and young children indicates the importance of developing in children a degree of aesthetic sensitivity and an ability to respond aesthetically to both natural and man made objects. However, directions for developing young children's aesthetic awareness appear to be hampered by the lack of systematic research evidence on the aesthetic response capabilities which five to eight year old children display. Thus, provision of information that would assist art educators and Early Childhood teachers in the preparation of successful classroom experiences remains a priority in this area. The research study reported in this thesis investigated the aesthetic …

The Evaluation Of Writing In Unit Curriculum English, David Sharp

Theses : Honours

The assessment and grading of writing in Unit Curriculum English plays a major role in the determination of a student's summative, and hence, public, letter grade. Through teachers' adherence to the assessment and grading procedures for writing in Unit curriculum English, the Ministry of Education lay claims on comparability and statewide standards. The claim warranted the investigation of the guidelines and procedures used. A review of literature on the evaluation of writing was conducted. In order that local application and relevance be possible, the holistic mode of evaluating writing was focused on. Problems were identified in the research concerning score …

Leaming To Read: A Cognitive Approach To Reading And Poor Reading., Peter Sloan

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Leaming to Read: A Cognitive Approach to Reading and Poor Reading. / John R Beech. (1985) London and Sydney, Croom Helm.

An Introductory Dictionary Of The Western Desert Language, Wilf Douglas

Research outputs pre 2011

THE WESTERN DESERT LANGUAGE is the most widely spoken Aboriginal language in Australia. Dialects of this language a.re spoken in the vast area between Kalgoorlie and Alice Springs, Ceduna (South Australia) and Wiluna (Western Australia).

Today, radio waves speeding across the Central Desert a.re bristling with two-way chatter in the speech sounds of Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra, Pintupi and other variants of the Western Desert language.

'YANAP' - short for the Yankuntjatjara-Ngaanyatjarra-Pitjantjatjara Air Service - carries speakers of these dialects from the Alice to Kalgoorlie, to the Aboriginal communities at such places as Docker River, Ernabella, Amata, Mt. Davies, Jameson, Blackstone, Warakurna, …

Learning My Way : Papers From The National Conference On Adult Aboriginal Learning, Barbara Harvey (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The National Conference 'Learning My Way' has made a significant contribution to the promotion of issues concerning Aboriginal adult learning styles. Staff at the Department of Aboriginal and lntercultural Studies at the Western Australian College of Advanced Education co-ordinated the input. They were responsible for taking ideas beyond the embryonic stage and shaping these into a conference format.

Aboriginal participation was very strong at the conference. It was gratifying to find that Aboriginal people made up seventy percent of the five hundred in attendance. Also it is important to point out, that of the eight five papers presented, seventy three …

Multicultural Education : A Book Of Readings, Gary Partington (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The problem of obtaining texts with material relevant to the core course in Aboriginal and Multicultural Education in the W.A. College led me to suggest a book of readings selected by those teaching the course. Obviously this was a trap for the unwary, for the diversity of recommendations that I received meant that unless the book was to be of mammoth proportions, some lecturers were bound to be disappointed. This was compounded by difficulties in tracking down authors to obtain their permission in time to publish.

Even so, it is anticipated that the collection of readings finally assembled will contribute …

Teaching Aboriginal Children: Milingimbi And Beyond, Michael Christie (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The original intention of the contributors was to write a book about their experiences as teachers at Milingimbi in Arnhem Land. Initially, articles were obtained from only those people who had actually taught at Milingimbi. However, theory and practice have changed a great deal since the original articles were put together in 1978. Some of those articles became dated; others were repetitious; some were simply not good enough to be printed.

The collection of articles now presented were all written by people who have taught in Arnhem Land - hence the use of the Arnhem Land words yolngu (Aboriginal) and …

The First Ten Years: Aboriginal Enclaves Tenth Anniversary, Simon Forrest, Colleen Pead

Research outputs pre 2011

An enclave is the territory of a minority group found contained within the territory of a larger group. When the first enclave was started at Mount Lawley College in 1976, it was seen as a place where Aboriginal students could retreat from the hustle and bustle of College life to be with people they felt comfortable with, and refresh themselves for return to the wider world again. A second enclave was established at the Nedlands Campus in 1982, an external one at Broome in 1983 and in 1985 new enclaves have been established at Churchlands, Claremont and Carnarvon. In 1986 …

German-Speaking Settlers In Western Australia, Walter Burke, Anke Curwood, Lisa Lukic, Hannalore Merscher, Jacqueline Murphy

Research outputs pre 2011

No abstract provided.

The First South Westerners : Aborigines Of South Western Australia, Lois Tilbrook

Research outputs pre 2011

The task of preparing material on the Aboriginal inhabitants of the south western region of Western Australia before 1827, is both a fascinating and a challenging one. Fascinating, because these people lived in a unique part of the continent and were amongst the most remote of all the Australian Aborigines, pursuing their traditions in the wet forest lands and open bush country. Challenging, because so little is recorded of them in a way which paints a clear picture of their lives.

The main observers of Aboriginal life and customs in the early days of European settlement of the region were …

Working With Aborigines In Remote Areas, John De Hoog, John Sherwood

Research outputs pre 2011

This Handbook has been written to answer an urgent need expressed by people whose jobs involve working with Aboriginal people in remote areas. This includes a wide range of positions in health, welfare, police and law, employment, construction, community advice, missionary endeavour, linguistics and research. Almost all people in these positions have a common need: to gain some background information about Aboriginal people, life in remote communities, and ways of developing good communication with Aboriginal people.

Functional Language In Vietnam And Australia : Some Differences In The Use Of Functional Language Between Vietnamese And Australian Speakers, Eleanor A. Ensor

Research outputs pre 2011

The linguistic problems encountered in such areas as phonology and syntax by Vietnamese learning English are already dealt with in several publications. This paper however, explores a further avenue of common problems which are socio-linguistic in nature, relating to the settlement process of Vietnamese into Australian society...

Writing The South-West Language, Wilfrid Douglas

Research outputs pre 2011

This book was intended primarily for South-west Aboriginal adults who were asking for help in writing their own language.

For a period, many of the South-west people were ashamed to speak their own language in front of "Wetjalas" (i.e. European Australians). A number of factors have changed this attitude so that, to-day, most of the people have become rightly proud of their old culture and language and many are attempting to salvage what they can of the South-west traditions.

Cultural And Linguistic Factors Affecting The Educational Achiements Of Aboriginals - An Aboriginal Perspective, Vic Forrest

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Much has been written on Aboriginal education both within Western Australia and Australia generally but, in terms of the delivery of education to Aboriginal students, it can be argued that there has been little change in the attitude of those in control. This paper, in looking at Aboriginal education, will examine some of the following points: definitions of Aboriginality; the nature of cultural differences; the exclusion years in Western Australia; Government policies; language as a barrier; and current achievements of Aboriginal students.

South West Aboriginal Studies Bibliography : With Annotations And Appendices, Anna Haebich, Lois Tilbrook

Research outputs pre 2011

The south west of Western Australia was the first region of the state to experience the impact of European settlement, when the Swan River Colony was founded in 1829. Yet the Aborigines of this unique area have remained largely obscured in its history for almost a full 150 years. This is ironical, as their counterparts of the Pilbara, Goldfields and Kimberleys, feature prominently in literature, and have captured the imagination of artists, writers and academic researchers alike.

There are several reasons for the neglect of the original inhabitants of the south west by observers of the day, and later by …

The Use Of Interpreters And Translators By Professionals : Report On A Day Seminar Held At Mount Lawley College On 18th August 1981, Ian G. Malcolm

Research outputs pre 2011

Some professions are, by their very nature, unobtrusive. We are dependent, for example, from time to time, on the professional competence of air traffic controllers, though, unless things go wrong, we are not likely to notice what they are doing for us. They are not in our focus, but they serve to facilitate what is in focus for us. Translators and interpreters are like that. They are at their most successful when they are least obvious. Their professional role is to facilitate communication rather than to participate in it. Their exceptional communicational skills are put to the service of their …

Beginning Teachers : A Review Of Research, David Battersby

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

During the 1940's and early 1950's a small number of studies of beginning teachers were completed. However, in the late 1950's, particularly in Britain and the United States, the joint problem of teacher shortages and the high drop-out rate of young teachers gave rise to a new wave of studies on beginning teachers. In the last two decades, the recognition of this need has resulted in reports of over 250 studies and a plethora of literature about the beginning teacher. In categorising this material, a broad distinction has emerged between the theory-based research and literature and that which is orientated …

Migrant Experience Workshop : Resource Folder, Sandy Hopkins, Rob Mykytiuk

Research outputs pre 2011

The Migration Experience Workshop was conducted in response to Recommendation i4 of the Galbally Report, namely that

"Professionals, including those studying and those currently in practices in areas with large migrant clienteles, should receive assistance in obtaining or upgrading language skills and understanding cultural differences".

The workshop focussed on the latter part of the Recommendation largely through an experiential approach based on simulated experiences, media presentations, and direct input from immigrant clientele as well as those professionally involved with them. The over whelming response from course participants made it abundantly clear that the process of migration and settlement experience is …

The Language Of 5 1/2-Year-Old Children From Homes Where Macedonian, Vietnamese And An Aboriginal Tribal Language Are Used As The Language Of The Home, A. L. Mcgregor

Research outputs pre 2011

Throughout the world migration patterns and changing attitudes towards education and other cultures have led over the past three or four decades to a remarkable growth in the learning of second or foreign languages. Within this area the learning of English by speakers of other languages takes up the largest numbers and is to be found in every part of the globe.

Nevertheless to date comparatively little is known of processes and patterns in second language development. Evidence on phonological and semantic development is exceedingly skimpy. Hernandez (in Ervin-Tripp 1970), Malmberg (1945), Wode (1976) and Ervin-Tripp (1974) have examined the …

Attitudes Towards Migrants And Needs In Teacher Training : Some Research Findings, R. W. Sealey

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The area of immigrant education has become a major source of interest, concern, comment, and research in recent years. This interest has its origins in the concern felt and views expressed at various conferences that many pupils in our schools are in need of an educational approach which will take cognisance of their linguistic and cultural differences.