Digital Commons Network^™

Autism Spectrum Disorder Coursework For Teachers And Teacher-Aides: An Investigation Of Courses Offered In Queensland, Australia, Mitchell Coates, Janeen Lamb, Brendan Bartlett, Poulomee Datta

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The content and structure of pre-service and teacher-aide programs has major implications for training, management, support and deployment of teachers and teacher-aides in mainstream schools working with students who have ASD. Data pertaining to course content and structure were collected from university and teacher-aide training websites, program enrolment guides, and through direct contact with institutions in Queensland, Australia. 101 education programs were narrowed down to 45 in early-childhood/primary education, and 8 online teacher-aide training programs. Findings indicate the urgent need for academics in institutions to begin working towards redesigning programs that deliver best practices in ASD for pre-service educators.

Emotional Development And Construction Of Teacher Identity: Narrative Interactions About The Pre-Service Teachers’ Practicum Experiences, (Mark) Feng Teng

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Pre-service teacher identity research has directed limited attention to the construction and development of professional teacher identity through narrative interaction. An analysis of narrative interactions among pre-service teachers in the present study explored the ways in which they negotiated emotional flux in the process of training to become a teacher. Overall, findings show that emotional flux and identity change are connected, and hidden ‘emotional rules’ are embedded in the teaching practicum. The pre-service teachers’ negative emotions gradually escalated due to contextual constraints, hierarchical structures, and lack of support from their mentors. This escalation diminished the development of their teacher identity. …

Perceptions On The Role Of A Pre-Service Primary Teacher Education Program To Prepare Beginning Teachers To Teach Mathematics In Far North Queensland, Philemon Chigeza, Cliff Jackson, Aaron Neilson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper employs a collaborative auto-ethnographic method to reflect on perceptions and design of a pre-service primary teacher mathematics education program in a regional university and the role of that program to prepare beginning teachers for classroom mathematics practice in Far North Queensland. A four-phase analysis that reflected on: a primary teacher education program at a regional university, literature on primary mathematics education, reflections of two teacher educators and a pre-service teacher on Explicit Teaching, and the possible modifications to the practice of teaching and learning in the mathematics education subjects was conducted. Three challenges that emerged from the thematic …

Active Learning And Self-Regulation Enhance Student Teachers’ Professional Competences, Päivi Virtanen, Hannele M. Niemi, Anne Nevgi

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The study identifies the relationships between active learning, student teachers’ self-regulated learning and professional competences. Further, the aim is to investigate how active learning promotes professional competences of student teachers with different self-regulation profiles. Responses from 422 student teachers to an electronic survey were analysed using statistical methods. It was found that the use of active learning methods, such as goal-oriented and intentional learning as well as autonomous and responsible group work, are strongly and positively related to the achievement of professional competences. To develop the best competences, student teachers need high learning motivation and excellent self-regulation strategies. The mean …

Digital Story-Based Problem Solving Applications: Preservice Primary Teachers’ Experiences And Future Integration Plans, Çiğdem Kilic, Hatice Sancar-Tokmak

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This case study investigates how preservice primary school teachers describe their experiences with digital story-based problem solving applications and their plans for the future integration of this technology into their teaching. Totally 113 preservice primary school teachers participated in the study. Data collection tools included a questionnaire with three open-ended questions and focus group interviews. The data were analyzed using content analysis by combining manifest and latent techniques. Most of the preservice primary teachers described positive experiences about digital story-based problem solving applications by emphasizing on that they contribute to both their own and their students’ learning, development, and attitudes. …

Validation Of The Malaysian Version Of The Teacher Education Program Coherence Questionnaire, Pauline Swee Choo Goh, Qismullah Yusuf

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The main purpose of this study was to validate a Malay Language version of a 30-item teacher education program coherence questionnaire. Two different samples of preservice teachers completed the Malay translation of the questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis (N=220) showed four types of perceived program coherence which had good internal consistency ranging from 0.79 to 0.86: ‘Opportunity to enact practice’, ‘Opportunity to analyze practice’, ‘Opportunity to connect ideas across courses’ and ‘Coherence between courses and practical experience’. The confirmatory factor analysis (N= 234) provided support for a four-factor model. In addition, an analysis of criterion validity of the four types of …

Quality Teaching Practices As Reported By Aboriginal Parents, Students And Their Teachers: Comparisons And Contrasts, Brian Ellis Lewthwaite, Helen Boon, Tammi Webber, Gail Laffin

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper summarizes the findings from the first phase of a three-part project which, overall, investigates what Aboriginal¹ students perceive as the qualities and actions of effective teachers and subsequently seeks to determine the impact of the enactment of these identified qualities on educational outcomes. This first phase of the research was centered on gathering accounts of quality teachers and teaching practice from students, parents and their teachers from phenomenologically aligned interviews. Similar and contrasting themes among these three groups are presented, with the intention of exposing potential mismatch in perception of the construct of ‘quality’ teaching. Finally, we …

Enhancing Phonological Awareness And Orthographic Knowledge Of Preservice Teachers: An Intervention Through Online Coursework, Marleen F. Westerveld, Georgina M. Barton

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The teaching of reading is a core priority across the education sector. In an attempt to better prepare our next generation of professional teachers of reading, academic staff at an Australian university implemented coursework changes that were designed to enhance the phonological awareness and orthographic knowledge of first-year preservice teacher education students. All students were asked to complete written surveys measuring phonological awareness and orthographic knowledge during class-time at the start and end of their first semester of study. During the semester, students were expected to complete two online modules on phonological awareness and orthographic conventions and pass an online …

Reforming Initial Teacher Education: A Call For Innovation, Tony Yeigh, David Lynch

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

A variety of public critiques, reports and government reviews into Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Australia and globally have called for a rethink on teacher education. Similarly, key researchers such as Hattie (2011), Smith and Lynch (2010) and Ingvarson et al. (2014) have argued for new, innovative approaches to ITE that are able to provide alternative pathways to the training of teachers. From this perspective the current article examines several models and features of ITE in terms of innovation. This examination provides clarification concerning the nature and role of ITE reform, as well as a series of arguments highlighting the …

Exploring Models Of Team Teaching In Initial Foreign/Second Language Teacher Education: A Study In Situated Collaboration, Malba Barahona

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The demonstrable potential of team teaching as a productive mechanism for developing collaborative teacher learning is now broadly understood in the field of teacher education. However, there is less evidence of the use of such collaborative teaching as a means of strengthening initial foreign/second language teacher education. This paper reports on the findings of a multiple case study in Chile that explored team teaching in a foreign language teacher education program. The study is illuminated through the lens of cultural historical activity theory framework (CHAT) and draws on the analysis of semi-structured interviews, work shadowing observations and reflections. The outcomes …

Emotions And Casual Teachers: Implications Of The Precariat For Initial Teacher Education., Kathryn A. Jenkins, Jennifer Charteris, Michelle Bannister-Tyrrell, Marguerite Jones

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

It is the norm for the casual teaching precariat to experience insecure labour conditions requiring an additional skill set to teachers with stable employment. As more beginning teachers than ever before commence work in casual employment – often a tenuous and unsupported transition into the profession - it is beholden on teacher educators to re-think aspects of their preparation. Four teacher educators undertook ‘memory work’ based on their previous experiences as casual teachers. Content analysis of follow up focus group discussions stressed the emotional and challenging nature of casual teaching, for both novice and experienced teachers. Findings from this small …

Measuring The Judicial Performance Of The European Court Of Human Rights, Elizabeth Lambert Abdelgawad

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Faced with a sharp rise in the number of individual applications, the European Court of Human Rights has been forced to provide greater accountability to governments eager to downsize its budget and staff. This has resulted in the introduction of quantitative criteria, to the detriment of quality and of the service rendered to individual victims. These new management policies have admittedly reduced the number of pending cases, but they have also considerably eroded the right of individual application. The new managerial policy has definitely shaped a new Court.

Men’S Help-Seeking In The First Year After Diagnosis Of Localised Prostate Cancer, M. K. Hyde, Robert Newton, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert Gardiner, S. Occhipinti, A. Lowe, G. A. Wittert, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study describes sources of support utilised by men with localised prostate cancer in the first year after diagnosis and examines characteristics associated with help-seeking for men with unmet needs. A cross-sectional survey of 331 patients from a population-based sample who were in the first year after diagnosis (M = 9.6, SD = 1.9) was conducted to assess sources of support, unmet supportive care needs, domain-specific quality of life and psychological distress. Overall, 82% of men reported unmet supportive care needs. The top five needs were sexuality (58%); prostate cancer-specific (57%); psychological (47%); physical and daily living (41%); and health …

Psychological Consequences Of Ivf Fertilization – Review Of Research, Alicja Malina, Julie Ann Pooley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Due to the reported efficacy of in vitro fertilization (IVF) this method of dealing with infertility is increasing being used. Experiencing IVF can be a source of psychological and emotional difficulties for couples trying to have a child. A systematic review was performed to discuss IVF as a psychological issue that impacts on the functioning of individuals, couples and families. Ebsco, Science Direct and PsycARTICLES databases were searched using the keywords: IVF fertilization, IVF psychology, infertility, and IVF consequences, using published peer reviewed articles from 2006 onwards. Studies in the English and Polish languages, peer reviewed and investigating general IVF …

Psychogeography – Providing A Lens On Corporate Culture And Its Potential Impact On Career Success: A Novel And Efficient Approach, Dorothy Wardale, Linley Lord

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Psychogeography refers to the loose interface between psychology and geography. Specifically it examines how we impact on the environment and the environment impacts on us. As a process it involves intimately observing the environment and seeing what may have been previously unobserved. Participants then construct meaning from these observations. This paper describes how we used a time-limited psychogeography approach followed immediately by a focus group as research method. The aim was to determine if examining participants’ work environment would potentially enable them to identify enablers and barriers to career success. The findings from these two short interventions are compared to …

A Ten-Year-Old’S Use Of Creative Content To Construct An Alternative Future For Herself, Lelia Rosalind Green, Kylie Justine Stevenson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Hand Up Linkage project focuses on the family as a communication context through which to explore the dynamics of intergenerational welfare dependency. In particular, it explores ways that creative life-course interventions might allow children in welfare dependent families to construct alternative realities for themselves and alternative views of their future. Formed through an alliance between a key Western Australian social welfare not-for-profit organisation, St Vincent de Paul WA (SVDPWA and also, in the context of volunteers, ‘Vinnies’), and Edith Cowan University, the project aims to address the organisation’s vision to provide “a hand up” (St Vincent 1) rather than …

New Graduate Registered Nurses’ Knowledge Of Patient Safety And Practice: A Literature Review, Melanie Murray, Deborah Sundin, Vicki Cope

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aims and objectives

To critically appraise available literature and summarise evidence pertaining to the patient safety knowledge and practices of new graduate registered nurses.

Background

Responsibility for patient safety should not be limited to the practice of the bedside nurses, rather the responsibility of all in the healthcare system. Previous research identified lapses in safety across the health care, more specifically with new practitioners. Understanding these gaps and what may be employed to counteract them is vital to ensuring patient safety.

Design

A focused review of research literature.

Methods

The review used key terms and Boolean operators across a 5-year …

The Skin Microbiome: Impact Of Modern Environments On Skin Ecology, Barrier Integrity, And Systemic Immune Programming, Susan Prescott, Danica-Lea Larcombe, Alan Logan, Christina West, Wesley Burks, Luis Caraballo, Michael Levin, Eddie Van Etten, Pierre Horwitz, Anita Kozyrskyj, Dianne Campbell

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Skin barrier structure and function is essential to human health. Hitherto unrecognized functions of epidermal keratinocytes show that the skin plays an important role in adapting whole-body physiology to changing environments, including the capacity to produce a wide variety of hormones, neurotransmitters and cytokine that can potentially influence whole-body states, and quite possibly, even emotions. Skin microbiota play an integral role in the maturation and homeostatic regulation of keratinocytes and host immune networks with systemic implications. As our primary interface with the external environment, the biodiversity of skin habitats is heavily influenced by the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which …

Over-Provision Of Discretionary Foods At Childcare Dilutes The Nutritional Quality Of Diets For Children, Ruth M. Wallace, Leesa N. Costello, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The childcare setting can significantly influence the lifelong eating habits and health outcomes of children.It is ideal for health-promoting interventions that optimise the provision of nutritious food and nutrition education. Unfortunately, these interventions are neither offered nor promoted in many childcare settings. Recent studies have indicated an increased risk of overweight/obesity with childcare attendance, which if present in early life is associated with increased risk of chronic disease and reduced psychological wellbeing.

"You Are No Longer Creative When You Give Up": Technical Theatre’S Creative Sleight Of Hand, Maggie Phillips, Renee Newman

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University contains vocational education training programmes including technical design courses with broad reach covering arts administration, stage management, stage lighting, sound design, set and costume design. In an unsettling problematic, teachers and students in the broadly themed Production and Design courses often find themselves isolated from the other creative disciplines or battle with the perception that their work is in fact not creative but entirely the technical implementation of ‘someone’s else’s vision’. This approach seems to dismiss the creative thinking required in the development and orchestration of the design and …

Female Undergraduate's Perceptions Of Intrusive Behavior In 12 Countries, Lorraine Sheridan, Adrian J. Scott, John Archer, Karl Roberts

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The present study examines young women's (N = 1,734) perceptions of the unacceptability of 47 intrusive activities enacted by men. Female undergraduate psychology students from 12 countries (Armenia, Australia, England, Egypt, Finland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Scotland, Trinidad) indicated which of 47 intrusive activities they considered to be unacceptable. Responses were compared with parasite-stress values, a measure of global gender equality and Hofstede's dimensions of national cultures. There was no unanimous agreement on any of the items, even for those relating to forced sexual violence. Cluster analysis yielded four clusters: “Aggression and surveillance” (most agreement that the constituent items …

Risk Perception And Psychological Behavior Of Investors In Emerging Market: Indonesian Stock Exchange, Y. Yuliani, I. Isnurhadi, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Capital market functions as a mediator between parties who have excess funds that is, investors and those who need the funds that is, emitents. Decision to sell and buy shares of a financial asset is very strategic decision for investors because it is associated with the chances of return to be earned in the future. The objective of this paper is to investigate the investor's psychology on buying and selling common stock in the stock exchange in emerging market. The specific purpose of this research is to provide the simultaneous empirical evidence about the perception of risk, psychology aspects towards …

Overview Of Australian Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2016, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent indicators of the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Information focuses on:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
• the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
• various measures of population health status
• selected health conditions
• health risk and protective factors.

The Overview shows that the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues to improve slowly and there has been a decline in the death rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and also a significant closing of the gap in death rates …

Checking The “Academic Selection” Argument. Chess Players Outperform Non-Chess Players In Cognitive Skills Related To Intelligence: A Meta-Analysis, Giovanni Sala, Alexander P. Burgoyne, Brooke N. Macnamara, David Z. Hambrick, Guillermo J. Campitelli, Fernand Gobet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Substantial research in the psychology of expertise has shown that experts in several fields (e.g., science, mathematics) perform better than non-experts on standardized tests of intelligence. This evidence suggests that intelligence plays an important role in the acquisition of expertise. However, a counter argument is that the difference between experts and non-experts is not due to individuals' traits but to academic selection processes. For instance, in science, high scores on standardized tests (e.g., SAT and then GRE) are needed to be admitted to a university program for training. Thus, the “academic selection process” hypothesis is that expert vs. non-expert differences …

Employer Understanding Of Work-Integrated Learning And The Challenges Of Engaging In Work Placement Opportunities, Denise Jackson, David Rowbottom, Sonia Ferns, Diane Mclaren

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study examines employer understanding of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), reasons for participation and the challenges and barriers posed during the WIL process. This is important given the drive to grow WIL, augmented by the National Strategy for WIL, and the significant benefits it holds in preparing students for their transition to employment. The study was undertaken by the four publicly funded Western Australian universities, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, and is focused on work placements among business students. Findings indicate employers had very little understanding of WIL offerings at the four Business Schools. …

Do Muscle Strength Imbalances And Low Flexibility Levels Lead To Low Back Pain? A Brief Review, Cassio Victora Ruas, Adriane Vieira

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) has been related to hips, trunk and spine strength imbalances and/or low flexibility levels. However, it is not clear if the assessment and normalization of these variables are effective for prevention of low back pain (LBP) episodes and rehabilitation of patients with CLBP. This brief review explored studies that have associated hip, trunk and spine strength imbalances and/or low flexibility levels to LBP episodes or CLBP condition. Fourteen studies were selected by accessing PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Collectively, the selected studies demonstrate that trunk eccentric/concentric and flexion/extension strength imbalances may be associated with CLBP …

Users' Experiences Of Wearable Activity Trackers: A Cross-Sectional Study, Carol Maher, Jillian Ryan, Christina Ambrosi, Sarah Edney

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Wearable activity trackers offer considerable promise for helping users to adopt healthier lifestyles. This study aimed to explore users’ experience of activity trackers, including usage patterns, sharing of data to social media, perceived behaviour change (physical activity, diet and sleep), and technical issues/barriers to use.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was developed and administered to Australian adults who were current or former activity tracker users. Results were analysed descriptively, with differences between current and former users and wearable brands explored using independent samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney, and chi square tests.

Results

Participants included 200 current and 37 former activity tracker …

Using Multiple Metaphors And Multimodalities As A Semiotic Resource When Teaching Year 2 Students Computational Strategies, Paula M. Mildenhall, Barbara Sherriff

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Recent research indicates that using multimodal learning experiences can be effective in teaching mathematics. Using a social semiotic lens within a participationist framework, this paper reports on a professional learning collaboration with a primary school teacher designed to explore the use of metaphors and modalities in mathematics instruction. This video case study was conducted in a year 2 classroom over two terms, with the focus on building children’s understanding of computational strategies. The findings revealed that the teacher was able to successfully plan both multimodal and multiple metaphor learning experiences that acted as semiotic resources to support the children’s understanding …

Job Club: A Program To Assist Occupational Therapy Students' Transition To Practice, Katrina Liddiard, Rachel Batten, Yuluan Wang, Karen Long, Amy Wallis, Cary A. Brown

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Transition to practice can be identified as the change from the role of student to the role of practitioner. This period of transition is a time of intense professional and personal development. Typically, it can take anywhere between six months to two years before an entry-level therapist feels competent in the workplace. A number of factors affect the transition process, including role uncertainty, inadequate supervision, and an overall lack of confidence in clinical skills. This paper discusses a case example of a Job Club, provided by a Western Australian Occupational Therapy university program. The concept was initially set up to …

Using Blog Comments As Feedback To Promote The Metacognitive Development Of Creativity, Mark Mcmahon, Heather Joseph

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Creativity can be viewed, not just as a set of skills and strategies, but as an overarching metacognitive skill that integrates a range of subordinate generic skills. Key to developing creativity is to engage in a cycle of ideation, reflection and adjustment, within a feedback rich environment. Blogs have the ability to garner external comments that can prompt these processes. Case study research was undertaken to explore what forms of feedback promote metacognitive development and how those forms can best be elicited within a blog. Findings indicated that blog comments can motivate, provide information, enhance quality and promote reflection, and …