Digital Commons Network^™

What Happens When Induction Goes Wrong: Case Studies From The Field, S Kearney

Education Papers and Journal Articles

Although induction programmes are widely held to alleviate the pressures beginning teachers face early in their careers, what happens when beginning teachers do not receive adequate induction? While the research advocates effective and ongoing induction to acculturate new teachers to their careers, there is little research on the effects of unsuccessful induction on the teachers who undertake such programmes. The author is a long-standing advocate for beginning teacher induction, it is important to note that simply implementing a programme does not guarantee success. While induction practices have become more common in recent years, there are still no mandated structures for …

Spiritual And Religious Capabilities For Catholic Schools, Christine Mcgunnigle, Chris Hackett

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The Australian Curriculum articulates the role of general capabilities across all learning areas in the schooling years. The function of these general capabilities is to ensure that students have the dispositions and skills that provide for deep learning and the ability to function successfully in the 21^st Century. Within Catholic schools, these same general capabilities apply. Catholic schools, in recognising the mission of the Church, are however, called to ensure that not only are students able to participate in the 21^st Century context, but that they are able to evangelise through the integration of faith, life and culture. …

We Make Ourselves Real By Telling The Truth: Merton And Aging, Glenn J. Morrison

Philosophy Papers and Journal Articles

In No Man is an Island, Thomas Merton asserts that, “We make ourselves real by telling the truth”. Where such transcendent truth uncovers the reality of the self, there is something about the “telling” of a narrative that gives life to the psyche in both the body and soul together. When the process of ageing anchors itself in a formative journey of reminiscence and storytelling, it seeks to be grounded in the reality of spirituality, the very desire to become real. Reality then takes on a transcendent perspective in terms of awakening (to the risen Christ’s narrative of truth, love, …

Vol. 27 August (2015)

In Principio - 2010s

No abstract provided.

Vol. 27 April (2015)

In Principio - 2010s

No abstract provided.

Religious Education Leadership And The 21st Century: Overcoming Disconnectedness, Michael T. Buchanan

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The role of the religious education leader is a relatively new role within Catholic education in Australia. This leadership position has evolved since the time of its emergence in the decades following Vatican II; however, there appears to be a lack of clarity and understanding about the role and its impact upon a school. While the religious education leader plays a significant role in building a school community, a recent study which sought to discover the kinds of support these leaders need found that many religious education leaders encountered experiences of disconnectedness in their own school communities. Drawing on the …

Student Leadership Development: A Functional Framework, Gregory S.C. Hine

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This article presents a longitudinal, qualitative case study of a student leadership program in a Catholic secondary school in Perth, Western Australia. Data were collected over a period of three years through multiple methods, including one-on-one interviewing, focus group interviewing, document searches, field notes, and researcher reflective journaling. Through the analysis of the longitudinal data, key characteristics of seven models of leadership presented in the literature—transactional leadership, transformational leadership, charismatic leadership, servant leadership, distributed leadership, Christian leadership, and student leadership—are compared with those found in the leadership program of the school. This article contributes to the growing body of school-based …

Action Research: Informing Professional Practice Within Schools, Gregory Hine, Shane D. Lavery

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This research paper explores the experiences of three teacher-researchers, ‘Simone’, ‘Damian’ and ‘Michael’, who undertook an action research project in their respective schools as part of their postgraduate studies. The paper initially outlines the construct of action research in the light of its applicability to educational research. Particular reference is made to the benefits of action research for those in the teaching profession as well as to several challenges associated with action research. What then follows is the design of the case study methodology that was used to examine the individual experiences of Simone, Damian and Michael. The research used …

The Right To Equality And The Employment Decisions Of Religious Schools, Greg Walsh

Law Papers and Journal Articles

Under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) religious schools are provided with an exception from the operation of the Act in relation to their employment decisions. This article evaluates the merits of the legal protections provided to religious schools by specifically focusing on the extent to which the provisions are consistent with the right to equality. Although there are a range of other considerations relevant in determining the merits of the provisions a specific focus on the right to equality is appropriate considering the significance of the right in anti-discrimination legislation. The article explores the extent to which the provisions may …

Vol. 26 August (2014)

In Principio - 2010s

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Role And Skill Set Of Physiotherapy Clinical Educators In Work Integrated Learning, Susan Edgar, Joanne Connaughton

Physiotherapy Papers and Journal Articles

Clinical educators are under increasing pressures in the workplace to provide quality education of healthcare students within varying supervision frameworks. Along with facilitating the teaching of clinical skills, clinical educators play a support role for students and so require more than expert clinical abilities in their vital position linking institutions and the healthcare environment. Twelve physiotherapy clinical educators attended one of two focus groups exploring their opinions on the role and skill set of clinical educators in work-integrated learning (WIL).Clinical educators described their role, their skills, challenges they faced supporting the needs of students, as well as future training requirements. …

Theophilus Of Alexandria And The Episcopal Ordination Of Synesius Of Cyrene, Kevin Wagner

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

Extant works show that Theophilus was fiercely opposed to the Origenism of the Tall Brothers and their fellow monks. These same works also demonstrate that he was a competent and orthodox theologian. In peculiar contrast to the written proof of Theophilus’ anti-Origenism, Theophilus ordained Synesius of Cyrene who had openly declared heterodox views. Norman Russell, in his work Theophilus of Alexandria, declares that Theophilus was willing to ordain Synesius and appoint him as bishop of the Pentapolis so long as Synesius kept these heretical opinions private. Given the unusual nature of his ordination, Synesius’ relationship with Theophilus thus offers a …

Practice-Led Theology Or Thinking Theology Through Practice, Neil Ferguson

Theses

Following a series of economic and political changes beginning in the late 1980s, art/design schools and performing arts academies were incorporated into the university system. The disciplines these schools offered were then faced with the requirement to justify some of what they did as academic research.

As a result, a new methodology was developed called practice‐led research. This methodology has two key foundations. The first is the recognition that artistic practice is a site of academic research and the second is that the results of that practice–the creative output–are a legitimate carrier of knowledge. Practice‐led research recognises the validity of …

Developing Tomorrow's School Leaders: The Western Australian Catholic Education Aspiring Principals Program, Shane A. Glasson

Theses

The Aspiring Principals Program is a two-year principal preparation program convened by the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia. The program targets selected primary school assistant principals and secondary school deputy principals aspiring to principalship of Western Australian Catholic schools. The eight aspirants who commenced the program in January 2011 and graduated in December 2012 participated in the research. The purpose of the research was to explore aspirant perceptions of Catholic principalship before, during and upon completion of the program together with the influences provoking discernible perception changes. Specifically, four aspirant perceptions were explored by the research: Catholic principalship role …

Student Leadership In Catholic Schools: A Matter Of Service!, Gregory Hine, Shane D. Lavery

Education Conference Papers

Schools are elementary breeding grounds for student leadership development. School principals, by virtue of their standing in their school, have a pivotal role in facilitating student leadership development initiative s. In essence, they are stewards of student leadership (Lavery & Hine, 2012). This paper examines the notion of student leadership from the standpoint of eight Catholic secondary school principals. It initially explores their perception of the ethos underpinning student leadership. On this point, all principals posited that servant leadership must be the overarching model informing student leadership. The paper then investigates those ways these principals perceived student leadership functioning in …

Retention And Attrition Of Students In Higher Education: Challenges In Modern Times To What Works, Marguerite Maher, Helen Macallister

Education Papers and Journal Articles

Retention and attrition rates in higher education have long been a focus of research. This paper presents findingsof a single case study, undertaken in a School of Education, which identify important strategies that have led to attrition of five to eight per cent, compared with 18 per cent cross the education sector in Australia (Department of Education, Science and Training, 2004). Findings include: individual admissions interviews, funding of an Associate Dean Pastoral Care, course coordinators providing continuity of support, easy access for students to academic staff, well-supported, extended professional experience, senior staff lecturing undergraduates, congruence between co-curricular supports and the …

Vol. 25 No. 2 Semester 2 (2013)

In Principio - 2010s

No abstract provided.

New Evangelization, Conversion And Catholic Education, Mark Tynan

Theses

Magisterial teaching since the Second Vatican Council has identified the need for a re-evangelization of Western cultures. Catholic teaching since Vatican II has continued to identify this need and exhort Christians to what Pope John Paul II termed a New Evangelization. This teaching had five significant thrusts. Firstly, it identified the need for the New Evangelization. Secondly, it discussed the essential role of the laity in this endeavor. Thirdly, it positioned conversion as the primary initial goal of this enterprise and defined what it conversion would look like experientially. Fourthly, the Holy Spirit was promoted as the initiator and primary …

The "Specter" Of Cancer: Exploring Secondary Trauma For Health Professionals Providing Cancer Support And Counseling, Lauren Breen, Moira O'Connor, Lauren Y. Hewitt, Elizabeth Lobb

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Health professionals are vulnerable to occupational stress and tend to report high levels of secondary trauma and burnout; this is especially so for those working in “high-death” contexts such as cancer support and palliative care. In this study, 38 health professionals (psychologists, social workers, pastoral carers/chaplains, nurses, group facilitators, and a medical practitioner) who provide grief support and counseling in cancer and palliative care each participated in a semistructured interview. Qualitatively, a grounded theory analysis revealed four themes: (a) the role of health professionals in supporting people who are experiencing grief and loss issues in the context of cancer, (b) …

Principals: Catalysts For Promoting Student Leadership, Shane D. Lavery, Gregory S C Hine

Education Papers and Journal Articles

The role of the principal is pivotal in the development of student leadership within schools. As well as assuming a heavy administrative workload and undertaking numerous complex and time-absorbing responsibilities, the principal plays a significant part in facilitating student leadership development initiatives—in essence, this person becomes the steward of student leadership. This stewardship most often takes one of two forms: through direct or indirect involvement. A principal advocating stewardship through direct involvement is personally engaged in leadership activities, and works closely with student leaders. By contrast, indirect involvement requires the principal to empower colleagues with the responsibility of personally engaging …

Exploring The Need For Improvement In A Student Leadership Program, Gregory Hine

Education Papers and Journal Articles

Despite the importance of adolescent leadership development, little research has examined how to improve such programs within a school context. The intention of this article is to explore how one Catholic secondary school developed leadership potential in young adolescents, and how such efforts can be refned and improved in the future. The primary methods for collecting data included focus groups interviews, researcher field notes, and researcher reflective journaling. Based upon these data, the author conceptualised the strengths and shortcomings of the program of leadership being pursued consciously or implicitly by the school, by examining the perspectives held by those students …

Managing Student Distraction: Responding To Problems Of Gaming And Pornography In A Western Australian School For Boys, Frank G. Bate, Jean M. Macnish, Steven Males

Education Conference Papers

This paper provides some initial findings from a current longitudinal study that examines the implementation of a 1:1 laptop program in a school for boys in Perth, Western Australia. One issue that has emerged from the study is the problem of managing student distraction. The school in this study has taken a proactive approach to managing student conduct on its own network. Two student monitoring initiatives were implemented during the course of the research. The first: parental control software sought to integrate the parental control features of the laptops with the school network. The second initiative: e-safe is a web …

The Name Four Factor Model For Engaging Students In Academic Support Services, Keith Mcnaught, Elizabeth Beal

Education Conference Papers

This paper describes the first student experience survey of a newly established academic and support service, delivered by an “Academic Enabling and Support Centre” (AESC) at The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle campus. The purpose of the study was to identify the key factors that would be likely to increase student access and participation rates, and accordingly enhance student outcomes. There was an overt institutional focus on the needs of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, driven, in part, by the national agenda to increase student diversity and participation in the tertiary sector. The survey demonstrated that several operational aspects related …

Using ‘Core Academic Literacy’ Course Results To Create A Profile For Potentially ‘At Risk’ Students, Keith Mcnaught, Fleur Mcintyre

Education Conference Papers

This paper suggests students who are ‘at risk’ might also be identified through the analysis of performance within a core academic literary unit, taken within the first semester of their course. By identifying students with a low pass score in a core academic literacy unit, and analysing these students by a range of factors, a course and/or faculty specific ‘at risk’ profile may be created. In an analysis of students undertaking a Health Science core academic literacy unit in Semester 1, 2010, and tracking those students over their first year of studies, three factors, when in combination, emerged to create …

Good Teaching, Spirituality And The Challenge Of Encountering Cultural Difference In Australia, Glenn J. Morrison

Theology Book Chapters

The essay aims to show that nurturing a spirituality of good teaching could provide a more committed and responsible attitude towards education and encountering cultural difference in Australia. Spirituality speaks of relationships, the search for meaning and of having a heart for another. Students demand that teachers should be many things such as passionate, engaging, intelligent, fun, challenging, fair and creative. The more we can develop meaning and a spirituality in teaching, the more we may meet these demands to attend to the students’ enthusiasm, frustration, uncertainty, impatience, fears and dreams. Part I of the essay will explore some Levinasian-inspired …

Multiple Intelligences, Eclecticism And The Therapeutic Alliance: New Possibilities In Integrative Counsellor Education, Mark Pearson

Arts Conference Papers

In the wake of the movement in the field of counselling towards integrative and eclectic practice the search for unifying theories continues. Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences (MI), only recently applied to the field of counselling, has a contribution to make in evolving a framework for eclecticism. MI theory may also have a particular contribution to make towards helping counsellors strengthen the therapeutic alliance and enhance flexibility in responding to clients' needs. Gaining an understanding of clients' preferred cognitive and communication styles, or 'intelligences', enhances an ability to tailor treatment. This presentation argues that increases in the therapeutic alliance and …

Formation Of Pre-Service Teachers For Religious Education Through Experiential Learning: The Retreat Leaders Training Program, Chris Hackett, Shane D. Lavery

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This article reports on the formation of pre-service teachers for religious education through an experiential learning program called the Retreat Leaders Training Program (RLTP). First, the article examines the need for formation for pre-service RE teachers, especially as the formation relates to the development of three forms of teacher knowledge: content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and experiential content knowledge. Second, the article reviews the literature on the role of experiential learning in professional formation and the contribution live-in retreats may make in this formation. Third, the article presents the Retreat Leaders Training Program as an example of the formative influence …

Transitioning Year 7 Primary Students To Secondary Settings In Western Australian Catholic Schools: A Description Of The Process, Anne Coffey, Richard G. Berlach, Michael O'Neill

Education Papers and Journal Articles

In 2009 the Catholic education system moved to a six plus six model, even though the public education system in Western Australia decided to remain with a seven year primary and five year secondary school structural arrangement. Prior to implementation, a great deal of planning was undertaken by the Catholic Education Office and individual schools to ensure the smooth transition of Year Seven students to a secondary school setting. This system-wide shift presented a one-time opportunity to investigate the planning arrangements of six Catholic secondary schools that agreed to participate in the study. This study reports the unique challenges experienced …

The L.E.A.D. Project: Leading Educational Achievement Through Dialogue 2010, Michael O'Neill, Anne Coffey, Shane D. Lavery, Jennifer Oaten, Lou Thompson

Education Papers and Journal Articles

The L.E.A.D. Project: Leading Educational Achievement Through Dialogue 2010 is the report of the research team from the University of Notre Dame Australia funded by the Australian Government Quality Teacher Program. It is a multi-site case study which gathered data on high performing secondary schools in the Catholic system of Western Australia The data was gathered from 9 secondary schools in the Catholic system. All Principals and Deputy Principals (Curriculum) were interviewed for the study. Focus groups of Heads of Learning were interviewed, in total 32 Heads of Learning participated. Focus groups of teachers were interviewed, in total 38 teachers …

Martin Griver: A Biographical Study Of A Missionary, Visionary, And Colonial Bishop In Western Australia, 1814-86, Odhran O'Brien

Theses

Brigadier Richard Holmes, biographer and military historian, has stated that he seeks the ‘character of the man’ in his biographical studies of such British political figures as Winston Churchill. In undertaking a biography of Bishop Martin Griver, I have been endeavouring to realise that same objective. The ‘search for Griver’ began on a completely physical level with an exhumation of his remains from within St Mary’s Cathedral, the place of worship that he helped design and build. In many ways, much of the knowledge about his contribution to Western Australia’s Catholic Church has been laid to rest with him—until now. …