Digital Commons Network^™

Friendship, Connection And Loss: Everyday Digital Kinning And Digital Homing Among Chinese Transnational Grandparents In Perth, Australia, Catriona Stevens, Loretta Baldasar, Raelene Wilding

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This chapter explores how practices of digital kinning and digital homing enacted through smartphones shape the experiences of Chinese older adults in Perth, Australia. Transnational grandparent carers must balance the risks of diminished social networks with the benefits of providing intergenerational care. Some form strong friendships in Perth, but many yearn for a leisured life with their friends in China. Findings illustrate the central role of digital migration practices in transnational families and friendships, not only sustaining distant support networks, but also building new communities in host settings. However, for some, the co-presence afforded through WeChat may intensify feelings of …

Preservice Eal/D Teachers’ Relational Agency During Online Paired Practicum, Hongzhi Yang, Andrew Ross

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

There is scant research on preservice English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) teachers’ paired practicums in an online context. Underpinned by Cultural Historical Activity Theory, this paper explores how preservice EAL/D teachers exercise their relational agency during online paired practicums. Data were collected from five preservice EAL/D teachers’ weekly journals written during their paired practicums and interviews after they completed their paired practicums. Following the key components of relational agency, the thematic analysis highlights the dialectical relationship between preservice teachers’ relational agency and different types of collaboration, evidenced by the formation of mutual objects, tool mediation, and shared …

Development Of An In-Service Teacher Educator: Becoming, Doing, Knowing, Being And Belonging Through The Tensions, Fatma Gümüşok, Gölge Seferoğlu

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This qualitative case study analyses the professional identity development of an in-service teacher educator (ISTE) through her conceptualisations and tensions. The participant possesses multiple degrees in different fields (BA in physics teaching, MA and PhD in Educational Administration) and became an ISTE in English Language Teaching (ELT) with this interdisciplinary background. We mainly focused on her lived experiences of developing as an ISTE in ELT in the context of in-service teacher education (INSET) in Türkiye. The thematic content analysis of an in-depth face-to-face interview suggests that resolving tensions early may be needed for ISTEs to persevere in their new job. …

Student Teachers' Experiences As Mentees During The Teaching Practice In Rwanda, Joseph Njiku

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teaching practice is an integral part of teacher education that provides teacher trainees an opportunity to merge theory and practice. This study investigated eight student teachers' mentorship experiences during teaching practice in secondary schools in Rwanda. Respondents were interviewed toward the end of their teaching practice. The cognitive apprenticeship theory guided the study. Qualitative data were collected and analysed deductively based on the themes identified in the literature and suggested by the theory. Findings indicate that all students were paired off with mentors, had the opportunity to observe and be observed by their mentors, and appreciated the mentoring process they …

Secondary Teachers’ Understandings Of Student Engagement: The Differences Between Understanding And Practice, Megan L. Kelly, Tony Yeigh, Suzanne Hudson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Student engagement remains a topical aspect of learning and teaching as it influences student outcomes and learning experiences. It is generally accepted to be a malleable construct encompassing students’ actions, feelings and thoughts, all of which are influenced by the learning context and pedagogical choices made by the teacher. The aim of the current study was to investigate secondary teachers’ understandings of student engagement in relation to three dimensions (behavioural, emotional and cognitive engagement), and how these understandings align with actual teaching practice. The mixed methods study collected data from six secondary teachers using an online questionnaire, interviews, and classroom …

Australian Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs About Educational Disadvantage And Socially Just Teaching: Beyond A Neoliberal Imaginary?, Claire E. Charles, Lynette Longaretti, Matthew K.E Thomas

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Neoliberal education reforms have altered the way social justice is imagined in relation to schooling. These reforms reframe social justice as ‘equity’ through conceptions of standards, evidence and teacher quality, while detracting attention from the moral and political dispositions required for socially-just teaching. Knowing more about how this context may be shaping the beliefs of pre-service teachers (PSTs) is important. This paper reports on beliefs about educational disadvantage of a group of PSTs about to embark on a specialised program in Australia designed to promote socially just schooling outcomes. 24 PSTs across two cohorts completed a survey prior to entering …

Professional Development In Gifted Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Geraldine Townend, Jennifer L. Jolly, Adrian W. Chew

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This systematic literature review explored the importance of professional development (PD) for educators working with gifted students. Findings highlighted the need for PD to improve teacher knowledge, skills, efficacy, and student outcomes, especially considering the heterogeneously grouped classrooms, unique student needs, and lack of pre-service gifted education training for most teachers. The review identified key themes including PD evaluation, teacher perceptions, and pedagogical practices. The findings suggested that effective PD programs should (a) enhance knowledge and classroom practice, (b) be evidence-based, (c) consider both teacher and student outcomes, (d) be of sustained duration, and (e) include collaborative activities with ongoing …

Friend Or Foe: Preservice Teachers’ Experience Of Teaching While Studying, Marion Sturges, Jaydene Barnes, Jacqueline Humphries

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The current teacher shortage across Australia is significant. Various stakeholders have contributed to the discourse around this shortage, and different solutions have been implemented, including using conditionally accredited preservice teachers to fill the gaps. However, the voices of these preservice teachers have been largely missing from conversations. In this small-scale study, a survey was used to gather insights from preservice teachers at one university about their experiences of working as teachers while simultaneously completing their teaching degrees. The preservice teacher participants enthusiastically shared their thoughts on the benefits and challenges of combining teaching with studying. A thematic analysis of the …

What Do You Know About Adhd? A Comparison Between Mainstream And Special Education Teachers, Sigal Eden, Nufar Sukenik

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes toward Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among a large cohort of mainstream and special education in-service teachers in Israel. Given the pivotal role of teachers in identifying and managing ADHD symptoms within the classroom, it is crucial to ensure they possess adequate knowledge and positive attitudes toward the disorder. Previous studies have indicated a gap in knowledge and attitudes between mainstream and special education teachers, often influenced by factors such as teacher training, personal experience, and demographic characteristics. This study addresses these gaps by utilizing the well-validated ASKAT questionnaire to provide a comprehensive assessment of …

Promoting Intercultural Competence And Cultural Responsiveness: The Impact Of Short-Term Study Abroad On In-Service Teachers, Jung Won Hur, Hyeon Jean Yoo, Sangah (Sunny) Lee, Suhyun Suh

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

While the benefits of study abroad experiences for pre-service teachers are well-documented, research specifically focusing on in-service teachers is limited. The study addresses this gap by exploring the experiences of 51 American teachers who participated in a short-term study abroad program in South Korea. This research investigates how the immersive learning experience impacted participants’ development of intercultural competence and their ability to create culturally responsive learning environments. Analysis of participant applications, reflections, individual interviews, and field notes reveals that immersion in an unfamiliar setting fostered greater empathy for immigrant students, strengthened relationships with minority students, and enhanced their ability to …

The Emotional Side Of Teaching Conceptions: Exploring The Relationship Between Conceptions Of Teaching And Teacher Burnout, Well-Being, And Resilience, Marc Clarà, Alba Vallés, Sílvia Cavalcante, Aina Franch, Jordi Coiduras, Patricia Silva, Nick Kelly, Tatiana López, Priscila Marchán, Bárbara Padula

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper investigates the relationship between teachers’ conceptions of teaching and several indicators of their emotional experience. With a sample of 200 teachers, the study identifies three dimensions of teaching conceptions, “student-centeredness,” “educational purpose,” and “projection into the future.” Statistical analysis revealed that student-centeredness is negatively correlated with teachers’ resilience and well-being. Additionally, we found that well-being and sense of personal accomplishment are significantly lower, and depersonalization significantly higher, when the educational purpose is psychosocial learning as opposed to academic learning. We also found some differences in conceptions of teaching among different countries and among different educational levels. These results …

Investigating Western Australian Teacher Perceptions Of Young Children’S Challenging Behaviour In The Early Years (Kindergarten To Year 2): An Exploratory Analysis., Gillian Smith, Kay Ayre, Helen Egeberg

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

An upward national trend in challenging behaviour amongst young children in Australian schools has prompted widespread concern and garnered frequent media scrutiny. Scholars have established that child-teacher relationships are central to understanding and mitigating challenging behaviour; however, exploration of teacher perceptions of children's challenging behaviour in the early years has been scant. This paper reports on findings drawn from a larger mixed-methods study of how teachers perceive, and respond to, young children’s challenging behaviour. Survey data from 111 Western Australian teachers of Kindergarten to Year 2 showed that challenging behaviour is appraised contextually, and relational pedagogy is valued. The analysis …

Exploration Of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Gene Expression Following High-Intensity And Moderate-Intensity Exercise Interventions, Kieran J. Marston, Jaisalmer De Frutos-Lucas, Tenielle Porter, Lidija Milicic, Michael Vacher, Kelsey R. Sewell, Jeremiah J. Peiffer, Simon M. Laws, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: There are currently 29 genome regions that demonstrate associations with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Regular physical exercise can promote systemic change in gene expression and may modify the risk of cognitive decline and AD. This study is a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial and examines the effect of a six-month exercise intervention versus control on AD-related gene expression. Design: Single-site parallel pilot randomised controlled trial. Methods: 91 cognitively unimpaired older adults were enrolled in the Intense Physical Activity and Cognition (IPAC) study. Participants were randomised into one of three groups: high-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise, or inactive control …

Infrared Ship Segmentation Based On Weakly-Supervised And Semi-Supervised Learning, Isa Ali Ibrahim, Abdallah Namoun, Sami Ullah, Hisham Alasmary, Muhammad Waqas, Iftekhar Ahmad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Existing fully-supervised semantic segmentation methods have achieved good performance. However, they all rely on high-quality pixel-level labels. To minimize the annotation costs, weakly-supervised methods or semi-supervised methods are proposed. When such methods are applied to the infrared ship image segmentation, inaccurate object localization occurs, leading to poor segmentation results. In this paper, we propose an infrared ship segmentation (ISS) method based on weakly-supervised and semi-supervised learning, aiming to improve the performance of ISS by combining the advantages of two learning methods. It uses only image-level labels and a minimal number of pixel-level labels to segment different classes of infrared ships. …

Measuring Attitude Change In Nursing Students After Completion Of A First Nations Peoples’ Health Unit: Embedding A Validated Tool In Learning And Assessment Practices, Kylie Mccullough, Angela Genoni, Melanie Murray, Darren Garvey, Linda Coventry

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, rooted in the historical and ongoing negative impacts of colonisation and disrupted traditional lifestyles, sees higher rates of illness and hospitalisations, increased morbidity and higher premature death rates than other Australians. Nurses represent the majority of Australia’s health workforce and nursing students must have knowledge to provide culturally safe care to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing unit was developed and introduced into an undergraduate nursing curriculum. This project aimed to determine the effectiveness of the unit content …

Global Meta-Analysis Of Demersal Fishing Impacts On Organic Carbon And Associated Biogeochemistry, Justin Tiano, Emil De Borger, Sarah Paradis, Clare Bradshaw, Claudia Morys, Antonio Pusceddu, Claudia Ennas, Karline Soetaert, Pere Puig, Pere Masqué, Marija Sciberras

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The potential threat of fisheries on seabed carbon is a topic of growing concern, yet existing literature presents inconsistencies leaving experts divided on the topic. We conducted a global meta-analysis to synthesize the current knowledge and quantify how demersal fishing impacts various biogeochemical properties. Direct impact studies revealed overall reductions in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a, 17%), phaeopigments (24%), and proteins (32%). Effects on these reactive compounds were more pronounced on surface sediment (0–2 cm), where the impact on total organic carbon (TOC) also became significant, demonstrating the effect of gear penetration, and highlighting that sampling strategies combining sediment layers can mask observed …

Living With Depression In The Family: A Narrative Inquiry Methodology For Seeking Meaning Through Stories, Amanda Cole, Vivien Kemp, Julie Ann Pooley, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Depression is a cause of disability globally and affects not only the person living with the condition, but the whole family. How people construct meaning to ‘live well’ and make sense of the reality of living with a person diagnosed with depression were explored through narrative inquiry and stories. The purpose of this article is to justify the use of narrative inquiry methodology to explore how people make meaning and find ways to live well and live with a family member who lives with depression. An interpretivist epistemological perspective, with the ontological principles of critical realism, and a social constructionist …

Out-Of-Hospital Birth Training, Experience And Confidence Of Australian Rural Volunteer Ambulance Officers, Michella G. Hill, Belinda Flanagan, Sara Hansen, Luke Hopper, Brennen Mills

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Unplanned out-of-hospital births represent less outs have a high risk of life-threatening complications, which are than 1% of ambulance requests for assistance. However, these call- particularly complex in rural or remote settings with limited accessibility to specialist care support. Many community hospitals Four themes emerged from analysis: (1) Lack of education and no longer provide obstetrics care, so birth parents must travel to exposure to birth resulted in low confidence. Most participants larger regional or metropolitan hospitals for assistance. Increased reported significant anxiety attending obstetric call-outs, and travel time may increase the risk of unplanned out-of-hospital explained under-utilisation of …

Predictive Modelling Of Metabolic Syndrome In Ghanaian Diabetic Patients: An Ensemble Machine Learning Approach, Emmanuel Acheampong, Eric Adua, Christian Obirikorang, Enoch Odame Anto, Emmanuel Peprah-Yamoah, Yaa Obirikorang, Evans Adu Asamoah, Victor Opoku-Yamoah, Michael Nyantakyi, John Taylor, Tonnies Abeku Buckman, Maryam Yakubu, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: The burgeoning prevalence of cardiometabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) within Africa is concerning. Machine learning (ML) techniques offer a unique opportunity to leverage data-driven insights and construct predictive models for MetS risk, thereby enhancing the implementation of personalised prevention strategies. In this work, we employed ML techniques to develop predictive models for pre-MetS and MetS among diabetic patients. Methods: This multi-centre cross-sectional study comprised of 919 T2DM patients. Age, gender, novel anthropometric indices along with biochemical measures were analysed using BORUTA feature selection and an ensemble majority voting classification model, which included …

Self-Efficacy And Home Dialysis: An Integrative Review, Nicola A. D'Souza, Ma'en Zaid Abu-Qamar, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Enhancing patient confidence in their ability (self-efficacy) is vital to ensure people are equipped to maintain home dialysis protocols. Bandura's social cognitive theory provided a framework for understanding the role of self-efficacy in patients managing home dialysis. Objectives: To identify self-reported levels of self-efficacy, the measurements used to assess self-efficacy and the effectiveness of interventions to enhance self-efficacy in patients undergoing home dialysis. Design: An integrative review approach was employed using Whittemore and Knafl's methodology. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to identify literature on self-efficacy in patients managing home dialysis. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase and …

Prevalence Of Disordered Eating And Its Relationship With Rapid Weight Loss Amongst Male And Female Combat Sport Competitors: A Prospective Study, Colin S. Doherty, Lauren V. Fortington, Oliver R. Barley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives:

To compare prevalence and change scores of disordered eating (DE) in combat sport athletes by sex and explore the potential relationship between rapid weight loss (RWL) and DE scores.

Design:

Prospective study based on 24 events (September 2022–2023).

Methods:

A body mass (BM) questionnaire was completed at ~ 1 day post-competition providing pre-competition BM data for − 7 days, − 24 h, and weigh-in. The Athletic Disordered Eating (ADE) online questionnaire was completed at ~ 7 and ~ 28 days post-competition, providing overall DE and four subscale scores (food and energy control, bingeing, body control, and body discontent).

Results: …

Rapid Discrimination Between Wild And Cultivated Ophiocordyceps Sinensis Through Comparative Analysis Of Label-Free Sers Technique And Mass Spectrometry, Qing Hua Liu, Jia Wei Tang, Zhang Wen Ma, Yong Xuan Hong, Quan Yuan, Jie Chen, Xin Ru Wen, Yu Rong Tang, Liang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a genus of ascomycete fungi that has been widely used as a valuable tonic or medicine. However, due to over-exploitation and the destruction of natural ecosystems, the shortage of wild O. sinensis resources has led to an increase in artificially cultivated O. sinensis. To rapidly and accurately identify the molecular differences between cultivated and wild O. sinensis, this study employs surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with machine learning algorithms to distinguish the two O. sinensis categories. Specifically, we collected SERS spectra for wild and cultivated O. sinensis and validated the metabolic profiles of SERS spectra using Ultra-Performance …

Simple Climate Models That Can Be Used In Primary, Secondary, And Tertiary Education, Timothy G. Harrison, Michael T. Davies-Coleman, Alison C. Rivett, M. Anwar H. Khan, Joyce D. Sewry, Magdalena Wajrak, Nicholas M. Barker, Jonny Furze, Sophie D. Franklin, Linda Sellou, Naomi K.R. Shallcross, Dudley E. Shallcross

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change is of great concern to all age groups but in particular to children. “Simple” climate models have been in place for a long time and can be used effectively with post-16 students. For younger children, modifications are required, and we describe in this paper the development and use of two such models. The first (the Granny Model) is a pictorial version of the model that has been used extensively with primary and early secondary school aged children (14 and younger). The second is an online version of the simple climate model that can be used without recourse to …

The Delta Concept Does Not Effectively Normalise Exercise Responses To Exhaustive Interval Training, Arthur Henrique Bossi, Wouter Timmerman, Diana Cole, Louis Passfield, James Hopker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: This study was designed to quantify inter- and intra-individual variability in performance, physiological, and perceptual responses to high-intensity interval training prescribed using the percentage of delta (%Δ) method, in which the gas exchange threshold and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) are taken into account to normalise relative exercise intensity. Design: Repeated-measures, within-subjects design with mixed-effects modelling. Methods: Eighteen male and four female cyclists (age: 36 ± 12 years, height: 178 ± 10 cm, body mass: 75.2 ± 13.7 kg, V̇O2max: 51.6 ± 5.3 ml·kg−1·min−1) undertook an incremental test to exhaustion to determine the gas exchange threshold and V̇O2max as prescription …

Understanding How Indigenous Knowledge Contributes To Climate Change Adaptation And Resilience: A Systematic Literature Review, Tashi Dorji, Kinley Rinchen, Angus Morrison-Saunders, David Blake, Vicki Banham, Sonam Pelden

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today threatening societies and the future of the planet. The impacts of climate change are more severe in poor and marginalised populations like Indigenous communities where people rely heavily on their Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to adapt to the changing environment. Climate change adaptation and resilience are critical for the survival of Indigenous communities under the threat of climate change. This systematic literature review seeks to understand how IK contributes to climate change adaptation and resilience. A total of 71 papers from Scopus were analysed using the Preferred Reporting Items …

Associations Between Flavonoid Intake And Subclinical Atherosclerosis: The Mesa, Nicola P. Bondonno, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Kevin Murray, Catherine P. Bondonno, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Alexis C. Wood, Wendy S. Post, Matthew Allison, Michael H. Criqui, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Flavonoids may play a role in mitigating atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, with evidence suggesting effects may differ between vascular beds. Studies examining associations with subclinical markers of atherosclerosis between subpopulations with different underlying risks of atherosclerosis are lacking. METHODS: Among 5599 participants from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), associations between dietary flavonoid intakes (estimated from a food frequency questionnaire) and subclinical measures of atherosclerosis (ankle-brachial index, carotid plaques and intima-media thickness, and coronary artery calcification) were examined using repeated measures models. Exposures and outcomes were measured at exam 1 (2000-2002) and exam 5 (2010-2011). Stratified analyses and interaction terms …

Levels Of Unrelated Diversification And Firm Performance: A Conceptual Description Of An S-Shaped Hypothesis, Kwaku Alex Gyan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study reconceptualizes the so far inconclusive relationship between unrelated diversification and financial performance by explaining how coordination costs can shape the amount of free cash flow and related agency problems at different levels of unrelated diversification. The study builds upon the notion that coordination requirements and associated coordination costs will vary at levels of unrelated diversification to regulate the amount of free cash flow managers will have at their disposal at each level of unrelated diversification. Based on the agency costs associated with free cash flow, we conceptualize that at different stages of unrelated diversification, the degree of managerial …

Optimal Pilot Length For Key Generation In Correlated Wireless Channels, Danqi Li, Shihao Yan, Jia Zhang, Jiande Sun, Feng Shu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This work examines the optimal pilot length for key generation in correlated wireless channels. We first deduce the secret key capacity as a function of the pilot length N and other system parameters. Then, derive two fixed-point equations to identify the optimal N with and without an eavesdropper. Our analysis and numerical results confirm the existence of the optimal N that maximizes the secret key capacity, and both results for optimal N are consistent. Furthermore, the optimal N generally decreases with average signal-to-noise ratio and maximum Doppler shift. Our examination can provide useful guidelines in designing practical key generation systems.

Subjective Career Success Among New Graduates And The Role Of Personal Factors, Denise Jackson, Ruth Bridgstock, Claire Lambert, Matalena Tofa, Ruth Sibson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Flatter organisational structures and nonlinear career trajectories mean intrinsic value and subjective career success are increasingly important for motivating, guiding and rewarding contemporary workers. While objective measures of career success have been well explored, more research is needed to understand the dimensions of subjective career success, their relative importance to graduates and potential variations by personal factors. This is critical for supporting graduates’ transition into work and for organisations to attract and retain graduates amid global talent shortages. Design/methodology/approach: Building on assertions of the power to understand how what one seeks in a career affects career achievement, this study …

White Lies And Safety Nets: The Perceptions Of Nurses On The Use Of Early Warning Systems And The Development Of Higher-Order Thinking Skills, Deb Massey, Tracy Flenady, Amy Louise Byrne, Justine Connor, Danielle Le Lagadec

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Algorithmic tools such as early warning systems (EWSs) have been embedded into clinical practice globally to facilitate the early recognition of patient deterioration and to guide the escalation of care. Concerns have been raised that the mandated use of these EWS tools may impact the development of nurses' higher-order thinking. However, the relationship between EWS tools and the development of higher-order thinking is poorly understood.

Objectives: This paper provides the qualitative results of a larger study that sought to explore the impact of EWS tools on the development of nurses' higher-order thinking. The objective of this component of the …