Education Commons^™

Peer Transition Programs: Run By Students For Students, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea, Michelle Vincent, Alan Calder, Peter Hanley

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This presentation will highlight the 'nuts and bolts' of peer transition programs that have been underway for some time at two universities. James Cook University first offered Kickstart in 1998 with an underlying philosophy of allowing experienced student mentors to design, develop and facilitate a short course that introduces first year students to the culture and environment of university life. University of Newcastle developed Uni-start in 2006 along the same lines, and both institutions have continued to evaluate and refine their respective transition programs. Participants at this session will hear how the two institutions have collaborated, how these types of …

Hiv, Diversity And Cultural Competence, Masha Eisenberg, Renee Moreton, Tadgh Mcmahon, Nandini Ray

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Cross-cultural issues are a reality and a challenge for public sector agencies seeking to meet their responsibilities in an increasingly diverse Australia. ‘Cross-cultural training’ of various kinds has been part of the ‘tool box’ to address these challenges. Here we report briefly on the more comprehensive framework of ‘cultural competence’

Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights Of Refugees, Asylum Seekers And Undocumented Migrants. A Framework For The Identification Of Good Practices, Ines Keygnaert, Koen Dedoncker, Kathia Van Egmond, Marleen Temmerman, Christiana Nostlinger, Jasna Loos, Patricia Kennedy, Sonia F. Dias, Luis T. Tavira, Isabel Craveiro, Elisabeth Ioannidi, Eirini Kampriani, Najla Wassie, Dorota Sienkiewicz, Erick Vloeberghs

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This framework document wants to provide strategic guidance to stakeholders and organizations in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights regarding: - the development of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights policies - the deliverance of Sexual and Reproductive Health services towards refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants.

Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights Of Refugees, Asylum Seekers & Undocumented Migrants, Ines Keygnaert, Koen Dedoncker, Kathia Van Egmond, Marleen Temmerman, Christiana Nostlinger, Jasna Loos, Patricia Kennedy, Sonia F. Dias, Luis T. Tavira, Isabel Craveiro, Elisabeth Ioannidi, Eirini Kampriani, Najla Wassie, Dorota Sienkiewicz, Erick Vloeberghs

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In 2006 the European Refugee Fund undertook a call for proposals, which resulted in the project presented in this report. The 18-month project started on 1 August 2007 and ran until 31 January 2009. The general aim of the project was to improve the SRH of refugees and asylum seekers in the EU, by setting up a network for the promotion of the SRH&R of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and beyond.

Early Coital Debut And Associated Hiv Risk Factors Among Young Women And Men In South Africa, Audrey Pettifor, Katie O'Brien, Catherine L. Mac Phail, William Miller, Helen Rees

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

CONTEXT Young people in South Africa are at high risk of HIV infection. Because first sexual experiences may influence a young person's HIV risk, a better understanding of coital debut is needed. METHODS Data from a nationally representative survey that included 7,692 sexually active South African youth aged 15-24 were used to assess characteristics related to sexual debut and to respondents' first sexual partner. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to identify relationships among these characteristics and partner age differences, early coital debut (i.e., before age 15), forced sex with one's first partner and nonuse of condoms at first sex. RESULTS …

Hearing The Student Voice - Examining The Processes Of Transition, Persistence And Engagement For A Group Of First Year, First In Family University Students, Sarah O'Shea

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper outlines a qualitative, narrative study that focuses on the student experience as it relates to a particular cohort of students namely women who are the first in the family to attend university. Seventeen students were recruited to participate in a series of four semi-structured interviews conducted throughout one academic year. These interviews investigated the processes involved in transition as well as the perceptions held about engaging in tertiary study and the hurdles encountered during the year. The research accompanied the students as each travelled through the university environment, exploring what it means to be a 'first-year student'. The …

How Serious Are Duty Of Care Risks In Virtual Reality?, Sarah Katherine Howard

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Concerned by the debate surrounding multi-user virtual environments, Sarah Howard sets out to determine how serious are the risks versus the rewards.

Assessing Alternative And Differential Response: Implications For Social Work Practice In Diverse Communities, Executive Summary, Jill Duerr Berrick, Christina Branom, Amy Conley Wright, Amy Price

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study examines outcomes, processes, and community context for "Another Road to Safety" (ARS), a Differential Response intervention providing voluntary home visiting to families reported for child maltreatment. Using mixed methods and drawing on diverse data sources (including interviews, focus groups, administrative records, and census tract data), this research will examine implementation of the program model; clients' perspectives on services; preliminary client outcome data; and the impact of neighborhood factors on client outcomes. Findings will inform the development of a research-based curriculum that will facilitate skill-development in implementation, community engagement, and client understanding for Differential Response interventions.

Stereoscopic Depth Magnitudes At Greater Distances In An Old Steam Railway Tunnel, Barbara Gillam, Stephen Palmisano, Donovan Govan, Robert Allison, Julie Harris

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 32nd European Conference on Visual Perception, 24-28 August 2009, Regensburg, Germany

Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention: Outcomes Associated With A Differential Response Program In California, Amy Conley Wright

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Presented at the 17th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect on April 2, 2009.

Obsolete, Jason Wilson, Jason Jacobs

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Obsolescence is most frequently talked about in relation to the history of technology. A still-common way of understanding modernity is as a linear succession of emerging technologies which supersede existing ones, and which are themselves, in time, made redundant. The cycle of novelty and obsolescence underpins a narrative including episodes of human invention, mastery and eventual technological failure. Nevertheless, it makes technologies themselves the subjects of history, rather than the human beings whose choices frame their contingent births, shapings, adoptions and uses. Many have pointed out the extent to which this simplifies history, but this has made precious little impact, …

Influenza Virus Antigenic Variation, Host Antibody Production And New Approach To Control Epidemics, Jiezhong Chen, Yi-Mo Deng

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Influenza is an infectious disease and can lead to life-threatening complications like pneumonia. The disease is caused by three types of RNA viruses called influenza types A, B and C, each consisting of eight negative single-stranded RNA-segments encoding 11 proteins. Current annual vaccines contain two type A strains and one type B strain and are capable of inducing strong antibody responses to both the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) and the neuraminidase (NA). While these vaccines are protective against vaccine viruses they are not effective against newly emerging viruses that contain antigenic variations known as antigenic drift and shift. In nature, …

Conceptualising Progression In The Pedagogy Of Play And Sustained Shared Thinking In Early Childhood Education: A Vygotskian Perspective, Iram Siraj-Blatchford

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper is concerned specifically with the pedagogies applied in supporting learning through children‟s play, and it is framed outside mainstream discourses on the nature of play. The development of the paper also represents one stage in a continuing effort to develop a better understanding of sustained shared thinking in early childhood education. The paper also focuses on the educational potential of shared playful activities. However, given the overwhelming consensus regarding the importance of play in early childhood development, even a diehard educational pragmatist must begin by addressing subjects that are most commonly considered by psychologists. The paper begins with …

The Foveal Confluence In Human Visual Cortex, Mark M. Schira, C W. Tyler, Michael Breakspear, Branka Spehar

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The human visual system devotes a significant proportion of its resources to a very small part of the visual field, the fovea. Foveal vision is crucial for natural behavior and many tasks in daily life such as reading or fine motor control. Despite its significant size, this part of cortex is rarely investigated and the limited data have resulted in competing models of the layout of the foveal confluence in primate species. Specifically, how V2 and V3 converge at the central fovea is the subject of debate in primates and has remained “terra incognita” in humans. Using high-resolution fMRI (1.2 …

Factors Influencing The Non-Use Of Respite Services By Caregivers Of People Living With Dementia Differ According To Respite Product And By Caregiver And Care Recipient Need, L Phillipson, S C. Jones

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 8th National Conference of Emerging Researchers in Ageing, 23 Oct 2009, Melbourne, Australia

Consuming Children: An Analysis Of Australian Press Coverage Of The Claims And Counterclaims Of Advocacy And Industry Groups In Relation To A Proposed Ban On 'Junk Food' Advertising, Kate Holland, R Warwick Blood, Samantha Thomas, Asuntha Karunaratne, Sophie Lewis

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Evidence of rising rates of overweight and obesity in Australia has generated considerable discussion about potential policy responses and solutions. In relation to childhood obesity, one suggestion that has been put forward is to ban or restrict junk food advertising to children. Debate about the merits of such a proposal was an enduring issue in the Australian press during our study's time frame, January 2008-January 2009. This paper is one part of a larger project investigating the reporting and portrayal of overweight and obesity in the Australian media, and the lived experiences of overweight and obese adults. In Australia, O'Hara …

Writing The Risk Of Cancer: Cancer Risk In Public Policy, Claire Hooker, Stacy M. Carter, Heather M. Davey

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In this paper we examine how cancer risk is written in cancer policy documents from the English speaking OECD nations. We offer an audit of the multiple ways in which cancer risk is conceptualised and presented in health policy and professional contexts with the long term aim of comparing this with lay conceptualisations. Our study sampled cancer policy documents produced by six nations, the World Health Organization and the International Union for Cancer Control since 2000 and analysed them iteratively through questions and codes. Whilst the documents contained a comprehensive range of concepts and locations for cancer risk, our analysis …

Male Rape: Constructing Consent Through Social Attitudes, Philip Rumney, Natalia K. Hanley

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the SLSA Annual Conference, 7-9 April 2009, Leicester, United Kingdom

Non-Sensory Inputs To Angular Path Integration, Joeanna C. Arthur, John W. Philbeck, David Chichka

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Non-sensory (cognitive) inputs can play a powerful role in monitoring one's self-motion. Previously, we showed that access to spatial memory dramatically increases response precision in an angular self-motion updating task [1]. Here, we examined whether spatial memory also enhances a particular type of self-motion updating - angular path integration. "Angular path integration" refers to the ability to maintain an estimate of self-location after a rotational displacement by integrating internally-generated (idiothetic) self-motion signals over time. It was hypothesized that remembered spatial frameworks derived from vision and spatial language should facilitate angular path integration by decreasing the uncertainty of self-location estimates. To …

Cyber-Relations In The Field Of Home Computer Use For Leisure: Bourdieu And Teenage Technological Experts, N. F. Johnson

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This article highlights the practice of a group of New Zealand teenagers who are considered by their family and themselves to be technological experts. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s key concepts of habitus, field and capital, this text identifies and discusses the cyber-relations that constitute the practice in the field of home computer use for leisure. The purpose of this article is to claim that though this field is predominantly a field of leisure, these are valid sites of informal learning. As almost all of the experts in the study gained their expertise through independent means, with minimal input from their …

An Instructional Challenge Through Problem Solving For Physics Teacher Candidates, Samson Nashon, David Anderson, Wendy S. Nielsen

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

The teaching of science, especially at pre-college and teacher education levels has undergone tremendous transformation over the years: from teacher-centred transmission to student-centred approaches rooted in constructivism. Whereas constructivism has been charged with all manner of shortfalls, it still can be of benefit to the way physics instructions are organized and implemented. In this paper, the importance of learners' prior knowledge in understanding physics concepts is discussed. This study comprised a case of two cohorts of physics teacher candidates who had strong content knowledge of physics, but lacked pedagogical knowledge as demonstrated by their struggles to implement appropriate grade-level strategies …

Metacognitive Engagement During Field-Trip Experiences: A Case Study Of Students In An Amusement Park Physics Program, Wendy S. Nielsen, Samson Nashon, David Anderson

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on a study that investigated students' metacognitive engagement of in both out-of-school and classroom settings, as they participated in an amusement park physics program. Students from two schools that participated in the program worked in groups to collectively solve novel physics problems that engaged their individual metacognition. Their conversations and behavioral dispositions during problem solving were digitally audio-recorded on devices that they wore or placed on the tables where groups worked on the assigned physics problems. The students also maintained reflection journals on the strategies they employed to manage their own understanding as well as learning processes. …

Young People, Education And Unlawful Non-Citizenship: Spectral Sovereignty And Governmentality In Australia, Mary Louise Rasmussen, Valerie Harwood

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This paper considers Judith Butler’s discussion of the intersections between governmentality and sovereign power in Precarious life: the powers of mourning and violence. We consider this interrelationship with a view to considering how this might enable us to expand our understanding of contemporary discourses governing young people within and outside Australia. In particular we focus on the production of groups of young people, such as those classified as ‘illegal immigrants’ who may be situated outside the frame of ‘public good’ or the ‘private interest’. This enables for a theorisation of the lives of groups of young people who may …

Gifted Students' Perceptions Of The Characteristics Of Effective Teachers, Kornelia Tischler, Wilhelmina J. Vialle

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Are effective teachers born or can they be made? Are the qualities required to be an effective teacher the same for all students or do gifted students look for different things in their teachers? Do teachers of gifted learners need to be gifted themselves if they are to be effective? These questions prompted our investigation of the qualities of effective teachers of gifted students. An examination of the research literature revealed a number of key characteristics associated with teachers of the gifted, which we have classified into three areas: personal-social characteristics, teaching strategies and approaches, and intellectual characteristics

The Tower Of Creativity, Wilhelmina J. Vialle, Albert Ziegler

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

In the field of creativity research, two paradigms can be distinguished. Both can be traced back to a seminal publication, the Art of Thought by Graham Wallas and Richard Smith in 1926, and to Joy Paul Guilford’s American Psychologist paper entitled Creativity in 1950. While Wallas and Smith conceptualized creativity as a thinking process, Guilford envisaged creativity as a personal trait. Nevertheless, a common element of both paradigms was that creativity is bound to an individual. Similarly, this is also the prevailing view in giftedness research: Creativity is a characteristic of an outstanding individual who is capable of either seeing …

Validating The Slowmation Learning Design: Comparing A Learning Design With Students' Experiences Of Learning, Garry Hoban, Wendy Nielsen, David Macdonald, Brian Ferry

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

A slowmation (abbreviated from slow-motion animation) is a narrated animation designed and made by learners that is played in slow motion at 2 frames/second to explain a science concept. The purpose of this study was to compare the proposed learning design of a slowmation with the actual learning experiences of three preservice primary teachers as they created an animation about an obscure topic over a period of two hours. A range of data gathering methods were used to document the students’ learning experiences including individual interviews before and after creation to ascertain their pre and post knowledge as well as …

Vygotsky And Linguistic Relativity: The Case Of Chinese And English Reading, John F. Ehrich

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

This paper argues the case of linguistic relativity through a Vygotskyan socio-cultural perspective. A major tenet of Vygotskyan socio-cultural theory is that sign systems (e.g., language) are psychological tools, which after a period of internalization, result in a transformation of inner processing. The logical extension of Vygotskyan socio-cultural theory is that the internalization of different sign systems, such as Chinese logographic characters or English alphabetic script, should invariably result in the development of distinct types of inner processing. This argument is essentially one of linguistic relativity, or the idea that the nature of language itself can impact on cognitive processing. …

Inappropriate Food Marketing, Lesley King, Bridget Kelly, Timothy Gill, Josephine Chau, Kathy Chapman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The Preventative Taskforce has identified inappropriate food marketing to children as a national policy priority, and is seeking to provide an informed policy approach to guide government action in this area. This project has formulated a set of policy options and recommendations regarding inappropriate food marketing in Australia. The policy options and recommendations have been developed on the basis of an analysis of international evidence, including Australian and international research studies and case studies of policy initiatives. The policy options and recommendations address the potential roles and responsibilities of national government, and take account of the roles of industry groups, …

Moving Beyond The Restrictions: The Evaluation Of The Alice Springs Alcohol Management Plan, Kate Senior, Richard Chenhall, Bill Ivory, Christopher Stevenson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A report prepared for the NT Department of Justice.

There have been a number of evaluations of alcohol management in the Alice Springs region. Interestingly, an evaluation in 1975 emphasised the need for government and other agencies to view the issues holistically and to address them accordingly. The outcomes of this evaluation point to a similar situation with comparable recommendations.

The situation in Alice Springs is unique in some respects but has parallel characteristics to other towns and communities in Australia. Alice Springs is an important regional supply, service-orientated, and tourism town. Its people have diverse backgrounds and appear as …

Reinventing Rural Places: The Extent And Impact Of Festivals In Rural And Regional Australia, Christopher R. Gibson, Anna Stewart

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Results have been analysed from a three-year Australian Research Council (ARC) Festivals Project, which sought to document the extent and significance of festivals for rural communities and economies. Rural festivals have proliferated and diversified in recent years from the traditional country show to evermore whacky niches -- the Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival, the Wooli Goanna Pulling Festival, the Thoona Latin American and Wheely Bin Festival and Parkes' Elvis impersonators festival. Are such festivals significant for rural communities in contrast to their apparent short-lived nature? The ARC festivals project sought to answer this question. The largest ever database of rural …