Education Commons^™

Utilising The Social Return On Investment (Sroi) Framework To Gauge Social Value In The Fast Forward Program, Jioji Ravulo, Shannon Said, Jim Micsko, Gayl Purchase

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A market paradigm shift towards a 'knowledge-based economy' means Australia is moving towards a major skills crisis whereby the workforce will lack skills attainable from higher education. Moreover, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and who are confronted with disadvantage, still face challenges in gaining entry to university. The Fast Forward Program (FFP) aims to increase attainment of higher education for greater western Sydney high school students in years 9-12, with a focus on dismantling the social barriers preventing attainment. To achieve this aim, the program hosts a range of student and parent in-school workshops and on-campus visits. To capture the …

Building Conceptual Knowledge Of Fraction Operations Among Pre-Service Teachers: Effect Of A Representation-Based Teaching Approach Within A Teacher Education Program, Elise J. Thurtell, Patricia A. Forrester, Mohan Chinnappan

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A deep understanding of fraction concepts and operations is necessary if pre-service teachers (PSTs) are to present the concepts in multiple forms to learners. Such an understanding needs to be grounded in rich conceptual knowledge. In the present study, we explore the development of this understanding by supporting a cohort of 103 PSTs, who had previously demonstrated poor conceptual understanding of fraction concepts and operations, with a Representational Reasoning in Teaching and Learning (RRTL) approach aimed at strengthening their conceptual knowledge. A comparison of pre- and post-test results indicated that participants showed a significant improvement in shifting the balance of …

Establishing A Framework For Learning To Teach English Pronunciation In An Australian Tesol Program, Michael S. Burri, Amanda Ann Baker, Honglin Chen

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A substantial number of studies have been conducted in various second language teacher education settings. Yet, evidence about the effectiveness of teacher preparation continues to be debated and research findings about the efficacy of preparing language teachers are still somewhat inconclusive. As a further complication, even though pronunciation has regained some of its prominence in second language teaching, only minimal understanding exists about the preparation of pronunciation instructors in teacher education. The aim of this paper is to address this gap and to advance our understanding of teacher learning by first combining the findings from four research-based articles on learning …

Evaluation Of An Australian Alcohol Media Literacy Program, Chloe Gordon, Steven J. Howard, Sandra C. Jones, Lisa K. Kervin

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: A 10-lesson alcohol media literacy program was developed, underpinned by the message interpretation processing model, inoculation theory, and constructivist learning theory, and was tailored to be culturally relevant to the Australian context. This program aimed to increase students' media deconstruction skills and reduce intent to drink alcohol. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in achieving these goals through a short-term quasi-experimental trial. Method: Elementary schools were assigned to either the intervention group (83 students) or a wait-list control group (82 students). Student questionnaires were administered at three time points (baseline, after the …

Evaluation Report 2015: Investigating The Effectiveness Of The In2uni Year 12 University Preparation Program, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea, Valerie Harwood, Steven J. Howard, Ken Cliff, Janine Delahunty

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In2Uni's Year 12 University Preparation Program (UPP), which commenced in 2014, is an innovative program for students in their HSC year working towards an ATAR. It targets schools in UOW catchment areas, and particularly those identified as being from the 39 low-ICSEA (Index of Community and Socio-Educational Advantage) areas. Students must meet eligibility criteria, one being that their academic performance is not currently on the trajectory to meet university entry requirements (In2Uni, My Way, 2016). Once accepted into UPP, students attend on-campus study sessions for two hours per week over a 20- week period from April to September. The general …

The Lessons To Be Learned Now The Abc's Pulled Its 'Inaccurate' Wi-Fried Program, Rodney J. Croft

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The ABC has this week announced that an episode of its Catalyst television program "breached the ABC's impartiality standards" when it raised concerns about the safety of wireless devices such as mobile phones.

The episode, titled Wi-Fried? and broadcast on February 16 this year, claimed that the radiofrequency (RF) emissions from Wi-Fi was causing health effects ranging from DNA damage to cancer.

Such statements are not mainstream scientific positions, but rather are views that leading health authorities have considered when concluding that there is no evidence that low-level RF, such as that from Wi-Fi, mobile phones or base stations, impairs …

Evaluation Of A Sexually Transmissible Infections Education Program: Lessons For General Practice Learning, Jenny Reath, Penny Abbott, Ann Dadich, Hassan Hosseinzadeh, Wendy Hu, Melissa Kang, Tim Usherwood, Carolyn Murray, Chris Bourne

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: The New South Wales (NSW) Sexually Transmissible Infections Program Unit (STIPU) produced nine resources to support the diagnosis and management of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in general practice. Objective: In this study, we explored the processes of developing the resources and outcomes achieved. Methods: We analysed project documents and undertook a focus group interview with the STIPU Working Group to evaluate resource development and dissemination. Interviews with general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs), combined with previously reported survey findings, provided an outcomes evaluation. Results: STIPU used a rigorous, multimodal approach to develop evidence-based clinical resources. GPs and PNs …

Assessing The Sustained Impact Of A School-Based Obesity Prevention Program For Adolescent Boys: The Atlas Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, David R. Lubans, Jordan J. Smith, Ronald Plotnikoff, Kerry A. Dally, Anthony D. Okely, Jo Salmon, Philip J. Morgan

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Obesity prevention interventions targeting 'at-risk' adolescents are urgently needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sustained impact of the 'Active Teen Leaders Avoiding Screen-time' (ATLAS) obesity prevention program. Methods: Cluster RCT in 14 secondary schools in low-income communities of New South Wales, Australia. Participants were 361 adolescent boys (aged 12-14 years) 'at risk' of obesity. The intervention was based on Self-Determination Theory and Social Cognitive Theory and involved: professional development, fitness equipment for schools, teacher-delivered physical activity sessions, lunch-time activity sessions, researcher-led seminars, a smartphone application, and parental strategies. Assessments for the primary (body mass index …

'We Are History In The Making And We Are Walking Together To Change Things For The Better': Exploring The Flows And Ripples Of Learning In A Mentoring Program For Indigenous Young People, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea, Samantha Mcmahon, Amy Priestly, Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews, Valerie Harwood

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article explores the unique mentoring model that the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) has established to assist Australian Indigenous young people succeed educationally. AIME can be described as a structured educational mentoring programme, which recruits university students to mentor Indigenous high school students. The success of the programme is unequivocal, with the AIME Indigenous mentees completing high school and the transition to further education and employment at higher rates than their non-AIME Indigenous counterparts. This article reports on a study that sought to deeply explore the particular approach to mentoring that AIME adopts. The study drew upon interviews, observations …

'[I Learnt] How To Look At Ads Differently...': Lessons From An Australian Alcohol Media Literacy Program, Chloe Gordon, Sandra C. Jones, Lisa K. Kervin, Jeong Kyu Lee

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at The Inaugural Early Start Conference, 28-30 September 2015, Wollongong, Australia

Recognising Aspiration: The Aime Program's Effectiveness In Inspiring Indigenous Young People's Participation In Schooling And Opportunities For Further Education And Employment, Valerie Harwood, Samantha Mcmahon, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea, Gawaian Bodkin Andrews, Amy Priestly

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A strong feature of the widening participation agenda is improving the aspirations of groups that are underrepresented in higher education. This paper seeks to reposition the utility of this as a focal point of educational interventions by showcasing the success of a mentoring program that takes a different approach. The Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) significantly and positively impacts Australian Indigenous high school students' aspirations to finish school and continue to further study, training or employment. AIME is not read as a classic intervention program for raising aspirations. Instead, AIME builds upon the cultural wealth of participants and adopts an …

Shifting Towards Inquiry-Orientated Learning In A High School Outreach Program, Tom Gordon, Manjula Sharma, Helen Georgiou, Matthew Hill

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents results of an examination the effect of the introduction of inquiry-orientated learning, IOL, activities into the formal education outreach program for senior high school Physics students run by School of Physics at the University of Sydney, 'Kickstart Physics.' This is the flagship outreach program from the Faculty of Science and accommodates approximately a quarter of the total number of students that sit the state Physics exam. The project considered how students arrive at different inquiry-orientated outcomes such as making hypotheses, displaying and interpreting data, validity, reliability, as well as the mental effort reported by the students during …

Protocol For The Process Evaluation Of A Complex Intervention Designed To Increase The Use Of Research In Health Policy And Program Organisations (The Spirit Study), Abby Haynes, Sue Brennan, Stacy M. Carter, Denise O'Connor, Carmen Huckel Schneider, Tari Turner, Gisselle Gallego

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Process evaluation is vital for understanding how interventions function in different settings, including if and why they have different effects or do not work at all. This is particularly important in trials of complex interventions in `real world' organisational settings where causality is difficult to determine. Complexity presents challenges for process evaluation, and process evaluations that tackle complexity are rarely reported. This paper presents the detailed protocol for a process evaluation embedded in a randomised trial of a complex intervention known as SPIRIT (Supporting Policy In health with Research: an Intervention Trial). SPIRIT aims to build capacity for using …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Framework To Support Knowledge Translation Within The Australian Dementia Training And Study Program, Lyn Phillipson, Richard Fleming, E Beattie, M Winbolt, Samantha Reis

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the National Dementia Research Forum 2014, 19 September 2014, Sydney, Australia

Development Of Media In The Spotlight: A School-Based Alcohol Media Literacy Program, Chloe Gordon, Sandra C. Jones, Lisa Kervin

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2014, 9-12 November 2014, Adelaide, Australia

Key Considerations For Developing An Effective Alcohol Media Literacy Program: Findings From A Systematic Literature Review, Chloe Gordon, Sandra C. Jones, Lisa Kervin

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2014, 9-12 November 2014, Adelaide, Australia

Final Report: Evaluation Of The In2uni Program, Valerie Harwood, Sarah Elizabeth O'Shea, Steven J. Howard, Ken Cliff

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This report is an evaluation of the University of Wollongong's In2Uni outreach program. The In2Uni Program, delivered at the University of Wollongong, is an outreach program that works with primary and secondary students from low socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds on the NSW South Coast. These programs take the form of student academic mentoring, parent/caregiver/community and teacher engagement seminars, and university transition workshops. In2Uni's focus is on building the skills and aspirations required to enter Higher Education.

A New Beginning: Resolving Conflict Peacefully - Pilot Program Evaluation, Natalia K. Hanley, Tallace Bissett

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This report details key research literature about the interactions between young people from new and emerging migrant and refugee communities and Victoria police. It also presents evaluation findings from the pilot conflict resolution training program - A new beginning: resolving conflict peacefully.

Authentic Education: Lessons From An Online Finnish Teacher Development Program For 21st Century Faculty, Mark Curcher, Hanna M. Teras

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The Finnish education system has received a lot of media attention due the results of PISA examinations. Many countries have considered ways to implement the 'Finnish model' into their own context. This paper examines the experience gained from the first graduating cohort of a fully online Finnish teacher development program in a Middle Eastern country with diverse, multicultural faculty participants. It examines the challenges of implementation and reflects upon the successes and participant experience. The paper describes how the principles of authentic e-learning (Herrington, Reeves and Oliver, 2010) were used to design the program and whether it was possible to …

First Steps: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial Of The Effectiveness Of The Group Family Nurse Partnership (Gfnp) Program Compared To Routine Care In Improving Outcomes For High-Risk Mothers And Their Children And Preventing Abuse, Jacqueline Barnes, Dipti Aistrop, Elizabeth Allen, Jane Barlow, Diana Elbourne, Geraldine Macdonald, Edward Melhuish, Stavros Petrou, Joshua Pink, Claire Snowdon, Helen Spiby, Jane Stuart, Joanna Sturgess

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background

Evidence from the USA suggests that the home-based Family Nurse Partnership program (FNP), extending from early pregnancy until infants are 24 months, can reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect throughout childhood. FNP is now widely available in the UK. A new variant, Group Family Nurse Partnership (gFNP) offers similar content but in a group context and for a shorter time, until infants are 12 months old. Each group comprises 8 to 12 women with similar expected delivery dates and their partners. Its implementation has been established but there is no evidence of its effectiveness.

Methods/Design

The study …

Clinical And Reliable Change In An Australian Residential Substance Use Program Using The Addiction Severity Index, Frank P. Deane, Peter J. Kelly, Trevor P. Crowe, Justin C. Coulson, Geoffrey C.B Lyons

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Although the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is one of the most frequently used measures in alcohol and other drug research, it has rarely been used to assess clinical and reliable change. This study assessed clients' clinical and reliable change at The Salvation Army residential substance abuse treatment centers in Australia. A total of 296 clients completed ASI interviews on admission to treatment and 3 months after discharge from treatment. Clients demonstrated significant improvement on all seven ASI composites. The range of reliable change for each ASI composite varied from 30% to 70%. More than two-thirds of clients experienced clinically significant …

Combining Realism With Rigour: Evaluation Of A National Kitchen Garden Program In Australian Primary Schools, Karen Quinsey, Deanne Condon-Paoloni, James Dawber, Simon Eckermann, David Fildes, Pamela Grootemaat, Darcy Morris, Wendy Nielsen, Heather Yeatman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper will report on the framework and methods developed to evaluate the implementation and impact of a national garden and kitchen program in Australia.

Health Promoting Schools - Lessons From A National Evaluation Of A Kitchen Garden Program, Heather Yeatman, K Quinsey, D Condon-Paoloni, J Dawber, Simon Eckermann, D Fildes, J Green, P Grootemaat, D Morris, W Nielsen

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract of paper presented at PHAA 42nd Annual conference: Abstract & Program Book, Melbourne, 16-18 September 2013.

Asthmawise - A Field Of Dreams? The Results Of An Online Education Program Targeting Older Adults With Asthma, Pippa Burns, Sandra C. Jones, Donald C. Iverson, Peter Caputi

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility and acceptability of an online asthma self-management program developed for older Australians with asthma. Methods: AsthmaWise, an internet education self-management program, was piloted for a 3-month period at the beginning of 2012. Participants were recruited using both online and offline strategies and were required to complete surveys, both pre- and post-intervention, in a repeated measures design. Results: Matched data were collected from 51 participants; the results showed AsthmaWise to be a feasible and acceptable method of delivering asthma education to the target population. Self-reported measures showed an increase in …

The Effects Of A Multi-Component Higher-Functioning Autism Anti-Stigma Program On Adolescent Boys, Jessica J. Staniland, Mitchell K. Byrne

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A six-session higher-functioning autism anti-stigma program incorporating descriptive, explanatory and directive information was delivered to adolescent boys and the impact upon knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions towards peers with autism was evaluated. Participants were seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students (N = 395) from regular classes in a mainstream school. Two-eighth-grade classes were randomly allocated to the intervention condition and all remaining students were either allocated to the no-intervention peer or no-intervention non-peer condition. The anti-stigma program improved the knowledge and attitudes, but not the behavioural intentions of participants towards their peers with autism. Knowledge and attitudinal changes were maintained at …

Using Health Risk Assessments To Target And Tailor: An Innovative Social Marketing Program In Aged Care Facilities., Sandra C. Jones, Keryn M. Johnson, Lyn Phillipson, Danika Hall, Laura Robinson, Andrew D. Bonney, Joanne Telenta

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The number of Australians over the age of 65 years is expected to double by 2021. Many older Australians suffer from one or more chronic diseases - including cancer, coronary heart disease, respiratory diseases (AIHW, 2009) resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, lower quality of life and a higher need for health care (Hickey and Stilwell, 1991). There is increasing evidence that the adoption of healthy lifestyles can have significant benefits even into older age (Haveman-Nies et al, 2002). This project utilized a social marketing framework to support aged residents of retirement homes to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours to improve …

Effectiveness Of Home Program Intervention For Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial, Iona Novak, Anne Cusick, Natasha Lannin

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 5th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine, 3-6 March 2010, Christchurch, New Zealand

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

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Traditionally, the American child welfare system intervenes in cases of evident and severe maltreatment. Families in need of help, but who have not reached a crisis, are excluded from typical services. Some suggest that if these families were served, few would be rereferred to the child welfare system. California's Differential Response (DR) has three tracks, of which ''Track 1'' targets families screened out of child protective services (CPS) and refers them to agencies that provide voluntary, home-based services and referrals. This study examined child-welfare trajectories for families receiving Track 1 DR services in one California county. Using survival analysis, treatment …

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.

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. …