Education Commons^™

Using Education Assistants To Help Pave The Road To Literacy: Supporting Oral Language, Letter-Sound Knowledge And Phonemic Awareness In The Pre-Primary Year, Wendy Moore, Lorraine Hammond

Research outputs pre 2011

Children with weak oral language skills are at risk of experiencing difficulty with early literacy acquisition. Intensive small group intervention during the preprimary year has the potential to improve children’s success in developing emergent literacy skills. Education assistants are a potentially powerful resource for supporting students at educational risk. In this study, education assistants at four schools were trained to provide a daily half-hour emergent literacy program to pre-primary students with low oral language skills. The program focused on developing phonological awareness, letter-sound knowledge and vocabulary using both explicit and in-context (embedded) learning activities. The students undertaking the program made …

Pushing Library Information To First-Year Students: An Exploratory Study Of Faculty/Library Collaboration, Julia Gross, Eva Dobozy

Research outputs pre 2011

The authors contend that better information literacy and library skills development practice is needed for students entering university. This paper presents a case study of how a teacher education (TE) lecturer and a faculty librarian collaborated in an Australian university to provide information literacy practice. A mutual interest in technology-enhanced learning and teaching through podcasting media was the catalyst for the collaboration. A semester-long trial was conducted in which library pod/vodcasts were provided to first-year teacher education students. This paper explores this student learning and proposes a prototype for further media-related collaboration between academic and library staff.

E-Partnerships: Library Information Acquisition In The Comfort Of Students’ Digital Homes, Julia Gross, Eva Dobozy

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper presents a case study of how a university lecturer and a faculty librarian built upon their shared concerns about first-year students’ lack of information literacy. It describes in some detail their underlying beliefs, which led to this experimental intervention design and the strategic e-partnership. Embedded library podcasts were used to push library information to students. The potential and actual impact of this e-partnership on personalised support for a diverse student body is explored and an argument is presented for e-partnerships among university staff in an effort to better assist first-year higher education students.

Caught In The Middle: Improving Writing In The Middle And Upper Primary Years, Valerie Faulkner, Judith Rivalland, Janet Hunter

Research outputs pre 2011

This chapter reports on a project that aims to build teacher capacity in assessing and teaching the linguistic, textual, and contextual levels of writing to students in Years 3-8, who are not meeting the benchmark standard. It has built on a pilot study funded by the Fogarty Learning Centre at Edith Cowan University. An extension of the pilot study throughout 2007 resulted in a collaborative arrangement between theFogarty Learning Centre and the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA). This collaboration illustrates the power of productive partnerships in research with the education sectors and professional associations of Western Australia. …

Funding And Secondary School Choice In Australia: A Historical Consideration, Rosemary Cahill, Jan Gray

Research outputs pre 2011

Since public funds first began to flow into non-government schools in the mid-1970s, successive Commonwealth and state governments have steadily increased the amount of funding they have provided to nongovernment schools (Bonnor & Caro, 2007; Macfarlane, 2003). The outcome of this funding decision has brought the cost of a ‘private school education’ within reach of many more Australian families in the 21st century (Rothman, 2003; Symes & Gulson, 2005). This paper explores the historical backdrop within which secondary schooling is provided in Western Australian today in order to better understand how it influences and/or predisposes the secondary school choices currently …

Personal Knowledge Management And Student Learning, Stuart Garner

Research outputs pre 2011

Students who undertake courses of study at colleges and universities are generally more successful in their learning outcomes if they are able to manage their personal knowledge well and effectively. This paper begins by discussing the meaning of personal knowledge management (PKM) and how it relates to teaching and learning, particularly to a commonly used instructional design framework. Some of the electronic tools that students might utilise are then discussed. Finally several electronic tools that might prove useful to students to aid their PKM are suggested

The Pipeline Project: Trajectories Of Classroom Behaviour And Academic Progress : A Study Of Student Engagement With Learning, Max Angus, Tim Mcdonald, Chris Ormond, Rudy Rybarcyk, Anthea Taylor, Anne Winterton

Research outputs pre 2011

The Pipeline Project addresses three questions concerning the relationship between the classroom behaviour of students and their academic performance. First, to what extent does classroom behaviour explain why students fall behind and fail to meet acceptable standards in literacy and numeracy; second, if student classroom behaviour does influence academic performance, what forms of classroom behaviour are of most significance; and third, are the students whose behaviour has contributed to their underperformance in literacy and numeracy likely to ever catch up?

Three Year Results Of The Friendly Schools Whole-Of-School Intervention On Children's Bullying Behaviour, Donna Cross, Helen Monks, Margaret Hall, Therese Shaw, Yolanda Pintabona, Erin Erceg, Gregory Hamilton, Clare Roberts, Stacey Waters, Leanne Lester

Research outputs pre 2011

A group randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of the Friendly Schools program to reduce student bullying behaviour. This socio-ecological intervention targeted the whole school, classroom, family, and individual students to reduce bullying behaviour. Self-report data were collected in 29 schools over three years from a cohort of 1968 eight to nine-year-olds. Surveys measured frequency of being bullied, bullying others, telling if bullied and observing bullying. Results indicate that intervention students were significantly less likely to observe bullying at 12, 24 and 36 months and be bullied after 12 and 36 months, and significantly more likely to tell if bullied …

Complexities Of Assessing Social And Emotional Competence And Wellbeing In Young Children, Lennie Barblett, Carmel Maloney

Research outputs pre 2011

Developing positive social and emotional growth and development in young children has always been a fundamental priority of early childhood practitioners. However, with an increasing economic and political focus on the foundational early childhood years, there has been a global push for the measurement of outcomes in early childhood education. This paper reports the findings of a major literature review to examine the assessment of social and emotional competence and wellbeing in young children. The review was conducted by a team at Edith Cowan University as part of project funded by the Western Australian Department of Education and Training. It …

The Status Of School Science Laboratory Technicians In Australian Secondary Schools : Research Report Prepared For The Department Of Education, Employment And Workplace Relations, Mark Hackling

Research outputs pre 2011

Australia needs a scientifically literate society and a supply of scientists and technologists to sustain a thriving economy and to address a wide range of social and environmental challenges. The goals of scientific literacy and a sufficient supply of science and technology graduates from higher education require that primary and secondary schools offer authentic and inquiry oriented science curricula that engage students and inspire them to continue their studies of science (Ainley et al., 2008). Science teachers depend heavily on good facilities and high quality technical support to implement an engaging and inquiry-oriented curriculum and this will be particularly important …

Poetry In The Classroom : Dish It Up!, Helen Adam

Research outputs pre 2011

Not available.

Wellbeing And Retention: A Senior Secondary Student Perspective, Jan Gray, Mark Hackling

Research outputs pre 2011

Non-completion of senior secondary schooling continues to be a matter of concern for policy makers and practitioners in Australia today. Despite the efforts of governments to improve participation and retention rates, 30% of students drop out of school before completing Year 12. Further, some students remain at school, just biding their time until graduation. Within this context, we investigate whether the wellbeing of the students is a key factor in supporting senior students in deciding to continue at school. The article reports on the first phase of a two-year study of factors impacting on quality retention and participation of 250 …

Online Metacognitive Tool Development: Final Development, Joseph Luca, Mark Mcmahon

Research outputs pre 2011

The authors of this paper have been developing an online metacognitive tool over the past four years through a process of iterative design and development stages using Design-Based research. Based on feedback from students, tutors and peers, the application has now been finally developed and is available for public download. The application helps students working in teams reflect on their learning strategies through a process of planning, monitoring and evaluation, and allows students to reflect on their performance.

The Catalyst Clemente Project: Making Journalism Education Accessible To Disadvantaged Australians, Trevor Cullen

Research outputs pre 2011

This is a brief commentary on a new initiative to promote engagement with the wider community through the Catalyst Clemente project, which was introduced in Western Australia in 2008. It encourages participants to improve their personal situation through learning and developing essential skills in a supportive environment. It also seeks to promote self-confidence in people at risk of homelessness or physical and mental illness, by encouraging them to take control of their lives and bring about personal change through undergraduate education. The program gives applicants the opportunity to do accredited university courses in the area of the humanities. I was …

Australian Covert Bullying Prevalence Study, Donna Cross, Therese Shaw, Lydia Hearn, Melanie Epstein, Helen Monks, Leanne Lester, Laura Thomas

Research outputs pre 2011

The safety of members of the school community is essential to enhance the academic, social development and well being of young people. In line with the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child, the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF) is regarded as.a highly innovative, collaborative effort on behalf of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to foster the development and implementation of a series of whole-of-school initiatives to produce an integrated national policy for the prevention and early intervention of bullying and other aggressive and violent behaviours.

Yet despite the impact of the NSSF in terms of reducing …

Forging New Partnerships: Learning And Teaching Connections Between Academic And Library Staff, Eva Dobozy, Julia Gross

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper presents a case study of how one teacher education (TE) lecturer and one faculty librarian built upon their shared experiences by forging a partnership to collaborate in a first-year teacher education unit. Technology-enhanced leaming and teaching through podcasting media was the catalyst for the partnership. The paper explores the potential and actual impact of this partnership on student leaming and suggests a path for further media-related partnerships between academic and library staff.

Adding Value To First Year Student Learning With Embedded Library Pod/Vodcasts, Julia Gross, Eva Dobozy

Research outputs pre 2011

We begin with the premise that pod/vodcasts add an engaging and innovative mix to the university learning environment; they put the control of when and where to access information in the hands of the student and can be delivered through the university’s learning management system (LMS). In this paper, we describe a semester-long trial in which library pod/vodcasts were provided to first-year teacher education students in the belief that basic library skills development is vital for academic success and an essential component of good information literacy practice. The pod/vodcasts were offered to support students at point of need in their …

Perceptions And Pedagogy: Exploring The Beliefs And Practices Of An Effective Primary Science Teacher, Angela Fitzgerald, Vaille Dawson, Mark Hackling

Research outputs pre 2011

Effective science teaching is vital for improved student learning outcomes in primary school science. Therefore, there is a need to tease out the components of effective science teaching to better understand what effective primary teachers do in their classrooms and why they do it. Four primary teachers, each nominated as effective science practitioners by a professional colleague, entered into this research study. This 'entry' phase involved gathering information from classroom observations and teacher interviews to provide background information about the beliefs and practices of these teachers. This paper reports on the findings drawn from one teacher - 'Deanne'.

Laboratory Technicians In Australian Secondary Schools, Mark Hackling

Research outputs pre 2011

A number of reports have argued that secondary science education needs to be more inquiry oriented and involve authentic and practical investigations to develop scientific literacy and better engage students in learning science. Inquiry-oriented approaches, such as those advocated in the new science national curriculum, require that teachers have access to good laboratory facilities and equipment and are supported by knowledgeable laboratory technicians. Without adequate and qualified technical support, the quality of the curriculum will be compromised. This paper reports on the status of laboratory technicians in Australian secondary schools and makes recommendations for improving the quality of training and …

Dancing Between Diversity And Consistency: Refining Assessment In Postgraduate Degrees In Dance, Maggie Phillips, Cheryl Stock, Kim Vincs

Research outputs pre 2011

Guidelines for best practice in Australian Doctoral and Masters by Research Examination, enc;ompassing the two primary modes of investigation, written and multi-modal theses, their distinctiveness and their potential interplay.

Diversity: A Longitudinal Study Of How Student Diversity Relates To Resilience And Successful Progression In A New Generation University, Adrianne Kinnear, Mary Boyce, Heather Sparrow, Sharon Middleton, Marguerite Cullity

Research outputs pre 2011

This project used the voices of diverse cohorts of students to describe their learning journeys as they progressed through the later years of their degree and into the workforce. The project combined quantitative data from a large student sample with qualitative data from a series of case study narratives to document the students’ perceptions about their learning experiences, the factors underpinning progression in their studies and their transition into the workplace. The project has attempted to answer the question: does diversity matter? Do students of different diversities progress differently, and are there differences in the factors enhancing progression and developing …

Engaging First Year Students Using A Web-Supported Inquiry-Based Learning, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes a study that explored the utility and efficacy of the application of a Web-based tool to promote learner engagement among first year students in a large class in an undergraduate communications degree. The Web-based tool was developed to support an inquiry-based learning approach that was characterised by strong learning scaffolds, meaningful contexts, feedback and support and administrative efficiencies. The study explored the forms of engagement that the Web-supported inquiry-based learning approach was able to engender among first year undergraduate students and the factors that were found to influence students’ levels of engagement and achievement in the approach.

Pemberton Hydroelectric Power Station: A Teacher Resource, Les Pereira, Phil Gregory, Helen Kuehs, Amanda Draper, Jenny Staker, Rosalie Tomlinson, Christa Pereira

Research outputs pre 2011

This publication provides a resource for teachers of students in years seven to ten. Teachers are able to address a range of outcomes pertinent to the Western Australian curriculum within the context of the Pemberton Hydroelectric Power Station. The resource contains plans for four units of work, one in each of the following Learning Areas: Science, Mathematics, English, and Society and Environment.

Transforming Schooling With Support From Portable Computing, Christopher Newhouse

Research outputs pre 2011

For over two decades educators have hailed the possibility of harnessing the capabilities of portable computing to transform Australian schools into places where students experience powerful learning environments, relevant to the 21st Century. For some schools in Australia this journey is well into its second decade with the use of networkable portable computing devices to provide anywhere-anytime learning opportunities. While some of the potential has been realised invariably the finding has been that using the technology to create powerful learning environments in real school setting is not a trivial matter and needs to consider a range of factors. So when …

Information Systems Teaching And Research In West Australian Universities, Janice Burn, Craig Standing, Chad Lin

Research outputs pre 2011

The authors of this chapter examine the current state of the development of information systems (IS) teaching and research within Western Australia (WA). A brief overview of the WA environment is followed by an exploration of teaching and research in the four main universities. This is examined against the framework for the study and, in particular, the impact of social processes (Ariav et al. 1987; Klein et al. 1991) and local contingencies (Culnan et al. 1993; Checkland and Holwell 1998), which are found to be of relevance to historical developments.

Twenty-Three Steps To Learning Web 2.0 Technologies In An Academic Library, Julia Gross, Lynette Leslie

Research outputs pre 2011

Purpose – This paper aims to report on the adoption and evaluation of a Learning 2.0 program in a pilot program at the Edith Cowan University Library during 2007. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the suitability of Learning 2.0 for training eight “early adopters” among library staff in the new and emerging Web 2.0 technologies. The program was set up and deployed via a blog, which recorded staff progress through the nine-week implementation phase of the program. At the conclusion, a focus group was held and the pilot group members responded to questions about the relevance of the program, and …

Engaging Academically At Risk Primary School Students In An Ict Mediated After-School Program, Lee Yong Tay, Cher Ping Lim

Research outputs pre 2011

This case study documents how a group of 14 academically at risk Primary 5 students (11 year olds) were engaged in academic related tasks in an after school program mediated by a 3-D Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE). Although there was no significant difference in the students' academic performance, they were found to be more engaged in the learning tasks and had acquired a range of information and communication technology (ICT) skills. At the start of the program students attended irregularly, but this improved gradually over the weeks, and other Primary 5 students were attracted to enrol in the program. …

Less Than Equal: Secularism, Religious Pluralism And Privilege, Anne Aly, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

In its preamble, The Western Australian Charter of Multiculturalism (WA) commits the state to becoming: “A society in which respect for mutual difference is accompanied by equality of opportunity within a framework of democratic citizenship”. One of the principles of multiculturalism, as enunciated in the Charter, is “equality of opportunity for all members of society to achieve their full potential in a free and democratic society where every individual is equal before and under the law”. An important element of this principle is the “equality of opportunity ... to achieve ... full potential”. The implication here is that those who …

We've Thrown Away The Pens, But Are They Learning? Using Blogs In Higher Education, Katrina Strampel, Ron Oliver

Research outputs pre 2011

In today’s university classrooms, “the time of restricting students products and learning opportunities to ink on paper are past” (Siegle, 2007). Blogs are only one of many computer-mediated technologies starting to dominate blended and wholly online courses. Most people assume that using these technologies, because it is what the students want, will translate into increased learning opportunities. As the literature continuously asserts, however, learning, and especially reflection, does not just happen (Boud, Keogh, & Walker, 1985). It seems imperative, therefore, that extra measures are taken when any technology is being implemented in a university classroom to ensure high levels of …

Using Mobile Technologies And Podcasts To Enhance Learning Experiences In Lecture-Based University Course Delivery, Ron Oliver, Joseph Luca

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes a study that sought to explore the use of mobile technologies as a means to enhance the learning experience of students in a tertiary course of study. In particular the study involved the development of podcasting and vodcasting as an alternative to lecturing. Digital lectures were created to replicate the content usually presented in formal lectures. Students were able to access the lectures through such mobile devices as iPods and wireless enabled computers. The study sought to explore how students used these digital resources and the educational advantages that were achieved.