Educational Methods Commons^™

Engaging Students In Peer Review: Feedback As Learning, Catherine Moore, Susan Teather

Research outputs 2013

There is a growing interest in tertiary education in Australia about developing the capacity of learners to evaluate and improve both their own work and that of others (Boud & Falchikov, 2006; Oliver, 2011). In order to successfully direct their own learning beyond university (and engage in lifelong learning), students need to be able to evaluate their performance in relation to a standard, identify gaps, and determine how to bridge them in order to achieve the desired standard if required. One strategy that can be employed to help students achieve this is engaging them actively in a feedback process, so …

Environmental And Conservation Volunteering As Workplace Integrated Learning For University Students, Rowena H. Scott, Eddie Van Etten

Research outputs 2013

This research paper introduces the concept and practice of tertiary sciences students doing environmental volunteering, also known as conservation volunteering, as a core part of their course. First year Natural Sciences students at Edith Cowan University do five days environmental volunteer work with community groups as a practicum, currently known as Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL). Initial research data displays the number of volunteer hours done by students in various types of activities, locations and organisations. Preliminary quantitative evaluations and qualitative comments demonstrate students’ positive attitudes and outcomes from their volunteering experiences. Definitions and classifications of volunteering and WIL from current …

The Contribution Of Work-Integrated Learning To Undergraduate Employability Skill Outcomes, Denise Jackson

Research outputs 2013

WIL has attracted considerable attention as an instrument for enhancing professional practice and developing work-readiness in new graduates. It is widely considered as a point of difference in developing graduate employability by enhancing skill outcomes, such as team-work, communication, self-management and problem solving, employment prospects and student understanding of the world-of-work. This paper investigates the role of WIL in improving undergraduate employability skills; gauging its impact on a range of skills; and identifying variations in outcomes for certain demographic, study background and placement characteristics using survey data from 131 WIL students in an Australian university. Results indicate a significant improvement …

University Student Volunteering Alignment With Sustainability Principles, Rowena H. Scott, Eddie J. Van Etten

Research outputs 2013

This research paper reviews the concept and practice of tertiary sciences students doing environmental volunteering, otherwise known as conservation volunteering, as a core part of their course to check its alignment with sustainability principles. First year Natural Sciences students at Edith Cowan University do five days environmental volunteer work with community groups as practicum. Initial research data displays the number of volunteer hours done by students in various types of activities, locations and organisations. Preliminary quantitative evaluations and qualitative comments demonstrate students’ positive attitudes and outcomes from their volunteering experiences. Definitions and classifications of sustainability from current literature are discussed …

E-Learning Implementation Strategies For An Ict-Challenged Environment : Case Of The University Of Ghana, Legon, Isaiah T. Awidi

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

E-learning implementation in higher education continues to gain prominence in both developed and developing countries, and while most universities in ICT-rich environments are exploring different ways of using ICT and multimedia resources to enhance teaching and learning, the same cannot be said about ICT-challenged environments. Nevertheless, the question of successful and sustainable e-learning implementation continues to remain a challenge, particularly in ICT-challenged environments.

The primary purpose of this research was to examine policy and strategy issues that have influenced the process of e-learning implementation at the University of Ghana (UG), given that previous ICT and e-learning initiatives failed to improve …

Improving Classroom Discourse In Inquiry-Based Primary Science Education, Prudence Smith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Teachers‟ capacity to use classroom discourse to deepen student learning through sustained conversation is considered crucial to increasing students‟ intellectual development. Learners actively construct knowledge and develop understandings from their shared experiences and via interaction with others (Driver, Asoko, Leach, Mortimer & Scott, 1994). However, talk that fosters students‟ capacity to reason is lacking in many classrooms (Alexander, 2006) and, what is more, teachers tend to control the discourse by asking a predominance of closed questions and using a question-answer recitation script which limits the exploration of students‟ ideas (Nystrand, Gamoran, Kachy, & Prendergast, 1997). The purpose of this study …

Tablet Pc Use In Teaching And Learning : A Case Study, Andrew Stewart

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

With the emergence of the use of the traditional (non-touch screen) notebook computer in the classroom, different teaching styles and equipment have been introduced. Teachers have started to use the Notebook PC to support their teaching. They now have the ability to gather and use a far greater range of materials in the classroom with little distraction.

The introduction of the touch screen Tablet PC has brought another dimension to the way technology can be used in the classroom. This study seeks to investigate the ways in which Tablet PC technology has been used to enhance the learning of students …

Implementing A Reggio Emilia Inspired Approach In A Mainstream Western Australian Context: The Impact On Early Childhood Teachers' Professional Role, Claire Hall

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Reggio Emilia, an approach to early childhood that was developed in a Northern Italian city of the same name, is highly regarded as acknowledged by educators and researchers world-wide (Gandini, 1993). The Reggio Emilia philosophy is distinguished by the presentation of an image of children as being strong, rich and powerful learners (Hendricks, 2004; Millikan, 2003). This approach is marked as being adopted and adapted to suit particular cultural and educational settings. These situation sensitive approaches are noted as being Reggio Emilia inspired.

This qualitative case study investigated how the professional role of four early childhood teachers was impacted by …

Pre-Service Generalist Teacher’S Self-Efficacy Beliefs In Their Abilities To Teach Music In Primary Schools, John Heyworth

Research Journeys in Education

No abstract provided.

Transformational Learning In The Western Australian Context, Clare Freeman

Research Journeys in Education

No abstract provided.

An Interdisciplinary Intervention : The Potential Of The Orff-Schulwerk Approach As A Pedagogical Tool For The Effective Teaching Of Italian To Upper Primary Students In Western Australia, Annamaria Paolino

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Since the second half of the twentieth century, Italian has been the second language spoken in Western Australia. In the primary school sector, there are over two hundred Italian teachers engaged with primary students. Many Italian teachers also use music/song as a pedagogical tool. The first part of the research examines the extent that music/song is used in primary Italian classes, as well as how and why they are used. The second part of the research centres on the use of the Orff-Schulwerk approach as an integrated music approach to teaching Italian. The research examines the success of a trialled …

Using Ipad2 To Assess Students' Live Performances And Actively Engage Students With Tutor And Peer Feedback, Julia Wren, Alistair B. Campbell, John Heyworth, Christine Lovering

Research outputs 2011

Assessing student live performances can be challenging because markers need to make quick and often complex judgements about the learning while at the same time record information and watch the performance. This is further challenged where multiple markers are involved and moderation between markers is required. Maintaining fairness and validity throughout the assessment process can consequently become a significant issue. Moderation of assessment can cause a delay in the turnaround time for student feedback because markers need to meet and review. In addition, the ‘busy type of work’ associated with compiling and sorting individual marks and distributing them to students, …

Managing Large E-Learning Development Initiatives: Lessons Learnt From The Australian Flexible Learning Toolbox Project, Mark Mcmahon

Research outputs 2011

This paper reports on a research consultancy undertaken for the Flexible Learning Framework in reviewing management processes undertaken as part of Series 13 of Flexible Learning Toolboxes. Toolboxes are e-learning products that cover multiple Units of Competency in National Training Packages. In the 13th iteration of the project a number of initiatives were implemented designed to support the development of 7 Toolboxes. The research explores the role of documentation and communication processes and their impact on the development experiences of key stakeholders such as the designers, developers and managers of the products. Findings identified a number of important factors with …

Exploring The Use Of Audio-Visual Feedback Within 3d Virtual Environments To Provide Complex Sensory Cues For Scenario-Based Learning, Michael Garrett, Mark Mcmahon

Research outputs 2011

The continuous quest for ever increasing fidelity in 3D virtual worlds is running parallel to the emergence and adoption of low-cost technologies to implement such environments. In education and training, complex simulations can now be implemented on standard desktop technologies. However, such tools lack the means to represent multisensory data beyond audio-visual feedback. This paper reports on a study that involved the design, development and implementation of a 3D learning environment for underground mine evacuation. The requirements of the environment are discussed in terms of the sensory information that needs to be conveyed and techniques are described to achieve this …

The Natives Are Restless: Meeting The Diversity And Needs Of Millennial Students In A Large Undergraduate Unit, Mark Mcmahon, Joo Jung

Research outputs 2011

Today’s students are referred to as ‘digital natives’. But what does it mean to be digitally native? How does the digital nativeness affect the way student learn and we teach? This paper examines the key characteristics of Millennial students, and outlines teaching and learning strategies. A modular structure was implemented in first year undergraduate unit to trial the new strategies. Challenges and successes of the trial are described.

Enhancing Nutritional Learning Outcomes Within A Simulation And Pervasive Game-Based Strategy [Conference Paper], Mark Mcmahon, Shane Henderson

Research outputs 2011

Games are often seen as a means of enhancing motivation in learning. Despite the rhetoric, however, games that provide quality experiences for learners are hard to find. One reasoning is the focus on the game medium without a clear understanding of the strategy behind it. This paper outlines a game designed to raise primary school-aged children’s awareness of nutritional issues using simulation and pervasive gaming strategies. Nute implements ubiquitous mobile technology and QR Code scanning to allow players to engage in virtual shopping. The effects of their dietary choices are manifest in a simulated character, Nute, who has similar dietary …

Exploring The Nature Of Immersion In Games To Enhance Educational Engagement, Mark Mcmahon, Shane Henderson

Research outputs 2011

Student engagement is often considered one of the most important determinants of successful learning. An often cited argument for games in learning is their value to be ‘immersive’. Beyond the rhetoric however, a model needs to be developed of immersion to identify the cognitive and affective factors involved and to tie it into existing theories relating to flow and narratology. This paper presents a model of immersion and details findings based upon the development and implementation of a range of levels in a 3D ‘first person shooter’ game which were evaluated according to criteria for immersion. A range of potential …

Online Supervisor Compliance Training, Joseph Luca, Mark Mcmahon

Research outputs 2011

Supervisor training for postgraduate research candidates has been recognised as a priority area by the Australian Government and institutional quality auditing agencies for many years. The need for increased Doctoral completions to help bolster the academic workforce is well documented, as is the influence of effective supervision for timely completions. More discussions need to be had about delivering effective supervisor training, and also distinguishing between training for supervisor compliance and training for supervisor best practice.

Does Problem Based Learning Deliver The Goods?, Stephen Benson

Research outputs 2011

Much of university teaching is grounded in a traditional or semi-traditional mode, that is it is lecturer centric and at least partly didactic. There are numerous reasons for this which include: a reluctance to change on the part of academics; the changing nature of the student demographic; an increasing emphasis on “education as a service”; risk averse behavior on the part of academics, academic managers fearing adverse student feedback and the financial imperatives which require the maximization of student progress and retention. It has been argued that “safe”, traditional approaches to pedagogy do not prepare students for the world of …

Small Group Knowledge Management And The Support Of Student Learning, Stuart Garner

Research outputs 2011

Personal knowledge management has been defined to be “A process and strategy for properly using the tools of technology for enhancing information, learning and inquiry skills” [1] and has been applied to student learning by using a model [2] based on that of Dorsey [3]. This paper extends that model to include interpersonal, small group knowledge management in an attempt to better reflect the way in which students are required to collaborate in their production of group projects. The model of small group knowledge management (SGKM) has then been implemented by using wikis and then utilized within an MBA unit …

Wiki Design For Student Assignments: Should It Be Prescribed Or Emergent?, Paul Jackson, Stuart Garner, Jane Klobas

Research outputs 2011

In this paper we examine how to approach the question of information and site design in the use of wikis for student group assignments. The popular literature about Wikis proposes that they allow for “emergent, user-driven design”. We develop a model in order to analyse what approach to design might be appropriate in student group work. We gave one class of students a prescribed assignment layout with clear instructions regarding navigation menus and another group the same assignment with little or no guidance about how to design their site. Initial results show that prescribing the design increases perceptions of self-efficacy. …

Integrating The Academic Experience: An Inter-Disciplinary Approach To The Authentic Marketing Research Experience, Gary J. Marchioro, Maria M. Ryan, Timothy J. Perkins

Research outputs 2011

This paper describes the evolution of an innovative inter–disciplinary approach to teaching and learning in a University Faculty of Business. Further, it reviews the implementation of a series of unique, integrated and authentic assessments involving units based in the marketing, urban planning and business communication disciplines. The project has used the production of Revitalization Plans for the University‘s campuses as the basis for integrating student teaching and learning. It has championed an approach which moves away from the traditional ‗silo‘ methods of academic assessment to integrated, contextualised learning which develops both generic and discipline-specific skills such as client/consultation roles, business …

Learning A Foreign Language With A Collaborative Web-Based Task, Processes And Performances. Apprendre Une Langue Étrangère À Partir D'Une Tâche Collaborative Sur Internet : Processus Et Performances, Frédérique Penilla

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Within language teaching and learning, tasks have been advocated for use as they are thought to set up ideal conditions for language acquisition to occur. With the emergence of the Internet in the last decade, and the deployment of technology in schools, Web-based tasks, referred to as Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL) are being used by an increasing number of teachers. Teachers who employ Web-based tasks in their classrooms, commonly set these up so that learners complete them in a collaborative mode. This requires learners engaging in a process of task negotiation and, at times, task redefinition, which in turn requires …

Educational Innovation In An International Setting, E.A. De Jong

EDU-COM International Conference

How to make innovations in education at an Institute of Higher Education with a target audience from 60 different countries and as many different educational backgrounds? This paper discusses the educational innovations at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, The Netherlands. This UN institute, located in The Netherlands, offers Master and PhD programmes to mainly people from developing countries and countries in transition. Because of its UN-status and its special target group it is different from regular universities. To keep abreast of new technologies and educational developments, and to keep its programmes attractive for prospective students, the institute has …

Educating Using An Information System As A Cognitive Tool, Richard Fulford

EDU-COM International Conference

This paper discusses the effective education of internal and external students, concerning business processes and principles, using an enterprise resource planning application as a cognitive tool. The teachings explain a number of core business principles and develop students understanding of how the processes might vary between organisations in differing industries and environmental settings. The students establish the processes in an enterprise resource planning application, which reinforces the understanding of both operational activities and business management requirements. A cohort of students has been surveyed; the findings demonstrate that education using an enterprise resource planning application as an interactive learning system is …

Construction Of An Automotive Technology Competency Analysis Profile For Training Undergraduate Students: A Case Study Of Automotive Body Electrical Technology Systems, Weerayute Sudsomboon

EDU-COM International Conference

The purposes of this study was to construct an automotive technology competency analysis profile for training undergraduate students of Mechanical Technology Education program at King Mongkut‘s University of Technology Thonburi and to identify the tasks list of automotive body electrical technology systems. The qualitative and quantitative data was collected through observations, in-depth interviews, document analysis, and DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) job analysis process with 17 training instructors from 12 well-known car automobile companies in Thailand. The triangulation method was referred to validate an automotive technology competency analysis profile. The results of this study indicated that were 7 job duties, 86 …

The Development Of An Adaptive Model Of Competence For The Electronics Industry In Thailand, Wisuit Sunthonkanokpong, Kalayanee Jitgarun, Weerachai Chaokumnerd

EDU-COM International Conference

The purpose of this research was to develop an adaptive model of competency development for the electronics industry in Thailand. The study involved a questionnaire, interviews and observations. Eighty nine individuals completed the questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with 10 managers with high experience in competency development from five renowned companies which practiced competency development. Observation was conducted in the five companies. Our adaptive model consists of the following elements: (1) five electronics competency levels which can be compared to Thailand Vocational Qualification, (2) competencies development, and (3) a training model. The training model was composed of a training program, training …

My Media Trainer: An Innovative, Interactive Resource To Ensure Sustainability In The Training Of Media Professionals, Wendy Chalmers, Martin Hadlow, Ingrid Jackson, Shannon Johnston

EDU-COM International Conference

Communication and media play a crucial role in both message delivery and the empowerment of people in their own development processes. UNESCO has been actively engaged in trying to build capacity among media professionals to equip them with training in sensitivity to issues, the different formats that they can use to disseminate information, and how best to get the information to the people who are most affected by it (Khan, 2008). One of the challenges of educating large numbers of professionals, particularly in developing countries, is a lack of trained teachers. To meet this challenge, UNESCO commissioned the development of …

Different Degrees Of Blending Benefit Students Differently: A Pilot Study, Chang Tik Chan, Yit Yan Koh

EDU-COM International Conference

We are constantly seeking for the best method to teach our students. Lecture style which is in existence for many years is still applicable to a certain extent. The birth of personal computer and Internet has resulted in wide spectrum of instructional strategies taking advantage of these two wonders. One of them is blended learning. The model used in this experiment has online and offline modes. For the online mode we used forum discussions to replace face-to-face instructions. Lecturers are introduced to various online activities that they can choose from in the forum discussions. One of the important aspects of …

Living Cases: Authentic Learning In Action, Dieter Fink

EDU-COM International Conference

The paper outlines the merit of using case studies in teaching, such as providing real life examples to contextualise theoretical concepts and shifting the emphasis from teacher-centred to more studentcentred activities. While there are a variety of case types the material they provide is traditionally static. However, in real life, solutions are affected by changed circumstances reflecting a volatile environment. Hence, the paper reports on the approach of using a ‗living‘ case where students are confronted with teacher-initiated interventions while solving the case. The specific case was that of a university deciding to make, purchase or outsource an Information Technology …