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1
Hagen, Brad Francis. "Evaluation of education and support initiatives for family caregivers." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape17/PQDD_0025/NQ34265.pdf.
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Brenes, Mendieta Priscilla. "Evaluation of a printed newsletter tailored to grandparent caregivers in Kansas." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35466.
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Master of Public HealthPublic Health Interdepartmental Program
Mark D. Haub
Millions of U.S. grandparents are responsible for providing parental care, in the absence of the biological parent, for at least one grandchild under the age of 18 years. These caregivers may base their wellness and nutrition practices with their grandchildren on outdated advice. In 2010, Kansas State University Human Nutrition Cooperative Extension Service faculty launched a theory-based newsletter, entitled Nourishing the Next Generation, that was mailed six times per year to low-income grandparent caregivers, and posted on a public website (at http://www.k-state.edu/humannutrition/newsletters/nourishing-the-next-generation/index.html). Each issue disseminated small amounts of practical, specific, “how-to” nutrition- and wellness-related information that addressed topics identified as being of concern to this population and that used recommended word choice, format, and design principles. After five years of Nourishing the Next Generation being in circulation, we surveyed readers who had received it from one to five years in order to assess the impact it had and to highlight its strengths. This study combined qualitative and quantitative approaches by using written surveys with both open- and closed-ended questions. Two different types of participants who had received the newsletter, grandparent caregivers and community educators, received surveys. A total of 54 valid surveys were returned from the 492 that were sent to grandparent caregivers, while 30 out of 175 community educators completed surveys. The newsletter was perceived by responding grandparent caregivers to be very effective in improving their awareness, knowledge, motivation, and confidence to follow recommendations about healthy eating and physical activity. Also, reading it led to many self-reported positive changes in various nutrition, physical activity, and other wellness practices among 91 percent of the responding grandparent caregivers and their families. In addition, 70 percent of responding community educators used its contents extensively to disseminate information to wider audiences. In conclusion, including grandparent caregivers in wellness-related educational programs could be a good approach to target healthy lifestyle practices of both older and younger generations. An appropriately designed newsletter can effectively improve the health of a large number of people, yet has limited costs, and thus, is an excellent public health method.
3
Rodriguez, Dawn H. "Caregivers' Highly Valued Factors for Enrolling Their Children in California ACSI Christian Schools." Thesis, Columbia International University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3644526.
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This study investigated the caregivers' most highly valued factors for enrolling their children in Christian schools. Caregivers (N = 297) were included from more than 39 California Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) schools. They responded to survey questions regarding their most highly valued factors for enrolling their children in Christian schools. The survey considered factors from five categories: (a) biblical values, (b) academics, (c) school culture, (d) student-centeredness, and (e) economic considerations. The study found their highest valued factors to be biblical values and care of the student. Quality academics, safe environment, and number of highly qualified teachers were also found to be highly valued factors. Factors that were found not likely to be important to caregivers were adherence to state standards, attention to special learning needs, technology in the classroom, fine arts, athletic programs, tuition and other school expenses, and distance from the home.
4
Saltmarsh, David L. W. (David Lloyd William). "National review of nursing education : student expectations of nursing education." Canberra, A.C.T. : Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, 2001. http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/nursing/pubs/student_expect/1.htm.
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Chan, Shuk-ling. "Development, implementation and evaluation of a structural stroke education program for informal caregivers of stroke patients." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2008. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B40720251.
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Williamson, John. "Working with teachers : the implementation and evaluation of an innovative in-service programme." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35687.
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This thesis is concerned with the development and evaluation of a new approach to helping teachers change their classroom practice. The model adopted combined elements from the action-research model and the 'coaching' model, and findings from the curriculum implementation studies. Governments are concerned increasingly to introduce new centralised curricula in response to social changes or economic pressures. In the community there are calls for widespread reform of schooling at all levels. Also, with changes in their career patterns it is imperative that teachers, who are likely to be teaching for thirty or forty years, have available a sustained programme of professional development. Regardless of the origins of the calls for change, to be successful the introduction of a new school practice must be accompanied by a corollary programme of teacher education. Typically, however, in-service education has lacked direction, been inappropriate and been poorly executed. While the focus of the thesis is upon the fidelity of implementation of the new teaching strategy, it also reports on the teachers' understandings of the classroom dynamics, their feelings of self-confidence and perceptions of his or her principal as a supporter of classroom innovation. In the present economic and political climate judgements must be made about the worth of particular in-service programmes. Several important dimensions of an in-service programme were used to compare the innovative model with an action-research model and a 'typical' in-service model. On the criteria considered the innovative model fared better than the other two models. Recent changes to in-service education in the U.K., announced in DES Circular 6/86, have meant a high degree of similarity in the espoused purposes and procedures of the British and Australian Governments. The in-service programme outlined here is well-suited to the new in-service policies and financial arrangements in both countries.
7
陳淑玲 and Shuk-ling Chan. "Development, implementation and evaluation of a structural stroke education program for informal caregivers of stroke patients." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2008. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B40720251.
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Spyker, Geert M. "The upper secondary school mathematics curriculum in Western Australia from 1950-1998 : implementation and evaluation." Thesis, Curtin University, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1269.
Full textAbstract:
The study upon which this thesis is based aimed, first of all, to document the history of mathematics curriculum change in Western Australia. Although curriculum development in mathematics in this State has been an ongoing process for at least two decades, the outcome of an extensive literature review conducted as part of the study revealed that only a cursory evaluation of the current upper school mathematics curriculum change process had ever been undertaken. Neither has any formal appraisal of the suitability or otherwise of the variety of new upper school mathematics courses introduced during the last decade ever been carried out.This study was designed to 'fill these gaps' by not only documenting the history of the change process, but also by seeking out teachers' and other educators' views about those curriculum and strategy changes as well as the views of the students who were so intimately involved in the process.Tertiary lecturers' perceptions regarding the mathematical preparedness of first year university students were also considered a relevant source of information in this quest to first, record the events that preceded the establishment of the current State mathematics curriculum, and second, record those events that occurred subsequently. Major reports which have influenced the direction of mathematics education were examined, and underlying didactical principles were identified to determine the origins of previous and current educational policy.To determine upper school mathematics teachers' attitudes to curriculum and strategy changes, and the impact of the present curriculum upon students' choice of mathematics subjects, use was made of a variety of instruments - questionnaires and interview proformas - which were used to interview students prior to questioning them on such matters as their reasons for selecting specific units.Upper school mathematics teachers were also surveyed and interviewed in order to obtain the practitioners' views on new topics which were introduced, such as complex numbers and vectors. Five of Western Australia's most high profile mathematics educators who played significant roles during the period of this study were interviewed to determine their recollections of major points of discussion and concern in mathematics education at that time. Feedback from these interviews was used to compile a questionnaire for upper high school mathematics teachers to determine their opinion on such issues as the introduction and practicality of the new courses, teaching and learning strategies introduced, and the degree of support for the new curriculum.Ten teachers were interviewed one year after the survey to determine any changes in their perceptions about the new upper school mathematics courses. By means of a questionnaire, students' reasons for choosing specific mathematics subjects in either Year 11 or 12, and their perceived success in mathematics in general were sought. In order to determine the effectiveness of the new curriculum in terms of further studies, students' level of mathematical preparedness was investigated by means of a questionnaire for university mathematics staff. The results of this research indicate that the most recent curriculum change in the upper high school has been successfully introduced by the Education Department of Western Australia, although this has not always been the case with curriculum change in this State.Though initially daunted by the number of new topics which were to be taught, teachers were appreciative of the in-service courses available, the resources present and the general support they received from the Education Department. Traditional teaching strategies, such as 'drill-and-practice' and teacher-centred environments have been largely replaced by a problem-solving and investigational approach to mathematics in a student-centred classroom environment. Clearly, the constructivist theory of learning has been a major influence on current teaching and learning strategies used in the upper school mathematics classroom. Teachers' opinions about the practicality of the new courses and approaches to teaching them were positive, though the view was held that previous traditional teaching methods should not be discarded.Specific weaknesses in the various mathematics courses introduced were identified (for example, inadequate attention paid to basic algebra and, in particular, to trigonometry), and many teachers were adamant that certain changes should be made for the benefit of the students (for example, reorganisation of parts of the course content). Improvements in the nature of the information provided to students at the time they make their upper school mathematics subject choice were strongly recommended. Information on influential factors regarding students' subject choices was obtained, and interviews with university mathematics staff showed that many first year students remain underprepared because of incorrect mathematics subject choices made in either Year 10 or 11.
9
Reid, Bryan. "Implementing curriculum change within a state education department region : analysis and conceptualization." Murdoch University, 1986. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20060829.160229.
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The major aim of this study was to develop a conceptual model representing the implementation process of a curriculum change occurring in a State Education Department region. This development had its genesis in the now extensive body of literature related to the organizational phenomenon of planned change.
Since its early development in the 1960ts, the study of planned change occurring i n organizations has grown in sophistication, encompassing a steadily evolving number of theoretical constructs. Such a construct, of recent origin, was that of perceiving implementation of the innovation as a discrete process within the total planned change process. Although stillinits infancy, this concept has attracted a steadily growing body of research, The present study co-ordi nated some of these findings to form the basis for a four-stage model representing the implementation process under a special set of circumstances.
The application of the model was tested under field conditions. A longitudinal case study design was adopted because this was ideally suited to test the assumption of implementationas a process. The design was divided in to four sections : concepts related to the decision to change; concepts related to the effect the rationale for implementation had on teachers' behaviour; concepts related to the sequence of involvement of implementers; and finally, concepts related to the measurementof the degree of implementation for teachers and pupils.
Field work was applied inarural educational region of the State of Western Australia. This region was established in 1979 as part of an Australia-wide trend. I t is well documented that at the commencement of the 19701s, Austral ian governmentcontrol led education systems were highly centralized. By the beginning of the 1980ts, all were facing major change, each incorporating some form of decentral ization. In Western Australia, a shift in power from central authorities to Regional Superintendents occurred. With the increase i n power, the Regions received more duties and became more complex organizations.
To meet the demand of testing a complex theoretical model in the intricate field setting of a State Education Department region, a wide range of data-gathering techniques was used. Questionnaires were employed, some specifically designed to suit this study and some selected from other research. The breadth and depth of the data collected was extended by the use of interviews, both focused and unstructured. Information from a wide variety of perspectives was gathered by using direct observation. This was applied to the testing of the theoretical model and also used to validate data drawn from other sources. Content analysis techniques were also used to triangulate the findings from questionnaire and interview techniques.
The findings of the analysis of the data,within a matrix of hypotheses and sub-hypotheses, provided powerful statistical evidence indicating that the innovation was judged as being implemented by the teachers and the pupils. Data collected were also analysed as part of the research plan incorporating four major hypotheses and twenty six sub-sections. Each sub-section has been investigated empirically. This strategy was used to test the applicability of the conceptual model as a technique to represent the process of implementation followed by an innovation in Oral English introduced into a rural region of a State Education Department.
The model proved to be a very effective device, aiding in the comprehension of an implementation process that occurred under the particular conditions described in the thesis.
10
Florisson, Steven J. "In gear or coasting : a study of learner engagement during work placement." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/286.
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Vocational Education and Training (VET) in schools has experienced spectacular growth over the past decade, with 95% of Australian secondary schools now providing VET in school programs and almost one half of all year 11 and 12 students involved in VET in schools programs (DEST, 2005). The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the 21 st Century stated explicitly that all students should have participated in programs of vocational learning during the compulsory years (ACER, 2002).
11
Fontaine, Samuel G. "An evaluation of the orientation program for newly appointed Catholic primary principals." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2001. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1054.
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The structure and operation of Catholic schools in Western Australia have been in a process of change since the early 1970’s. Prior to 1971, most Catholic primary schools were administered by religious orders and much of the religious character of the school reflected the charisma of the particular religious order that operated the school. In the Year 2000 most Catholic primary schools former part of a state-wide system in which the Catholic Education Office (CEO) plays a major administrative and co-ordinating role.
12
Thompson, Eileen. "The variables related to attrition and persistence of distance education students enrolled in the fourth year of the Bachelor of Education course." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1996. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/939.
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The extent to which a range of demographic, academic and administrative variables are related to attrition and persistence of external students enrolled in the Fourth Year of the Bachelor of Education course during second semester, 1995 are investigated in this study. The applicability of the sub-scales and scales developed by Kember, Lai, Murphy, Siaw and Yuen (1995) for distance education students is also reported on for the study group. Data were obtained from the student records system and two self-administered mail out questionnaires. The study population was predominantly female, in their early thirties, living in Western Australia, had completed their first teaching qualification nearly nine years ago and had subsequently had six years teaching experience. They were mostly classroom teachers who were studying part-time, were less than half way through the course, had not previously withdrawn from a unit and were achieving satisfactory results. Those students who withdrew from their studies had less teaching experience, had completed fewer units and semesters of study, and had lower course averages than the continuing students. The majority of students indicated that work, family and study commitments were the main reason(s) for their withdrawal. Withdrawn students were much less satisfied with the level of communication with the tutor and a greater proportion of these students rated assignment feedback as very unsatisfactory. A series of sub-scales and scales constructed from the Distance Education Student Progress (DESP) inventory using factor analysis indicated a wide range of variables underlie the reasons why students withdraw or persist in the course of study. These scales and sub-scales are appreciably different to those reported by Kember (1995). The study found that the attrition rate of students studying in the Fourth Year of the Bachelor of Education may be reduced if the unit materials were mailed by a date that ensured most students would receive them prior to the commencement of semester. Tutors need to initiate communication with their students early in the semester. The due dates for assignments should be planned to enable students to receive feedback on their first assignment before having to submit their next one. Assignment feedback needs to be critically constructive and tutors need to provide positive suggestions on how future assignments might be improved. The university should consider offering Bachelor of Education units during the school vacation periods in addition to the normal semester.
13
Spyker, Geert M. "The upper secondary school mathematics curriculum in Western Australia from 1950-1998 : implementation and evaluation." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 1999. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=9514.
Full textAbstract:
The study upon which this thesis is based aimed, first of all, to document the history of mathematics curriculum change in Western Australia. Although curriculum development in mathematics in this State has been an ongoing process for at least two decades, the outcome of an extensive literature review conducted as part of the study revealed that only a cursory evaluation of the current upper school mathematics curriculum change process had ever been undertaken. Neither has any formal appraisal of the suitability or otherwise of the variety of new upper school mathematics courses introduced during the last decade ever been carried out.This study was designed to 'fill these gaps' by not only documenting the history of the change process, but also by seeking out teachers' and other educators' views about those curriculum and strategy changes as well as the views of the students who were so intimately involved in the process.Tertiary lecturers' perceptions regarding the mathematical preparedness of first year university students were also considered a relevant source of information in this quest to first, record the events that preceded the establishment of the current State mathematics curriculum, and second, record those events that occurred subsequently. Major reports which have influenced the direction of mathematics education were examined, and underlying didactical principles were identified to determine the origins of previous and current educational policy.To determine upper school mathematics teachers' attitudes to curriculum and strategy changes, and the impact of the present curriculum upon students' choice of mathematics subjects, use was made of a variety of instruments - questionnaires and interview proformas - which were used to interview students prior to questioning them on such matters as their reasons for selecting specific units.Upper school ++mathematics teachers were also surveyed and interviewed in order to obtain the practitioners' views on new topics which were introduced, such as complex numbers and vectors. Five of Western Australia's most high profile mathematics educators who played significant roles during the period of this study were interviewed to determine their recollections of major points of discussion and concern in mathematics education at that time. Feedback from these interviews was used to compile a questionnaire for upper high school mathematics teachers to determine their opinion on such issues as the introduction and practicality of the new courses, teaching and learning strategies introduced, and the degree of support for the new curriculum.Ten teachers were interviewed one year after the survey to determine any changes in their perceptions about the new upper school mathematics courses. By means of a questionnaire, students' reasons for choosing specific mathematics subjects in either Year 11 or 12, and their perceived success in mathematics in general were sought. In order to determine the effectiveness of the new curriculum in terms of further studies, students' level of mathematical preparedness was investigated by means of a questionnaire for university mathematics staff. The results of this research indicate that the most recent curriculum change in the upper high school has been successfully introduced by the Education Department of Western Australia, although this has not always been the case with curriculum change in this State.Though initially daunted by the number of new topics which were to be taught, teachers were appreciative of the in-service courses available, the resources present and the general support they received from the Education Department. Traditional teaching strategies, such as 'drill-and-practice' and teacher-centred environments have been largely ++
replaced by a problem-solving and investigational approach to mathematics in a student-centred classroom environment. Clearly, the constructivist theory of learning has been a major influence on current teaching and learning strategies used in the upper school mathematics classroom. Teachers' opinions about the practicality of the new courses and approaches to teaching them were positive, though the view was held that previous traditional teaching methods should not be discarded.Specific weaknesses in the various mathematics courses introduced were identified (for example, inadequate attention paid to basic algebra and, in particular, to trigonometry), and many teachers were adamant that certain changes should be made for the benefit of the students (for example, reorganisation of parts of the course content). Improvements in the nature of the information provided to students at the time they make their upper school mathematics subject choice were strongly recommended. Information on influential factors regarding students' subject choices was obtained, and interviews with university mathematics staff showed that many first year students remain underprepared because of incorrect mathematics subject choices made in either Year 10 or 11.
14
Rowe, Karina Janece. "A framework for environmental education in South Australian secondary schools : the missing ingredient." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envr878.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 84-86. Shows how environmental education could be incorporated within the current South Australian secondary school structures and critically evaluates current programs. Investigates a different frame work (International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program), as a means for overcoming some of the limitations for environmental education presented by the current DETE framework; and, student perceptions of what makes a successful environmental education program.
15
Hutton, Heidi C. "Evaluation of the outcomes for students undertaking an externally provided physical activity programme." University of Western Australia. School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, 2007. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2007.0166.
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[Truncated abstract] Many primary schools in Western Australia do not employ a specialist physical education (PE) teacher, leaving the teaching of this subject to the class teacher. There are concerns that some of these teachers lack the skills, confidence or knowledge to successfully implement a developmentally appropriate PE programme. A potential solution to this problem involves utilising an externally provided physical activity programme (EPPAP). Before considering this option, it is important to ensure these programmes adequately meet the needs of students, teachers and the educational curriculum. Outcomes for one such EPPAP were evaluated and compared against the outcomes attained in regular primary school PE classes. These outcomes were then compared to the Health and Physical Education (HPE) learning area outcomes (LAO) within Outcomes Based Education (OBE) of the Western Australian Curriculum Framework (CF). Approximately 460 primary school students in the Peel Region of WA participated in the EPPAP and subsequent research in 2004. In addition, approximately 135 students from the same area were invited to participate as controls. All students completed self-report questionnaires pre and post-participation in the EPPAP. ... Although not originally promoted as a programme to replace PE, the EPPAP is delivered within curriculum time with some schools intending to replace their traditional PE programme with the EPPAP. Therefore, reference to the CF is warranted. There were few opportunities to develop `skills for physical activity? (SPA) transferable to the sporting context and explicit teaching points were not consistently provided, or reinforced through teacher feedback. Activities in the lessons were generally delivered uniformly to all participants across Year 4-7 with no developmental theme, negating the opportunity for differentiation, progression or extension. In summary, the main objectives of the EPPAP was to provide students with a range of fun activities and games that were inclusive and encouraged participation. These objectives were fulfilled in this two-term evaluation. The disadvantages of the programme were it?s uniform delivery across all year groups, lack of developmental progression in both skills and games and a teacher centred approach that did not allow for student differentiation. The programme delivery and content was most suited to the students within Years K-3.
16
Cooper, Trudi. "Quality management in Australian higher education : A critical review." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/842.
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Quality management in higher education is a politically contentious issue in Australia. as it is in North America, New Zealand, and many European countries. The Australian government has instituted a quality management system for higher education that it claims will improve university efficiency, accountability and quality. Critics assert that the current quality management system is detrimental to universities and undermines the capability of universities to deliver maximal benefits to individuals and to society. Evaluation of the basis of conflicting claims is necessary to enable decisions about the usefulness of current practices and decisions about whether existing quality management arrangements should be retained, modified and developed, or replaced, or, abolished.
17
Baume, Georges Jean Roger. "Tourism and hospitality management education in Australia : development of a conceptual framework and model for the 21st century." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phb3471.pdf.
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Bibliography: leaves 305-335. Investigates the rapid expansion, growth, and perceived quality and viability of tourism and hospitality management education. Argues that there are doubts as to whether tourism and hospitality management education is changing according to the needs of industry and the requirements of future managers. An analysis of tourism and hospitality programs in Australian colleges and universities is conducted. Results from the analysis support the proposition for a change of direction in graduate tourism and hospitality management education, and demonstrate a general agreement in terms of content and structure.
18
Chiro, Giancarlo. "The activation and evaluation of Italian language and culture in a group of tertiary students of Italian ancestry in Australia /." Title page, abstract and table of contents only, 1998. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phc541.pdf.
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Dempsey, Mairead. "Impacts of the changing nature of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system on educators within the VET system in Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/586.
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Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia has experienced an unprecedented rate of change in recent times dominated by economic discourses that point to the need for the VET system to contribute to economic development. This discourse includes increasing the competence of the present and future workforce to meet the emerging needs of the economy so Australia can compete in the global market. The VET sector in Australia operates within a National Training Framework that has been constantly changing over the past decade.
This study considered the impact of the changing nature VET policy on trainers of VET. The study explored the proposition that there is a link between VET trainer competency and a high level of non-compliance in the delivery and assessment aspects of the Australian regulatory standards.
This study includes an environmental scan, a review of key literature, interviews, a survey and findings from focus groups that relate to the VET trainer profile, impacts of sector changes and benchmarks for trainers of VET. The study draws on both quantitative and qualitative data to determine some of the impacts of policy changes on trainers operating within the system, from regulatory to operational perspectives.
This study identifies a basic profile of VET trainers in Australia. It found the pace of change of government policy, regulatory changes, expectations of industry and changes in learners had placed considerable strain on VET providers and their trainers. Some of the challenges identified by trainers included the capacity to reflect the requirements of National Training Packages and meets the needs of the diverse learner’s, and the use of new technology. They identified increased stress levels and pressure of time constraints to produce results.
The evidence indicated the disparity of content, delivery and assessment and modes of the benchmark Certificate IV in Training and Assessment was not conducive to consistency in trainer competency and ability to meet the changing needs of the VET environment.
An important conclusion was that the benchmark qualification for training and assessment within the VET sector does not provide sufficient skills and knowledge to enable trainers to confidently adjust to the speed of evolution within the VET sector. The findings led to recommendations that may help to inform government and policy makers who hold responsibility for the VET sector in Australia of possible future considerations in relation to trainers of VET.
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Palmer, Stuart Rohan, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "An evaluation of Australian undergraduate engineering management education for flexible delivery." Deakin University. School of Engineering and Technology, 2001. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050815.112159.
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This thesis examines issues in Australian undergraduate engineering management studies in the context of flexible learning delivery. It is proposed that, within an Australian context:
a) the management skills and competencies required by graduate engineers can be determined and classified on a rational basis, permitting an educational focus on those elements most appropriate for graduates; and
b) on-line and other computer-based technologies are a practical and effective method for the support of undergraduate engineering management studies.
The doctoral project incorporates:
an examination of the nature of engineering management;
a review of the relevant literature establishing the importance of management studies in undergraduate engineering courses;
a review of historical and recent developments in Australian undergraduate engineering management studies;
an investigation of the management skills and competencies required by graduate engineers - based on original research;
an examination of flexible delivery of engineering education - based on professional practice experience; and
an evaluation of case studies of flexible delivery of engineering management education - based on original research and professional practice experience.
A framework of ranked classified management skills is developed. Broadly, the ranking framework is generic professional skills, followed by general management skills and technical discipline specific management skills, followed by other professional discipline skills and theoretical skills. This framework provides a rational basis for design of undergraduate engineering management studies. This is supplemented by consideration of the management skills required for the future of engineering practice.
It is concluded that undergraduate engineering management education is well suited to delivery and support by on-line and computer-based technology. Recent developments in improved access to the Internet, software systems for on-line collaboration and changes in copyright legislation to create a broad-based right to communication via on-line media have contributed to the facilitation of on-line delivery of teaching and learning. It is noted that though many on-line infrastructure issues have been satisfactorily resolved, higher level issues will emerge as being crucial, including the academic staff development and reward for operating in an online teaching environment and the financial sustainability of on-line development and delivery of courses.
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Strikwerda-Brown, J. G. "Student and teacher perceptions of a season of sport education in a regional primary school." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1999. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1234.
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An interpretive case study approach was employed to examine student and teacher perceptions of the implementation of a sport education in physical education program (SEPEP) in a Western Australian regional primary school. Choi’s (1992) curriculum dimensions were used as a framework. Three year seven teachers implemented SEPEP using a team teaching approach. The focus teacher, Ms Jenson, a highly regarded classroom teacher, described herself as non-sporty and lacking confidence and expertise in PE teaching. Students in her SEPEP volleyball class were considered less popular and less athletic when compared with those in the other two SEPEP classes. A focus volleyball team comprising five girls and a boy of varying sporting interests and abilities were targeted to determine student perceptions of the program. Both the students and the teachers were positive in their overall thoughts and feelings about SEPEP. Greater enjoyment of PE classes, improved range and level of learning outcomes and liking of the student-centred structure of the program were reported.
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Santos, Isabel Ana Patalão Afonso dos. "Avaliação das necessidades educacionais dos cuidadores de pessoas com esquizofrenia: contribuição para a validação de um questionário." Master's thesis, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/6618.
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RESUMO: Os programas psicoeducacionais para cuidadores de pessoas com esquizofrenia são muitas vezes construídos sem terem em conta as necessidades educacionais destes utilizadores dos serviços de saúde mental.
Apresenta-se uma revisão da literatura sobre esquizofrenia, família, intervenções familiares e avaliação de necessidades educacionais.
Conduziu-se um estudo transversal descritivo com características exploratórias numa amostra de conveniência de principais cuidadores (N=74) de pessoas com esquizofrenia em tratamento no Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental do Hospital de S. Francisco Xavier.
A metodologia utilizada é do tipo qualitativo e quantitativo.
Objectivos: Descrever as características de uma amostra de principais cuidadores de pessoas com esquizofrenia e as suas necessidades educacionais, bem como contribuir para a validação do Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ).
Instrumentos: Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ) e Inventário Sócio-Demográfico para Familiares (RSDS).
Resultados: O doente com esquizofrenia é cuidado sobretudo pela família, sendo as mães os cuidadores por excelência. Trata-se de mulheres idosas que cuidam do doente há muitos anos e que necessitam saber mais sobre como obter ajuda dos serviços de saúde mental.
Conclusões: Os cuidadores sentem que os serviços de saúde mental não lhes dão o apoio de que necessitam e estão preocupados sobretudo com o estigma e com o que acontecerá aos seus doentes após a sua morte.
A versão portuguesa do ENQ mostrou possuir boa fiabilidade, recomendando-se o desenvolvimento de estudos que dêem continuidade ao esforço de validação aqui iniciado.-------------ABSTRACT: The psychoeducational programs for caregivers of people with schizophrenia are often built without regard for the educational needs of users of mental health services.
We present a review of the literature on schizophrenia, family, family interventions and evaluation of educational needs.
We conducted a cross-sectional study with exploratory characteristics in a convenience sample of primary caregivers (N = 74) of people with schizophrenia being treated in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Hospital of St. Francisco Xavier.
We used a qualitative and quantitative methodology.
Objectives: To describe the characteristics of a sample of primary caregivers of people with schizophrenia and their educational needs, as well as contribute to the validation of the Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ).
Instruments: Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ) and Inventário Sócio-Demográfico para Familiares (RSDS).
Results: Patients with schizophrenia are cared by the family, mothers are the caregivers for excellence. They are older women who take care of the patient for many years and they need to know more about how to get help from mental health services.
Conclusions: Caregivers feel that mental health services don‟t give them the support they need and they are especially worried about the stigma and what will happens to their patients after their death.
The Portuguese version of the ENQ proved to have good reliability and we recommend the development of studies that give continuity to the validation effort here started.
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Whelan, Jane. "Teaching visual arts through distance education : an evaluation of the program Anyone can draw." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1997. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/908.
Full textAbstract:
The problem under investigation is concerned with the teaching of drawing through distance education. Traditionally drawing has occupied a central position in visual art teaching and learning and is still regarded as a significant area of visual arts education. In the visual arts curriculum of Western Australia, drawing, which is included in the broader term visual inquiry, is regarded as the foundation for studio practice. It is therefore appropriate to include drawing as part of every visual arts teaching program. The correspondence mode of teaching, which has a text-base, is a more formal style of teaching art than the responsive teaching that normally occurs in an art class. Through distance education it is difficult to encourage drawing skills either through remediation or extension without creating a burden of extra work for the students. This is due to the design of the course booklets in projects which schedule the drawing lesson as one of many the student is required to complete in a semester. The projects culminate in a final studio product, thus emphasising that drawing remains a step towards the product.
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Sickel, Jamie L. "TPACK Development in Science Teacher Preparation: A Case Study in Queensland, Australia." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1457379586.
Full text
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Prideaux, Lee-Ann, and n/a. "A Longitudinal Evaluation of a Theoretically Derived Adolescent Career Education Intervention." Griffith University. School of Applied Psychology, 2003. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040701.093444.
Full textAbstract:
Theoretically derived career education programs are not well documented in the career development literature. This remains so, despite growing recognition of the negative effects of a schism between theory and practice. This thesis describes a research project that attempted to incorporate theory into practice. The two primary aims were to test and extend career development theory, and to evaluate a theoretically derived career education program. The participants were 296 Year 10 students (mean age = 14.5 years; 147 females & 149 males) attending a government high school in a low socio-economic area of a large Australian city. Career maturity, career decision-making self-efficacy, and career indecision were the key career development variables examined. Students' decision coping patterns were also investigated. There were three studies in all. The first gathered qualitative data from a stratified random sample (N = 30) of staff and parents at the school where the research took place. This study assessed the career decision-making development needs of the students. It also provided context specific information about the opportunity structure of these adolescents, including perceived barriers to making sound career-related decisions. Findings centred upon the belief that students lacked self confidence and were in need of training in life skills generally, and decision-making and goal setting skills in particular. The interviewees also painted a grim picture about students' complacency and sense of resignation to unemployment. The second study involved the cross-sectional examination of baseline survey data, which obtained measures of the career development variables under investigation as well as relevant demographic and contextual data including part-time work experience, school achievement level, and parents' education and employment status. A thorough review of the career development literature, combined with the qualitative data, and the findings of this cross-sectional study, served to guide the design of a career education intervention. Social cognitive career theory's choice model (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994) was used as the framework for the career education intervention, which ran for six weeks with one 70 minute lesson per week. Relationships amongst the key variables established previously in the literature were reflected in the results of the cross-sectional study. Demographic and contextual variables were also found to impact upon students' level of career development and decision-making behaviour in anticipated ways. The third study was a longitudinal assessment of the intervention using the baseline survey and three more surveys administered during the same school year. The short and long term effects of the intervention were examined according to mode of delivery, and comparisons were made with controls. The researcher was the career development "expert" facilitator for the implementation of the intervention to 134 students between the first and second testing times. A wait-listed control group of 118 students undertook the intervention between the second and third testing times with regular classroom teachers facilitating it. The remaining students were enrolled in a generic school-based vocational course and were not given the intervention. There was a lapse of eight weeks between each of the first three testing times with the fourth test taken 12 weeks later. Despite its brief nature, the intervention was found to assist students' career development in a variety of ways. It led to gains in career maturity for females regardless of who taught them. However, males' career maturity was enhanced only if teachers facilitated the intervention. Levels of career indecision and maladaptive decision-making coping patterns were also reduced by the intervention with teacher facilitation. A matched sample of students who did the intervention exhibited significantly better outcomes than those doing the generic vocational course. The long term impact of the intervention was found to be generally beneficial, although some gains were not maintained 12 weeks later. Students' career decision-making self-efficacy and their resoluteness toward decision-making were not affected by the intervention. The research findings led to an appeal for the realignment of focus in career education. This has implications for career education curriculum development in Australia, which needs to shift from its ad hoc, information giving approach, to more comprehensive, long-term, and intensive programming. Career education that enhances the personal skills students need to meet the demands of the world of work in the twenty-first century is required. Career process skills are of paramount importance. Specialist training for career guidance officers is also recommended and more research incorporating theory and practice is advocated.
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Cox, Philip F. "The effect of assessment procedures on student learning outcomes in religious education in one Catholic secondary school in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1996. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/938.
Full textAbstract:
This study investigates the effect of utilising formal assessment procedures on student learning in the religious education classroom. There is a debate in the religious education literature concerning the place of assessment in religious education. This debate is reflected in the divisions that occur amongst teachers of religious education in Catholic schools. The debate has been polarised with an uncertain group being left between the two extremes. Teachers of religious education in Catholic schools are uncertain as to the best teaching methodology to utilise. This thesis outlines the philosophical arguments concerning the place of assessment in religious education in Catholic schools. The thesis will highlight the principles behind the utilisation of assessment procedures in general education and then applies these principles to the teaching of religious education. Religious education in Catholic schools attempts to affect two aspects of student learning. The cognitive domain comprises one aspect of the study Changes in the affective domain is the second area to be investigated. The study utilised a nested design which incorporated seven class groups in an experimental and control group format. The subjects were 160 students in the Year 8 in a metropolitan Catholic high school in Perth, Western Australia. Each student was taught a module of work. Student scores from a series tests, based on the cognitive and affective domain formed the bulk of the data for this Study. Other data was collected through surveys, interviews and •taping of classroom teaching. The findings indicate that student learning outcomes can be influenced when formal assessment and evaluation procedures are utilised. Student test results indicated significant change from the pretest. This change was maintained beyond the end of the teaching period. The implications of this research include a greater understanding of the process of student learning in general, and in religious education in particular the results may provide information that may assist religious educators to further understand the relevance of assessment to the teaching of religious education
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Puhl, Les. "An evaluation of the procedures used to assess and remediate the perceived writing difficulties of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at Edith Cowan University." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1992. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1127.
Full textAbstract:
The standards of written literacy of teacher-education students at Edith Cowan University are perceived by many staff to be inadequate. The Faculty of Education's response to this perceived inadequacy is to carry out a mandatory skills-based remedial writing programme for students whose literacy competencies are judged to be deficient, The instrument used to assess the students' literacy competencies is the English Skills Assessment test. The students' performances in the various skills which the test purports to measure, also determine the area in which they are given remedial instruction if the results of the test suggest this is necessary. However, many Faculty of Education staff are concerned that there are important conceptual, structural, and organisational inadequacies in students' writing which are not identified by the English Skills Assessment test and, therefore, are not attended to in remediation programmes based on the results generated by this test. This study was an evaluation of the remedial literacy programme conducted by the Faculty of Education at Edith Cowan University. The programme was evaluated from two perspectives (a) a theoretical perspective and (b) a practical perspective. Firstly, the study evaluated the procedures used by the Faculty of Education to diagnose and remediate writing difficulties among its first year student intake by comparing the assumptions underlying those procedures to the assumptions underlying a contemporary perspective of writing and the teaching of writing. This comparison revealed that not only were many of the procedures used by the Faculty ineffectual, but also some of the procedures used had the potential to inhibit the literacy development of its students. Secondly, the study investigated whether the English Skills Assessment test was able to identify (a) all the areas in which students experienced difficulties inwriting and (b) the students who were likely to experience the difficulties. The performances of 426 first year primary and secondary teacher education students attending the Mount Lawley Campus of the Edith Cowan University in the English Skills Assessment test were compared with their performances in a research-essay assignment, carried out as a normal part of their course work. The results of this aspect of the study reinforce the findings of an earlier study (Holbrook & Bourke, 1989) which reported that the English Skills Assessment test neither identified all the areas in which tertiary level students experience difficulty in their real writing nor the students likely to experience difficulties, This study shows that Holbrook and Bourke's findings, which related to narrative text, also applied when students wrote expository text. These results challenge the validity of the Faculty's use of the English Skills Assessment test as a means of identifying students with writing problems and show that any remedial writing programme based solely on the areas identified by the test will have a limited impact on the development of students' written literacy. In addition to the data originally sought for this study, other information came to light which showed the limitations of the way in which the Faculty conceptualises students' literacy needs. The emphasis of this programme is diagnosis and remediation. This conceptualisation has produced a literacy unit which is peripheral to the mainstream academic programme and which teaches the surface features of language in decontextualised, skills-based lessons. As a consequence, the unit: (a) is accorded marginal status by lecturers and students alike, ( b ) bears little relationship to what is happening in other units of the course, and (c) contributes little, if anything, to students' literacy development. It is clear from the findings of this study that the Faculty of Educator's remedial literacy programme contains serious flaws which cannot be rectified by attempting to modify the existing programme, The study concludes by recommending that the Faculty of Education should abandon its existing programme, along with its remedial emphasis, and institute a new programme designed to cater for the literacy needs of all its students. That is, all incoming students should be required to undertake a foundation unit which outlines the Faculty of Education's requirements and expectations of students, and teaches them the structures and processes (reading, writing, and thinking) required for successful learning in Bachelor of Arts (Education) courses.
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Lyle, Jessica. "The reality of reform : teachers reflecting on curriculum reform in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/698.
Full textAbstract:
Australia is implementing its first national curriculum, the Australian Curriculum, after many years of debate regarding the validity and practicality of such an undertaking. Although it is widely accepted that “the effects of education policies and programs depend chiefly on what teachers make of them” (Cohen & Ball, 1990, p. 233), little is known about teachers’ perceptions of the Australian Curriculum or their prior experiences of mandatory curriculum reform as they begin engaging with this unique reform. To provide a means of exploring these perceptions and experiences, 18 teachers, four Head of Learning Areas (HOLAs) and the principal from a regional high school in Western Australia (WA) were asked to reflect on their experiences with curriculum change in general, and the Australian Curriculum in particular. This occurred at different points throughout 2011/12 giving an insight into ‘what they will make of’ the Australian Curriculum.
Four lenses of typical experiences and perceptions emerged during the study. These lenses are presented as four composite narratives that show the depth and breadth of the curriculum reform experience for the participants. Results indicated that the participants were yet to experience mandated curriculum reform in WA they perceived to be successful. Dispositions towards reform were both being effected by such past experiences and affecting reactions to current experiences. Peer support was demonstrated to be a safety net for the participants in the absence of clear guidelines and resources. Additional to those absent needs, the participants conveyed a need for greater prescription accompanying the AC in this clime of frequent and increasingly accountability focused mandated reform.
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Alderman, Gwendolyn. "From policy borrowing to implementation : an illuminative evaluation of learning and teaching in higher education in Australia (2002 to 2008)." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2014. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/75865/1/Gwendolyn_Alderman_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This study documents and theorises the consequences of the 2003 Australian Government Reform Package focussed on learning and teaching in Higher Education during the period 2002 to 2008. This is achieved through the perspective of program evaluation and the methodology of illuminative evaluation. The findings suggest that the three national initiatives of that time, Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF), Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC), and Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA), were successful in repositioning learning and teaching as a core activity in universities. However, there were unintended consequences brought about by international policy borrowing, when the short-lived nature of LTPF suggests a legacy of quality compliance rather than one of quality enrichment.
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Dornam, Louise Leanne. ""Reaching Out" : the conceptualisation, development, inplementation and evaluation of the bridging component of an adult re-entry program for mature age and teenage parenting women who wish to return to high school." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1994. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/36478/1/36478_Dornan_1994.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The research described in this dissertation begins from the problem of how best to provide a bridging program required to meet the needs of a small group of
working class, mature-age and teenage parenting women who wish to re-enter local high schools. In doing so it seeks to determine a literacy pedagogy,appropriate support structures and thematic base for the program. The study
design has four main components: conceptualising and developing the bridgingprogram, evaluating its implementation and extracting recommendations.
Conceptualising the program involved obtaining information from the women
themselves, developing a theoretical base from which to interpret this information and designing an appropriate classroom based bridging program. These aspects are described in chapters two and three. The bridging program
was then implemented over a ten week period, using the resultant pedagogical and support structures developed through the research process. The structure of
the implementation is reported in chapter four. This is then followed in chapter five by the preliminary evaluation of the program as to whether it has met the
needs of the participants and was able to circumvent potential barriers in the light of the theorising and research engaged in above. On the basis of this study it is recommended that similar bridging programs
designed for adult re-entry be implemented on an annual basis. In doing so, some aspects of the pedagogy and support structures developed within this pilot bridging program should be modified for future use. It is also recommended that some elements of the pedagogy and support structures be incorporated in the mainstream school.
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Lowe, Geoffrey Masterton. "A study into year 8 student motivation to continue class music in Perth, Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2008. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1820.
Full textAbstract:
Post compulsory music education courses in Western Australia have undergone major curriculum reform. Reform has included a shift from a prescriptive curriculum based upon the Western canon to a more embracing practical and creative one, due for full implementation in 2009. As the numbers of students undertaking elective post compulsory music in Western Australia has been traditionally low, education authorities anticipate that more students will elect to undertake the new course. However, given previous research into motivational issues associated with the transition to secondary school, low post compulsory enrolment numbers may be reflective of retention issues arising from lower secondary class music, as much as the previous post compulsory course structure. Large numbers of students opt to discontinue music studies beyond their first year in secondary school.
This study examined the motivation of students to elect.to continue class music studies beyond their first year in secondary school (Year 8). Following an extensive review of the current literature on achievement motivation in education, the study employed Expectancy-value theory as its theoretical basis for examining the values and competence beliefs of 276, Year 8 students across eight secondary schools in Perth, Western Australia. The study included the development of an instrument to examine student values and beliefs towards class music activities at the commencement and conclusion of Year 8. In addition, for triangulation, the study employed focus groups to examine issues arising from findings associated with the instrument.
The study found that while Year 8 student values declined over the course of Year 8, their beliefs remained relatively stable. These findings implied that in many instances, students increasingly devalued the activities they undertook in class music over the course of the year, regardless of their competence beliefs. This in tum impacted upon their subsequent enrolment choices into elective music courses from Year 9. Therefore, declining valuing of class music in lower secondary school may be the major determinant of enrolment numbers in post compulsory class music, as values have been demonstrated in previous research to be accurate predictors of subsequent emohnent decisions.
The implications of this study suggest that curriculum reform may not necessarily succeed in increasing participation rates in post compulsory music education courses in Western Australia until motivational issues associated with the teaching of class music in lower school are addressed.
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Cruickshank, Mary T., of Western Sydney Hawkesbury University, and Faculty of Management. "Developing a quality culture within a school of nursing in higher education." THESIS_FMAN_XXX_Cruickshank_M.xml, 2000. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/604.
Full textAbstract:
During the past decade, nurses in the clinical setting have began making a paradigm shift from Quality Assurance to Total Quality Management, or as it is commonly referred to within health care facililties, Continuous Quality Improvement.In contrast, scant attention has been paid to quality management practices in nursing in the higher education sector. This study provides an applied example of where it investigates quality management practices in the context of organisational culture and human resource management with the aim of developing a quality culture model for a school of nursing in higher education.The research study that was conducted produced several major findings from the views of nurse academics who participated in it. Several issues associated with nurse academics' opinions of quality management practices utilised in schools of nursing have been unravelled.The fundamental issue is that procedures and policies formulated for nurses in the hospital setting do not serve the needs of nursing education.The most crucial factor to be considered in policy developments and future research is that it needs to be contextualised in the culture of nursing in higher education.It has become imperative that a transparent quality culture reflects contemporary nursing in Australia and the proposed model in this thesis provides nurses with an opportunity to shape a quality system for the nursing profession.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Jayatilaka, Jennifer A. "An investigation of family literacy practices of eight families with preprimary children and a family literacy program conducted in a low socio-economic area." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1998. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/991.
Full textAbstract:
Study of the research literature showed that literacy skills are socialised in young children along with their learning of oral language. This socialisation process occurs within a child's home environment long before they enter formal schooling. Family literacy has been shown to have the potential to impact powerfully on children's perceptions about literacy use through role models and support provided by various family and community members. Literacy activity is often deeply embedded in daily family practices. For some children, differences between home and school literacy practices can occur. Where this mismatch occurs for children in low socio economic homes the problems associated can be compounded. In the present study a formative experimental design was used to investigate and describe some of the literacy practices of eight families living in a low socio-economic environment as identified by the parents of children attending a preprimary centre. Some family literacy programs designed to reduce the effect of the literacy mismatch between home and school have been found, in research literature, to be unsuitable for certain communities because of their inability to address the needs of individual families. The present study reports on the results of a family literacy program jointly planned by the teacher/researcher and parents of eight families from a low socio-economic community. It describes the nature of the family literacy program and the perceptions of the program held by the eight participants. Issues arising from this family literacy program design are highlighted and some implications for educational practice and further research are presented.
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Machado, Thais Helena. ""Eficácia de um programa de orientação para cuidadores de afásicos em população brasileira"." Universidade de São Paulo, 2004. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/5/5160/tde-11082005-140614/.
Full textAbstract:
Tema:Cuidadores podem ter importante papel na recuperação de afásicos.Objetivo: Estudar o impacto de ações educativas junto a cuidadores. Método: Dez afásicos foram avaliados e seus cuidadores questionados e observados sobre percepções de dificuldades de comunicação. A intervenção foi realizada em grupos com ênfase em aspectos educativos, em 6 sessões. Resultados: Houve mudanças positivas do cuidador, no que diz respeito à possibilidade de melhor capacidade de compreensão e avaliação das dificuldades de linguagem, embora com pouca expressão, se considerados os indicadores propostos no programa.Conclusão: Nota-se benefícios no emprego de programas de educação junto a cuidadores de afásicos moderados e graves. Constata-se a necessidade de se aprimorar indicadores de resultados terapêuticos.Background: Caregivers can have important paper in aphasic's recuperation. Aim: To study the impact of educational actions in caregivers. Method: Ten aphasic patients were assessed and their caregivers questioned and observed about perceptions regarding the communication funcionality. The intervention was accomplished in group and was oriented to educatives' aspects, in 6 sessions. Results: There were caregiver's positive changes in the possibility of better capacity of comprehension and evaluation of laguage difficulties, although with little expression, if indicators proposed in the program are pondered
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Thair, Micheal J. "The responsiveness of an Australian science teacher professional development program to the needs of local and developing country science educators." Thesis, Curtin University, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1595.
Full textAbstract:
Many developing countries do not have in place high quality science education postgraduate programs; consequently, teachers from these countries are enrolling in programs in developed countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A number of authors have raised concerns that these programs are not responsive to the professional development needs of developing country teachers, suggesting that participants remain unaffected by their overseas experiences. There are similar concerns about teachers from developed countries also being unable to implement new ideas for teaching in their classrooms. This may be due to a number of reasons including feelings of powerlessness in overly prescriptive programs, high demands on teachers' time, a lack of resources, and a general lack of encouragement. These issues raise a number of questions about the nature of teacher professional development and in particular about appropriate ways to implement these programs.In response to these concerns, this thesis examines the responsiveness of a science education postgraduate program conducted in Australia to the needs of local and developing country participants and the influences of differences between Australian and developing country science teachers in terms of their professional, personal and social development. The assumption being that programs in developed countries are largely orientated towards the needs of home-country students. The conceptual framework for the thesis is a recent approach to science teacher professional development that provides a holistic perspective on science teacher professional development, focusing not only on individual teachers but also on the educational environment in which they operate. This perspective acknowledges the complexities of school environments and considers teachers' beliefs and feelings.The research focuses on participants from Australian and Indonesian who have completed a science education postgraduate program in Western Australia at the Science and Mathematics Education Centre (SMEC) located at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia. These two groups were chosen because between 1988 and 1995 they were the predominant nationalities participating in SMEC programs. The research methodology and use of quantitative and qualitative research instruments was in keeping with the holistic conceptual framework adopted for the study and follows recent trends in teacher professional development research which have seen a broadening of research methodologies. The instruments used included a postal questionnaire, classroom observation schedule and structured interviews.The research findings indicated that the Indonesians have different needs to their Australian counterparts in terms of their professional, personal and social development. These differences included the Indonesians' strong beliefs in and use of didactic and formal teaching methodologies, limitations in Indonesian classrooms on the introduction of new teaching activities, a more centralised and formal education system in Indonesia in contrast to the increasing autonomy seen in Australia, and a more flexible teacher professional development approach in Australia focussing on personal development, as opposed to the curriculum and assessment focus seen in Indonesia. In addition, there are vast differences between the Indonesian and Australian education systems and these differences were seen to reinforce many of the different beliefs and practices between the Indonesian and Australian participants.The study suggests that the Australian participants are able to implement teaching approaches and theoretical frameworks included in their postgraduate studies at SMEC; however, the conclusions highlight the limitations of expecting that this can occur for developing country participants. In examining approaches in overcoming these limitations, it was concluded that a range of minor interventions or modifications to program design and content would be insufficient and a number of key indicators were identified that point to the responsiveness of programs for developing country participants. These indicators included the need for host institutions to be fully conversant with the classrooms and social contexts of developing country participants, constructivist pedagogical approaches to program design, planning and implementation, and the necessary flexibility to maintain academic rigour in postgraduate science education programs while incorporating unfamiliar education notions and frameworks from developing countries.
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Leitao, Natalie C. "Teacher-student relationships in primary schools in Perth." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2008. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/196.
Full textAbstract:
This study investigated teacher-student relationships at Perth metropolitan schools in Western Australia. From the literature, three key social and emotional aspects that affect teacher-student relationships, namely, Connectedness, Availability and Communication, were identified as important to good, positive teacher-student relationships. Data were collected in four parts: (1) through a teacher questionnaire; (2) through a student questionnaire; (3) through teacher interviews; and (4) through student interviews. The three relationship aspects formed the structure of a teacher questionnaire in which ten stem-items were conceptualised from easy to hard - four stem-items for Connectedness, three for Availability, and three for Communication - and answered in three perspectives: (1) an idealistic attitude, this is what I would like to happen; (2) a self-perceived Capability, this is what I am capable of, and (3) Actual Behaviour, this is what actually happens, using three ordered response categories: not at all or some of the time (score 1), most of the time (score 2), and almost always (score 3). The same three aspects formed the structure of a student questionnaire in which ten stem-items were conceptualised from easy to hard and answered in two perspectives: (1)a realistic view, this is what does happen; and (2) an idealistic view, this is what I wish would happen. Questionnaire data were collected from 43 primary teachers concerning 139 teacher-student relationships and 139 primary school students. Interview data were collected from 25 primary teachers and 139 students gave either, or both, a brief written comment and some verbal answers to relationship questions.
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Reinertsen, Nathanael. "The viability of simulated large-scale marking as professional development for preservice teachers." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2320.
Full textAbstract:
Judging the quality of student work is a core skill of a proficient teacher. This professional competency is often utilised by organisations that run large-scale marking operations when they recruit teachers as markers. These organisations and the teachers themselves often claim that large-scale marking is valuable professional development.
This research aimed to determine whether professional learning outcomes similar to those reported by experienced teachers can be achieved for preservice teachers through participation in a live simulation of a large-scale marking operation. The research was conducted in three phases: an online survey of Australian teachers to establish that reports of benefit from other contexts are generalisable to Australia; a simulated marking experience for 22 preservice teachers at Edith Cowan University; and finally, follow-up interviews with seven of those participants after their first semester of teaching to establish to what extent their perceptions of the marking experience had changed.
The research collected qualitative data through interviews and an online survey. Additionally, there was quantitative data collected during the marking simulation in the form of scores, and these were analysed with simple descriptive statistics, linear correlation, and a many-facet Rasch analysis to examine the severity or harshness of the novice markers. The analysis of the scoring was not done to examine the skill of the markers, but rather to evaluate the quality of the marker training in the simulation. It was found that the markers scored reliably, and so it was inferred that the simulation training was probably similar to authentic marker training.
The research found that the benefits described by the simulation participants largely centred on increased confidence in marking and gaining experience of marking. These main benefits and several minor ones broadly aligned with benefits published in the literature. The perception of value in the simulated marking experience did not diminish after the preservice teachers had begun their work as teachers, and several reported using processes or concepts from the experience in their professional work.
The research concluded that simulated marking sessions have applications in preservice teacher education. There were strong recommendations from participants that a practical marking experience such as the simulation become a mandatory part of initial teacher education courses.
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Brown, Natalie. "Issues in academic educational research: The impact of current issues on research activity." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2019. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2166.
Full textAbstract:
Previous investigations into educational research in Australia have highlighted important issues affecting research, with the majority of issues remaining to date. The Australian government and several research academics have examined issues relevant to educational research, including areas such as research design, dissemination of research results, and effectiveness of research. However, few studies have given voice to the academic researchers working in this field. Therefore, in light of the complexities and broadness of issues faced by educational researchers, this study aimed to investigate what current issues were pertinent to academic educational researchers through an examination of their experiences. This study also sought to determine the reasons for these issues and ascertain possible solutions.
This study used a qualitative approach within a critical theory framework. In addition, this study also utilised a radical interactionist philosophical perspective. The technique used to gather data was through a questionnaire using open-ended questions. There were 18 participants currently engaged in academic educational research in this study. The questionnaire transcripts were analysed through open coding and axial coding to establish categories. These categories were developed into a model and included the themes of: research purpose, ethics processes, collaboration, value of educational research and academic freedom. The overarching theme to which all other themes were connected was research culture.
The results of this study revealed that issues faced by academic educational researchers are of a perpetual nature and highlights the significant difficulty in overcoming these issues. This study also demonstrated that the issues in academic educational research are sustained through a lack of research culture. This lack of research culture was found to provide a significant barrier to research activity and recommendations are provided toward developing a research culture within the field of academic educational research. For future research, the categories within the developed model may be investigated in more depth, and knowledge structures and strategies within research-intensive universities may be further investigated in relation to research activity and research cultures.
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McGowan, Wayne S. "An evaluation of a professional development model for primary school administrators." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1993. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1141.
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Better Schools advocated a decentralisation in the administrative structure and a devolution of responsibilities within Western Australian education system. One outcome was the establishment of twenty nine school districts in 1987. Since then, these districts have faced the problem of providing for the professional development needs of their primary school principals. In response to this situation different districts have developed different models for the training and development of principals. This research evaluates, as a case study, a particular model developed in one of the districts. To help preserve the anonymity of the district chosen, it is referred to throughout the study under the fictitious name of the Fairmont district. The evaluation centres around the question: From the view point of meeting corporate managerial needs, is there justification for the continued use of the Fairmont model? To answer this question, the study focuses only on primary school principals in the district.
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Angelico, Teresa 1956. "Can research influence policy decisions? : a project evaluation of a study of the role of the Catholic Church in higher education." Monash University, Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology, 1999. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/7955.
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Florisson, Steven J. "Aboriginal Students Perceptions Of The Effect Of Vocational Education And Training On Post School Experiences." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2000. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1547.
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Over the past decade there have been dramatic and unprecedented changes in post compulsory education, with an increase of over 40% for year 12 retention rates to 76.6% in 1992 and huge expansion of year 11 and 12 vocational education and training programs. However, for Aboriginal past compulsory age students, the picture is very different. In 1993 the year 12 Aboriginal retention rate was only 24.48% or 982 students (Australia wide), and by 1996 only 10% of the indigenous 15 and older population had any post school qualification, compared to 35% of the total population. Only 34% of West Australian Indigenous 15 to 24 year olds were employed compared with 56% of the total population. Aboriginal students not participating in education have been the subject of many reports, reviews and studies, but few of these have looked at Aboriginal vocational education and training and even fewer at the Aboriginal students own perception of education. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the experience of Aboriginal students who have been involved in secondary school vocational education and training programs at Wongutha Christian Aboriginal Parent-directed School (Wongutha CAPS) to ascertain particular experiences that affected the students in their post school situations. Apart from the value of sharing the experiences of Aboriginal students, it is anticipated that the conclusions of this study will: help identify methods of training that have been effective for Aboriginal students, help identify particular courses that more readily articulate into further training and employment, help identify the specific needs of Aboriginal vocational education and training students, help identify factors which have led to poor year 11 and 12 retention levels, and poor participation rates in employment, assist educators in developing vocational education and training curriculum that is relevant to the needs of Aboriginal students, and deleting from vocational education and training programs material that is not relevant. This study provides educators with a student's "inside view” of vocational education and training experiences. The study involves post secondary Aboriginals who participated in secondary vocational education and training programs at Wongutha CAPS for a period of six months or longer at some time within the past nine years. The study utilises a phenomenological methodology with data collection by interview.
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Thair, Micheal J. "The responsiveness of an Australian science teacher professional development program to the needs of local and developing country science educators." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 1999. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=10398.
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Many developing countries do not have in place high quality science education postgraduate programs; consequently, teachers from these countries are enrolling in programs in developed countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A number of authors have raised concerns that these programs are not responsive to the professional development needs of developing country teachers, suggesting that participants remain unaffected by their overseas experiences. There are similar concerns about teachers from developed countries also being unable to implement new ideas for teaching in their classrooms. This may be due to a number of reasons including feelings of powerlessness in overly prescriptive programs, high demands on teachers' time, a lack of resources, and a general lack of encouragement. These issues raise a number of questions about the nature of teacher professional development and in particular about appropriate ways to implement these programs.In response to these concerns, this thesis examines the responsiveness of a science education postgraduate program conducted in Australia to the needs of local and developing country participants and the influences of differences between Australian and developing country science teachers in terms of their professional, personal and social development. The assumption being that programs in developed countries are largely orientated towards the needs of home-country students. The conceptual framework for the thesis is a recent approach to science teacher professional development that provides a holistic perspective on science teacher professional development, focusing not only on individual teachers but also on the educational environment in which they operate. This perspective acknowledges the complexities of school environments and considers teachers' beliefs and feelings.The research focuses on ++participants from Australian and Indonesian who have completed a science education postgraduate program in Western Australia at the Science and Mathematics Education Centre (SMEC) located at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia. These two groups were chosen because between 1988 and 1995 they were the predominant nationalities participating in SMEC programs. The research methodology and use of quantitative and qualitative research instruments was in keeping with the holistic conceptual framework adopted for the study and follows recent trends in teacher professional development research which have seen a broadening of research methodologies. The instruments used included a postal questionnaire, classroom observation schedule and structured interviews.The research findings indicated that the Indonesians have different needs to their Australian counterparts in terms of their professional, personal and social development. These differences included the Indonesians' strong beliefs in and use of didactic and formal teaching methodologies, limitations in Indonesian classrooms on the introduction of new teaching activities, a more centralised and formal education system in Indonesia in contrast to the increasing autonomy seen in Australia, and a more flexible teacher professional development approach in Australia focussing on personal development, as opposed to the curriculum and assessment focus seen in Indonesia. In addition, there are vast differences between the Indonesian and Australian education systems and these differences were seen to reinforce many of the different beliefs and practices between the Indonesian and Australian participants.The study suggests that the Australian participants are able to implement teaching approaches and theoretical frameworks included in their postgraduate studies at SMEC; however, the conclusions highlight the ++
limitations of expecting that this can occur for developing country participants. In examining approaches in overcoming these limitations, it was concluded that a range of minor interventions or modifications to program design and content would be insufficient and a number of key indicators were identified that point to the responsiveness of programs for developing country participants. These indicators included the need for host institutions to be fully conversant with the classrooms and social contexts of developing country participants, constructivist pedagogical approaches to program design, planning and implementation, and the necessary flexibility to maintain academic rigour in postgraduate science education programs while incorporating unfamiliar education notions and frameworks from developing countries.
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Conway, Jane Frances. "Utopia unrealised: an evaluation of a consultancy to develop a national framework for police education and training to enhance frontline response to illicit drug problems in Australia." University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Education, 2004. http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00001418/.
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This dissertation presents an evaluation of a funded consultancy that was intended to bring about change in the education and training of police in Australia in response to illicit drugs. Sponsored by what was at the time known as the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, the ultimate goal of the consultancy was a national framework for police education and training to enhance frontline police response to illicit drug problems. The research used a case study design. Guba and Stufflebeam’s (1970) Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) model was used to organise the presentation of a rich description of the design, development and implementation of the consultancy. Application of this framework enabled illumination of a number of issues related to social policy, change and innovation, and quality improvement processes. The study explores the role of education and training in organisational change and concludes that the potential of external consultancy activity to effect meaningful change in police education, training and practice is limited by a number of factors. Key findings of the study are that while a number of consultancy processes could have been enhanced, the primary determinants of the extent to which a change in police education and training will enhance frontline practice are contextual and conceptual factors. The study reveals that the response of frontline police to illicit drug use is influenced by multivariate factors. The findings of this study suggest that while frontline police are keen to provide solutions to a range of practice issues in response to illicit drug problems, they desire concrete strategies that are well defined and supported by management, consistent with policy and within the law. However, the complexity of police activity in response to illicit drugs; the dissonance between the conceptual frameworks of police and health agencies; and, resistance to what is perceived as externally initiated change in police practice, education and training; were found to be powerful inhibitors of an utopian attempt to enhance frontline police response to illicit drug problems. Using the metaphor of board games, the study concludes that the development of an education and training framework will be of little value in achieving enhanced frontline practice in response to illicit drug problems unless the criteria for enhanced response are made more explicit and seen to be congruent with both the conceptualisation and operationalisation of police roles and functions. Moreover, the study questions the mechanisms through which changes in policy are conceived, implemented and evaluated and highlights a need for greater congruence between evaluation frameworks and the nature of change.
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Munns, Ailsa M. "Young families' utilisation, self-perceived requirements, and satisfaction with child health services in the City of Belmont, Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1998. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1426.
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The expectations of young families regarding care they would like to receive from community nurses working in the child health area is affected by the relationship between those expectations, utilisation and sociocultural factors such as family type, family composition and ethnicity. These factors influence family dynamics, needs, functioning and interactions with the wider community. A descriptive study with both quantitative and qualitative components was used to identify and analyse the self-identified requirements of young families utilising Child Health Services in the Belmont area, Western Australia, and their patterns of utilisation. Twenty five women who had a child or children under 5 years of age were interviewed. The study was guided by a conceptual framework provided by the Ottawa Charter (World Health Organisation-Health and Welfare Canada-Canadian Public Health Organisation, 1996). The three main themes that emerged from the data showed that the young families identified knowledge acquisition, reassurance of normal growth and development and accessibility as their key self-perceived requirements of Child Health Services. Family type, family composition and ethnicity were examined within the contexts of these themes, resulting in a greater understanding of the child health issues relating to all types of family groups. The challenge for the providers of Child Health Services is to provide culturally appropriate Child Health Services based on the principles of primary health care within an environment experiencing fiscal restraint The long term benefits to the families and the health care system are not easily evaluated but have important and wide ranging positive effects on the health and wellbeing of the community.
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Brown, Robert Maxwell. "Drivers of student satisfaction and student loyalty in an Australian university setting." University of Western Australia. Graduate School of Management, 2007. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2007.0060.
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[Truncated abstract] The Australian higher education sector has changed markedly in the last two decades. The size of the sector has swelled in size as new universities have been created from former Colleges of Advanced Education and Institutes of Technology, and succeeding governments have introduced policies that have embedded increasingly corporate and commercial practices into university administration. This has caused the creation of what are becoming known as ‘enterprise universities’. This thesis examines hypotheses arising from two fundamental questions. (i) Given the increasingly market-oriented higher education environment in Australia, will a model developed from the study of services marketing (which has developed since the 1970s as a distinct sub-branch of the Marketing discipline) show itself to be applicable to universities operating in the Australian sector? (ii) If so, are there demonstrable differences in the way in which ‘student customers’ respond in terms of the antecedents of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty within different types of university? . . . The study found that the model tested was highly appropriate for indicating the major antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty in this setting. It showed that the institutional image was a relatively stronger antecedent of perceived value and customer satisfaction than were elements of service quality, and that the model was effective in accounting for a large proportion of the variance found in students’ loyalty to their institution. It also found that there was relatively little difference between students attending different types of university in these matters. It argues that there is an important imperative for Australian universities to take a strategic image management approach to their marketing initiatives, and also issues related to the nature of higher education as a positional and public good.
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Fyson, Stephen J. "Understanding and Developing Transformational Community in Order to Prevent Alienation : a Longitudinal Study of Students Involved in a School Restructure." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1654.
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The research examined whether the transition of students into junior high school from primary could school be managed with less alienation for the students by using a school restructure that intentionally attempted to increase psychological sense of community. The objectives of the research were therefore to (a) describe and understand students' perspectives of their community life world, (b) contribute to the knowledge of community-based practice in education, and (c) to add to the scope of understanding of the psychological sense of community.
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Medland, Andrew T. "A case study of two year six classes involved in a health-related fitness intervention." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1992. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1135.
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Children are not as active as they may appear and they do not voluntarily engage in moderate to high intensity activity as commonly perceived by the general public. With coronary heart disease risk factors now found to have origins in childhood there is a real need for children to adopt lifestyles that will produce healthier adults. In Perth the Western Australian Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition project (WASPAN) has been implemented, as a Year 6 intervention, addressing the problems of poor nutritional habits and low activity levels. The focus of this case-study was to describe the physical activity component of the WASPAN project and to monitor the process of its implementation. The physical activity programme is founded on the concept of systematically increasing children's activity and fitness levels at school in a secure and enjoyable environment, then planning for this and associated activity to generalise into the children's own settings. Two schools were chosen for the study. One Year 6 class of children at each school was intensively monitored for levels of fitness and physical activity. Their attitudes towards fitness, sports and activity were recorded. At both schools the class teachers and their implementation of the fitness programme became an important area of the study. In addition the influence of the school principal and the children's parents in the promotion of physical activity and their contribution to the behaviour modification of the children's lifestyles was described. Multiple data methods were utilised, centering on participant observation and combining field notes, document analysis, interviewing, questionnaires, fitness testing, heart-rate monitoring, interval recording and surveys. Within both classes low and high fitness children were targeted for additional indepth investigation. The study was directed by the data, which revealed that the two teachers implemented the physical education programme in two vastly different ways. This difference in the implementation process impacted on the influence the programme had on the children at the different schools. Results showed the children were enthusiastic towards the programme and fitness and activity levels increased. Closer analysis revealed that the low fitness/low activity children did not make significant activity increases. These children tended to get little support from home compared with high fitness children. Analysis of the parent interviews indicated that the parents of the low fitness children also tended to live in lower socioeconomic areas than the high fitness children's families. A second 'at risk' group also emerged in the course of the study. These were the 'average' children whose level of fitness caused the teachers little concern. At the end of the study several of these children were antagonistic towards the fitness programme. They had received little praise or encouragement from their teachers and as a result their motivation and attitude towards the programme had declined. Some had been overtaken by several of the low fitness children in the fitness levels measured. The attitude of the principal towards physical fitness proved to have a significant effect on the teacher and the children. The two school principals studied also provided a good contrast in levels of enthusiasm and support for the implementation.
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Bentley-Williams, Robyn. "EXPLORING BIOGRAPHIES: THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING INCLUSIVE EDUCATORS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES." University of Sydney, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/1855.
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Doctor of PhilosophyThe current study explored the formative processes of twelve student teachers constructing role understandings in the context of their experiences and interactions with people with disabilities. In particular, it examined the participants’ changing notions of self-as-teacher and their unfolding perceptions of an inclusive educator’s role in teaching children with disabilities. The research aimed to investigate personal and professional forms of knowledge linked with the prior subjective life experiences of the student teachers and those arising from their interactions in situated learning experiences in community settings. The contextual framework of the study focused on the development of the student teachers’ unique understandings and awareness of people with disabilities through processes of biographical situated learning. The investigation examined participants’ voluntary out-ofcourse experiences with people with disabilities across three community settings for the ways in which these experiences facilitated the participants’ emerging role understandings. These settings included respite experiences in families’ homes of young children with disabilities receiving early intervention, an after-school recreational program for primary and secondary aged children and adolescents with disabilities, and an independent living centre providing post-school options and activities for adults with disabilities. ii Two groups participated in the current study, each consisted of six student teachers in the Bachelor of Education Course at the Bathurst campus of Charles Sturt University. Group One participants were in the second year compulsory inclusive education subject and Group Two participants were in the third year elective early intervention subject. The investigation examines the nature of reflexive and reflective processes of the student teachers from subjective, conflict realities in an attempt to link community experiences with real-life issues affecting inclusive educational practices. The voluntary community experiences engaged the research participants in multi-faceted interactions with people with disabilities, providing thought-provoking contexts for their reflections on observations, responses and reactions to situations, such as critical incidents. The participants engaged in reflexive and reflective processes in records made in learning journals and in semi-structured interviews conducted throughout the investigation. Results were analysed from a constructivist research paradigm to investigate their emerging role understandings. Prior to this study there had been few practical components in the compulsory undergraduate inclusive education subject which meant that previously student teachers gained theoretical knowledge without the opportunity to apply their learning. Many student teachers had expressed their feelings of anxiety and uneasiness about what they should do and say to a person with a disability. Thus, the community experiences were selected in order to give a specific context for student teachers’ learning and to provide participants with expanded opportunities to consider their professional identity, social awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. iii An analysis of the data demonstrated the centrality of reflection within a situated teaching and learning framework. Understandings of prior experiences and motivation were shown to interact with the outcomes of the community experiences through an on-going process of reflection and reflexivity. This reconstructing process encouraged learners to reflect on past, present and projected future experiences and reframe actions from multiple perspectives as a way of exploring alternatives within broader contexts. The data reveal the participants’ engagement in the community experiences facilitated their awareness of wider socio-cultural educational issues, while focusing their attention on more appropriate inclusive teaching and learning strategies. The reflective inquiry process of identifying diverse issues led participants to consider other possible alternatives to current community practices for better ways to support their changing perspectives on ideal inclusive classroom practices. The dialogic nature of participants’ on-going deliberations contributed to the construction of their deeper understandings of an inclusive educator’s role. The findings of the study identified external environmental and internal personal factors as contributing biographical influences which shaped the student teachers’ emerging role understandings. The results emphasised the value of contextual influences in promoting desirable personal and professional qualities in student teachers. Importantly, situated learning enhanced participants’ unique interpretations of their prospective roles. As a result of analysing their insights from interactions in community contexts, the student teachers had increased their personal and professional understandings of individuals with disabilities and broadened their perceptions of their roles as inclusive educators. Thus, the study found that encouraging a biographical reflexive and reflective orientation in participants was conducive iv to facilitating changes in their understandings. Overall, the outcomes had benefits for student teachers and teacher educators in finding innovative ways for integrating biographical perspectives into situated teaching and learning approaches. The study showed that contextual influences facilitated deeper understanding of role identity and produced new ideas about the nature of reflexivity and reflection in guiding student teachers’ learning. (Note: Appendices not included in digital version of thesis)
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Ochse, Catharina Elizabeth. "The implementation and evaluation of a nutrition education programme developed for caregivers." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10352/313.
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D. Tech. (Food Service Management, Department of Hospitality, Tourism and PR Management, Faculty of Human Sciences)|, Vaal University of Technology|Background South Africa is one of the developing countries faced with the co-existence of undernutrition and overnutrition, often experienced within the same household. On the one hand, hunger, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are linked to poverty and household food insecurity. Simultaneously, South Africans are exposed to ‘nutrition in transition’, where overweight and chronic diseases of lifestyle, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are on the rise as part of the overnutrition profile. Sound nutrition is important throughout the lifecycle to combat under- and overnutrition and nutrition-related diseases. In urban areas, the grandmother or another senior female family member is often responsible for caring for the children in the household during the day. This includes physical, emotional and nutritional care. It is therefore essential for the caregiver to have good nutrition knowledge, to provide not only in her own needs, but also in those of the children. A nutrition education programme is one strategy for improving the nutrition knowledge of caregivers of children. Objective The primary objective in this study was to develop, tailor, implement and evaluate a nutrition education programme (NEP) for Sesotho-speaking females and caregivers of children in the Boipatong Township in the Vaal Region of South Africa and to test its impact in the short and longer term. Nutrition knowledge regarding four South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) was empirically tested before and after the intervention and then compared to a control group. In addition, dietary intake was assessed to detect any changes after the intervention in the medium term. Methodology In this both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were applied. Two frameworks, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Framework of Malnutrition (2004) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Framework for Nutrition Education (1997), gave structure to the planning, implementation and evaluation of the research project. This study’s nutrition education programme was based on a socio-ecological model to guide behavioural change in terms of healthy food choices. In the preparation phase, a situational analysis was performed by means of a cross-sectional analytical design using descriptive statistics. Socio-demographic and self-reported health information was obtained. Nutrition knowledge, based on the South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), was measured, and dietary intake was assessed and compared with the estimated average requirements (EARs) for their age categories. Phase two, the formulation phase, used an experimental design. The acceptability and understanding of the existing national nutrition education (NE) material for individuals with low living standards (LSM) was investigated in this phase of the nutrition education programme (NEP). A culturally tailored booklet was developed in English, translated into Sesotho, pilot tested and implemented as part of the nutrition education programme. Lesson plans were developed and pilot tested. A non-randomised control trial was used in the implementation and evaluation phases. The effect of the nutrition education programme on nutrition knowledge was quantitatively measured in a pre- and post-test design at each discussion session in the short term, using paired t-tests in the experimental group of caregivers. The evaluation phase tested the impact of the nutrition education in the longer term. Nutrition knowledge was measured quantitatively in a before-after intervention test design by means of a self-completed structured questionnaire, based on the four South African FDBGs included in the programme. A control group who was not subjected to any intervention was used to complete the same questionnaire before and after the intervention in the same time period as the experimental group. In the experimental group, dietary intake was assessed before and after the intervention to detect changes in dietary intake. No dietary intake was measured in the control group, as changes could be attributed to influences beyond the control of this study. Two randomly selected focus groups of the experimental group were run to provide deeper insight into their perceptions regarding the acceptability and understanding of the NEP and NE material. Results The situational analysis of the preparation phase revealed a poor community that displayed typical patterns of nutrition in transition, at risk of malnutrition. The median age of the sample of caregivers was 44 years (IQR 32-62). Income and consumption poverty was confirmed by 80.5 percent of households spending R300 or less on food, with 75 percent of households having between four and seven people living in the dwelling. Dietary results were indicative of food poverty and poor food choices, possibly due to monetary constraints. A low energy intake (median 5323 kJ/day; IQR 3369-7949), was observed. Only 13.9 percent reached the estimated energy requirement (EER) of 7855 kJ per day for their age category. The overall mean average requirements of the diet was 0.7 but the possiblity of micronutrient deficiencies could not be excluded with a MAR of 0.6 for vitamins and minerals respectively. The median nutrition knowledge was 50 percent (IQR 42-54%) The lowest score was obtained for the FBDG ‘Enjoy a variety of food’ (33.4%; 95% CI 1.1), followed by the FBDG on animal protein (40.3%; 95% CI 1.0). It was decided to augment these two FBDGs with the plant protein FBDG (54.3%; 95% CI 1.8). Despited a relatively good knowledge measured in the caregivers, none of the plant protein food items appeared in the top 20 food items most frequently consumed. The formulation phase included the testing of existing nutrition education material. Messages were well understood (60.5%). However, caregivers found the images contained in the pamphlets and the design of the pamphlets confusing. A definite need was identified for new, culturally acceptable NE material in the caregivers’ home language, Sesotho (74%). During the implementation phase the lectures were presented and the change in the short-term nutrition knowledge of the FBDGs was measured at every session by means of a pre-post-test design. The median age of the caregivers was 63 years (52-78). A significant change in nutrition knowledge was found for each FBDG in terms of the mean number of questions answered correctly by the participants between the results of each pre- and post-test. In the evaluation phase, the impact of the NEP was measured in the Boipatong experimental group and compared, regarding nutrition knowledge, to a control group in the longer term (three months after completion of the intervention). Median nutrition knowledge before the intervention was 49 percent (IQR 46-57) compared to 70 percent (IQR 68-73) after the intervention – an increase of 21 percent. In contrast, the control group showed an increase of only five percent. The results showed that the eating habits of many of the caregivers still fell substantially short of internationally recognised standards (estimated energy requirement (EER) and estimated average requirement (EAR)), and this could contribute to undernutrition as well as to an increased risk of diet-related chronic disease. A median kilojoule intake of 4788 kJ (IQR 3415-6596) per day before and 4651 kJ (IQR 3369-6664) per day after the intervention was registered. Carbohydrate foods remained an important source of energy. Calcium presented a major concern, as none of the participants reached the EAR despite a slight increase in the intake of milk (volume and frequency) after the intervention, as validated by the top 20 food lists and as measured by a nutrient average requirement (NAR) of 0.1 to 0.7 before and after the intervention respectively. The mean average requirements (MAR) remained relatively stable, at 0.7 (median) before the intervention and 0.6 after the intervention. The NEP thus had an insignificant positive effect on dietary intake, except for calcium, iodine and vitamin C intake, which showed significant increases. No relationships could be found between the MAR as an indicator of dietary quality and nutrition knowledge. However, this does not mean that an NEP is not a suitable strategy. Changes in food choices and dietary intake should be measured in the longer term, since lifestyle changes are challenging to adopt when people, especially those in deprived communities, do not have the financial means to make healthy food choices. Conclusion When planning nutrition education strategies to improve the health status of communities in deprived areas, one is faced with the difficulty of households with a low socio-economic status and poor dietary intake, which increases the risk of food and nutrition insecurity. The nutrition education programme, developed, tailored and implemented as an intervention strategy to address an identified need of caregivers, was effective in improving nutrition knowledge. Four of the South African dietary guidelines were used in the nutrition education programme tailored to the specific profile that emerged from the situational analysis and the development of supportive nutrition education material. Lesson plans and the Sesotho and English booklets are available for use in other nutrition education programmes. The study contributed to the understanding of food choices of the urban community of Boipatong as well as of the nutrient inadequacies observed. Nutrition knowledge alone is not enough to bring about changes in food choices when the means to do so are lacking. Poverty and nutrition are closely linked and thus difficult to separate.
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Dowrick, Margaret, University of Western Sydney, of Arts Education and Social Sciences College, and School of Education. "A multi-attribute evaluation of education outcomes for students who attend three Australian special schools." 2004. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/26696.
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The absence of information that identifies desirable learning outcomes for students who attend Australian special schools and the absence of data that demonstrate the levels of mastery students have attained during their scholastic years, leave special education service provision vulnerable. This study, the first of its kind in Australia, developed a four phased evaluation process designed to assist special schools to ascertain desirable learning outcomes for students of school leaving age and to measure those outcomes. The process incorporated principles of the Outcome- Based Education approach as well as current philosophical trends in the provision of special education. The process was applied in three special education settings in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. Despite acknowledged limitations, the study provided an informative insight into the learning abilities of students in three Australian special schools. Strategic practices for future application of the process are identified.Doctor of Education (D. Ed.)