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Item A Creation Perspective on Economics, Ecology and Environment(2003-01-01) Fisher, Howard J.This paper discusses the creation perspective on economics, ecology and the environment and looks at the problems of species extinction, habitat destruction, land degradation, and pollution of the waters and the atmosphere.
Item A Learning Pathway for Critical Care Nurses(2008-11-01) Critchlow, Tanya; Colclough, Ailsa; Lancaster, LeannClinical specialty pathways have long been part of a nursing career. Recent changes within the healthcare arena has seen the demolition of critical care boundaries/walls, the learning pathway for critical care nurses is seen as a way to prepare nurses for this role and encourage a more proactive approach to lifelong learning and professional development. As part of moving forward in our approach to providing post graduate nurse education The College of Nursing has developed a learning pathway for critical care nurses. This poster articulates this pathway for the clinical specialties of emergency, cardiac, cardiothoracic intensive care and intensive care nursing. The pathway starts with an introductory module which lays the foundation for the nurse to then move along the learning pathway where students can exit with a graduate certificate or ultimately completing at Masters level. The learning pathway embodies the ethos that lifelong learning and professional development enables nurses to provide patient centred care regardless of physical location within the health service. The modules build on each other to equip the nurse with the knowledge and ability to recognise the early signs of physical deterioration, assess the individuals’ immediate needs, and facilitate care needs in a timely manner. The nurse can enrol in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework or a Graduate Certificate framework which will then articulate with a variety of Masters programmes offered at universities throughout Australia. This allows The College of Nursing to meet the individual student needs and successfully facilitate their learning and professional development.
Item A Localized Lifestyle Medicine Initiative Targeting Mental Health(2022-11-15) Rankin, Paul Meredith; Morton, Darren Peter; Renfrew, MelaniePurpose: To pilot a community-based, localised lifestyle medicine intervention for improving residents' mental health, wellbeing and resilience.
Background: Mental health is deteriorating globally, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its residual effects. There is an urgent need to provide large-scale interventions that equip the general population with knowledge and skills to improve their mental health, wellbeing and resilience. Disseminating lifestyle medicine interventions through local governing authorities may provide an efficient model for achieving community-wide impact.
Methods: Avondale University and Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC), located in Australia, partnered to offer a free, online, seven-week, lifestyle-based mental health promotion program to all residents of the LMCC during a COVID-19 lockdown. LMCC promoted the program through established networks and 2390 households registered—4041 participants. In a mixed-methods design, 138 participants responded to a post-program survey that included questions and statements (using Likert scales) about: their perceived mental wellbeing before and after the program; the program's effect on self-efficacy for managing mental health; and program satisfaction. Qualitative questions probed participants' likes and dislikes and were analysed thematically.
Results: The majority (89%) of respondents reported that participating in the program improved their mental health, and 99% indicated they would recommend the program to a friend. While 37% rated themselves as having either 'poor' or 'fair' mental health at the beginning of the intervention, only 6% reported being in that range on completion. Most respondents (94%) believed they gained skills to help them manage their wellbeing, and 91% perceived the learnings would continue to impact their mental health positively. Themes generated from the qualitative data showed that most participants liked the video content and delivery style, community camaraderie, growth in personal empowerment, and accessibility. Some participants did not find accessibility easy, disliked the delivery style, and experienced technical difficulties.
Conclusions: The community-based, online, localised lifestyle medicine intervention improved residents' perceived mental health and skills for future mental health management. Overall, participants were satisfied with the intervention and valued the content, community togetherness and emphasis on self-empowerment.
Item A Method for Investigating Photographic Visualisation Practices(2013-01-01) Bellette, AaronThis paper will explore the possibilities afforded by the utilization of a head mounted GoPro video camera and subsequent screen capture software in the analysis and subsequent understanding of reflective processes in the creation of photographic imagery.
The method is contextualized within an understanding of the work experience; affect and memory play in a photographer's intentionality. It is also framed by Ansel Adam's ideas on pre-visualization and Jerry Uelsmann's work in post-visualization or 're-visualizing'.
It seeks to understand the extent recall of the environment and experiences impact on the pre-reflective stage and the later editing process with pedagogical implications for teaching photography.
Item A Mixed Methods Evaluation of an Electronic Reminder System for Reducing Urinary Catheter Use in Australian Hospital(2018-11-01) Northcote, Maria T.; Rosebrock, Hannah; Russo, Philip L.; Fasugba, Oyebola; Cheng, Allen; Mitchell, Brett G.Introduction: An important risk-factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) is prolonged catheterisation. This study examined the efficacy of an electronic reminder system to reduce catheterisation duration and its effect on nurses’ ability to deliver patient care.
Methods: A stepped-wedge randomised controlled design, in addition to a survey and focus groups were undertaken. The intervention was the use of the CATH TAG, an electronic tag placed on the catheter bag, which prompted a review of ongoing catheterisation. The study was conducted in an Australian hospital, over 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were mean catheter duration and perceptions of nurses about ease of use. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used, duration was the outcome variable. Patients who were transferred between wards with catheters were censored. The intervention was treated as a time varying covariate.
Results: 1167 patients participated in the study. The duration of catheterisation was slightly lower in patients where the CATH TAG was used (mean 5.1 vs 5.5 days, HR 1.02 95% CI: 0.91, 1.14, p=0.75). Excluding the patients transferred between wards, mean catheterisation duration was 5.5 vs 4.2 days, IRR 0.78 (22% reduction), p=0.15. Data gathered from the focus group and the online survey for nurses, indicated positive response.
Conclusion: A clinically important reduction in catheter duration for a sub-group of patients was identified. The short duration of this study may have impeded the ability to change catheter practice and hence duration in the short term.
Item A Model for Online Unit Development: Necessity, the Catalyst for Invention(2001-06-01) Fetherston, Tony; Northcote, Maria T.Theoretical frameworks and practical processes driving online course development in tertiary institutions are currently under pressure, scrutiny and review and online courses are increasingly seen as an answer to these problems. Useable procedures, guidelines and tools are required to achieve the development of suitable courses. The new model for online unit development presented in this paper was developed by considering processes implemented in the fields of multimedia production, project management and distance education. Based on four main phases, the model recognises the centrality of issues such as course planning, media development and evaluation. As well as being suitable for a range of educational contexts, the model appears to be well suited to different cultural settings, particularly those involving Indigenous staff. Based on a semi-cyclic process, the model recognises the significance of tight timeframes, useable tools and supportive resources, and identifies the responsibilities of the major players in the development process.
Item A New Approach to Unit Content: Using Interview Transcriptions in an Interactive Online Unit.(2001-02-01) Northcote, Maria T.; Czekalowski, Donna; Oakes, Carol; Stratton, GregAt Kurongkurl Katitjin, the School of Indigenous Australian Studies at Edith Cowan University, we have developed an online unit for pre-tertiary students which focuses on the processes of writing fictional text. The unit, ABB 1112: Journeys in Writing, is part of the Indigenous University Orientation Course and is delivered by using a combination of online, print and multimedia materials.
Rather than basing this unit on a more traditional modularised content structure that has been used successfully in much distance education material, this unit has used interview transcriptions as the foundation of its content. Two Aboriginal authors, Dallas Winmar (dramatist) and Graeme Dixon (poet), were selected to form the focus of this innovative unit. By examining the way in which these two authors go about the process of writing fictional text, students come to discover and understand first-hand the processes involved in writing.
Both authors were interviewed on audio and video tape. Transcriptions of these tapes were then recorded and categorised into various sections. This text then not only formed the content of the unit but also drove the entire manner in which the unit was presented to students. The learning and assessment activities of the unit were based around the transcripts and the whole structure of the unit reflected this content. Additionally, by collecting content anew, from authentic sources, the authors had a direct input into how their work was presented in this educational online context, one which is culturally appropriate as it allows Indigenous authors to connect with Indigenous students.
Rather than basing this unit on a set of predetermined concepts, we have attempted to use a more flexible, authentic method providing students with relevant, culturally sensitive material. This paper examines the methods used to collect "fresh" content and how this content was used to create an interactive, online unit which reflects appropriate Indigenous ways of learning, as well as the principles of social constructivism and situational cognition. The unit uses current online technology in an attempt to cater for the diversity of the Indigenous student population.
Item A Point Prevalence Study of Healthcare Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Australian Acute and Aged Care Faciltiies(2016-11-01) Gardner, Anne; Bennett, Noleen; Beckingham, Wendy; Fasugba, Oyebola; Mitchell, Brett G.Most healthcare-associated urinary tract infections (HAUTIs) including catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are potentially preventable through implementation of effective strategies. To provide the foundation for a national point prevalence study of HAUTIs including CAUTIs, a three phase project was developed. This study reports the findings of Phase II which aimed to (1) pilot an online process including online database for conducting point prevalence survey of HAUTIs and CAUTIs and (2) determine the point prevalence of HAUTIs and CAUTIs in acute and aged care facilities
Item A Point Prevalence Study of Healthcare Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Australian Acute and Aged Care Facilities: Results of the STRUTI Project(2016-03-01) Gardner, Anne; Bennett, Noleen; Mitchell, Brett G.; Koerner, Jane; Beckingham, Wendy; Fasugba, OyebolaMost healthcare-associated urinary tract infections (HAUTIs) including catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are potentially preventable through implementation of effective strategies. To provide the foundation for a national point prevalence study of HAUTIs including CAUTIs, a three phase project was developed. This study reports the findings of Phase II which aimed to (1) pilot an online process including online database for conducting point prevalence survey of HAUTIs and CAUTIs and (2) determine the point prevalence of HAUTIs and CAUTIs in acute and aged care facilities.
Item A Predictive Model of Resilience Among Family Caregivers Supporting Relatives with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Australia: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach(2017-01-01) Daher, Maysaa; Simpson, Grahame K.; Anderson, MalcolmObjectives: Developing a comprehensive understanding of resilience in family caregivers supporting relatives with TBI is important for mental health promotion, yet resilience has been vastly understudied compared to deficits and vulnerability based research. In response a paradigm shift into family research is underway in the field of rehabilitation, with a new emphasis on investigating positive adaption rather than psychological vulnerability among family caregivers of people with TBI. In the current study, a model based on previous empirical research and resilience theory was devised to examine the predictive and mediating relationships among caregiver resilience, personality, coping, self – efficacy, hope, social support and the outcome variables of caregiver burden and psychological adjustment among family members caring for relatives with TBI.
Item A Search for New Meaning: Virtual Landscapes, Identity and the Cross-Cultural Nature of Intangible Heritage(2015-09-01) Skrzypaszek, JohnThis paper explores the role virtual landscapes play in the formation of the cross-cultural quality of the intangible heritage. Research suggests that the highly poignant global blending of cultures generates a field of new forms of expressions and gives birth to new contrasting cultural identities. The variety of cultural backgrounds immersed in the framework of globalized varieties reflects the “multiple dimensions that compose it” (Salzman & Matathia, 2006,134). Besides, the avalanche of technological advancements and the age of digitized communication transitions cultural expressions away from the accepted forms of the new unexplored landscapes. It also argues that the virtual spaces provide a safe-haven environment conducive to the development of personal and cultural identity and formation of communities that create a sense of belonging. Further, it asserts that the vibrant processes of virtual acculturation blend with the reality of human experience to produce novel virtual forms of cultural expressions. In this context, it argues that the inherent dualism and dichotomy between the virtual and real life intensifies a sense of prospective creativity, oriented towards the future-oriented shape of cultural identity and its ongoing meaning for life.
Item A Semiotic Analysis of Representational Imagery Used in a Collective Design Task(2014-05-01) Williams, Anthony; Gu, Ning; Phare, DarinCollective Design seeks to explore how new forms of Collective Intelligence, arising from the web, allows mass participation in design. Regarding design we have a well established grounding for understanding how design works through the use of representations. Likewise, collective intelligence via certain crowdsourcing examples has demonstrated that a diverse crowd can trump ability groups, when the conditions are right. In the literature, crowdsourcing is the leading lens bridging design with collective intelligence. However in crowdsourcing design there is less focus on the role of shared representations, subsequently any collective diversity is mitigated by the models that govern the extraction of this intelligence. We propose that more effective design in collective intelligence lies in the crowd’s ability to generate meaningful contributions via the content of shared representations. In order to investigate this, the current paper examines data collected from a pilot study in which a representationally rich online collaborative presentation tool is used to provide a shared design space. The analysis presented applies our previously established semiotic framework to identify potential patterns in the meaningful communication of image based design information.
Item A Semiotic Framework to Understand How Signs in a Collective Design Task Convey Information: A Pilot Study of Design in an Open Crowd Context(2013-01-01) Laughland, Carmel; Williams, Anthony; Gu, Ning; Phare, DarinA leading factor in reshaping boundaries between participatory design and co-creation is the power of crowd-sourcing; however crowd sourced design often produces less innovative results than smaller expert design teams. In design, representation plays a fundamental role whilst in crowd sourced design the collective interaction with representations is restricted. We propose more effective design in collective intelligence lies in the crowd’s ability to generate meaningful contributions via the content of shared representations. In order to investigate this, the current paper examines how meanings are generated through the use of visual representations. We introduce a semiotic framework to understand the mechanisms of how signs convey con-textual information in a collective design task, and illustrate the framework by applying it in an analysis of the signs used by the crowd engaging in an openly shared design task.
Item A Study of the Christian Public's Engagement with the New Geology of the 19th Century and its Implications for the Succeeding Centuries(2014-12-01) Rogers, Lynden; de Berg, Kevin C.; Bootsman, Cornelis SiebeWhile Christian communities had no problem engaging positively with the sciences of astronomy, physics and chemistry, they had difficulty engaging with the emerging geology and biology of the 19th century. The ancient earth and evolutionary models of geology and biology respectively were seen as a direct attack on the biblical Genesis model of a young earth and a creation that took place over the period of a week. Some Christian apologists used Baconianism and the Scottish Common Sense philosophy to suggest that geology was not a real science. Geology was characterised as consisting of wild speculation, hypotheses and theories and lacking in solid factual evidence. In both Britain and North America Christian respondents to the new geology were classified as harmonizing geologists or scriptural geologists. This paper considers the nature of these respondents, their philosophical positions, and how these positions took form in the succeeding centuries in terms of different cognitive geological styles. The implications for the science education and science in society context will be discussed.
Item Accounting Academic Workloads in the Higher Education Sector: Balancing Workload Creep to Avoid Depreciation(2018-12-01) Williams, Anthony; Northcote, Maria T.; Long, Warrick R.; Barnes, LisaAccounting Academics according to the literature are subject to external influences such as preparing graduates for future workplaces, bridging the gap between industry and academia and development of pathways to becoming professional accountants for their student cohort. Add to this the internal influences of delivery methods for student engagement, work integrated learning and casualization of the workforce, the accounting academic is at capacity in terms of how these influences impact on workload. Using the “lived experience”, this research delves further into the academic themselves to find that they categorise their workload into four themes of Teaching, Research, Accounting academic administration and development of Curricula, deemed the TRAC Framework for this study. Using this workload TRAC framework, accounting academics identified five factors they believe will influence their future roles. These include growth in international students, that student success will be a shared responsibility, that student engagement will be critical, that curricula design will involve stakeholder input and that expectations around research will change. These additional impact factors when added to the already at capacity workload model for accounting academics, will create a type of workload creep. The workload impact factor (WIF) model is created for this research to demonstrate just how these additional factors will be absorbed by accounting academics, ballooning their workload. This workload creep can be described as an increase in academic wear and tear, almost like depreciation on capital assets, a recognition of a diminution in economic benefit or value. Accounting academics must be careful to balance their future workload so as to not become commercially obsolete.
Item Accounting Students and Their Writing Skills: Inside-Outside Autoethnographic Reflection(2017-05-01) Fitzsimmons, Phil; Howson, KeithThis paper seeks to report on the findings of a qualitative research project that sought to illuminate one cohort of accounting students understanding and approach to writing. The first in a planned series of projects, this particular research instance used the paradigmatic framework of an authoethnographic bricolage as a reflexive tool so as to gain entrée into this cohort’s awareness. What emerged from this ‘inside-outside’ methodology or ‘research into self’, ‘research through self’ and ‘research on self’ was the apparent tension between the requirements of tertiary writing and the ‘contexts of culture’ and ‘context of situation’ of the accounting cohort. This tension appears to have arisen as these students’ previous contexts of education were grounded in didactic teaching and learning with the possibility that critical thinking and reading-writing connections were absent. Thus, these students were unable to make semiotic transfers between the various forms of genres and registers required by a university class, and possibly the requirements of twenty-first century accountancy. It would appear that while proficient in the technicalities required by pre-service accountants, as they had never experienced a learning environment that required meta-awareness and meta-cognitive interactions, they focused only on surface features of writing, as opposed to using writing as a means of ‘rendering and connecting thought’.
Item Accounting Students’ Reflections on a Course to Enhance their Interpersonal Skills(2013-12-16) Daff, LynCommunication skills are critical for an accountant's workplace success; however accounting education research to date has mainly focused on the writing and presentation skills aspects of communication skills. Research on developing accounting students' interpersonal skills has received scant attention. This paper provides an example of how to incorporate interpersonal skills into the accounting curriculum. Details are given on how to execute the course to promote effective, positive student outcomes. Examining students' learning journal responses to the initiated course highlights potential problems associated with teaching interpersonal skills to accounting students. This information may assist educators in avoiding common difficulties and in facilitating favourable student learning. The study finds students experienced initial apprehension and concern when practising their interpersonal skills. However as time elapsed, confidence grew, class dynamics changed, and significant improvements in students' communication and attitudes were evident. The importance of laying an appropriate foundation for interpersonal skills development is also discussed.
Item Acknowledging the Affirmative: Evidence of Supervision Learning Thresholds in Thesis Acknowledgements(2021-07-08) Northcote, Maria T.Mantai and Dowling (2015) refer to the Acknowledgements pages of higher degree research (HDR) theses as “an under-utilised yet rich data source” (p. 106) and Hyland (2004) recognises the way in which thesis Acknowledgements have the potential to “reveal academic preferences” and “point to the processes of its [the thesis’] creation” (p. 305). Using a matrix analysis technique (Miles & Huberman, 2013; Patton, 2015), this study mines the Acknowledgements section of a sample of 120 Masters and Doctoral theses to investigate HDR graduates’ views of their postgraduate supervisors to augment our current understanding of the learning thresholds of HDR supervisors.
Based on the conference sub-theme of “Troublesome not tricky: not all that challenges is a threshold”, this paper considers the more constructive nuances of threshold concept theory in relation to the learning thresholds of postgraduate supervisors. Instead of furthering the discussion that threshold concepts have become synonymous with learner difficulty, the question posed is: What do the affirmative and joyous experiences of postgraduate supervision have to offer threshold concept theory associated with the pedagogy of supervision? This study layers the viewpoints of HDR graduates’ positive experiences about supervision alongside some of the more negative experiences of supervisors that typically incorporate “darker themes”, “threats”, “ordeals” and “disorientation” (Carter, 2016, pp. 1139, 1145) as well as “barriers”, “power conflicts” and “tensions” (Ismail, Majid, & Ismail, 2013, pp. 165, 168).
This study’s findings do not discount the challenging aspects of HDR supervision, as represented in earlier research. Instead, an intertwined representation is offered of the challenging “living through” experiences of the HDR supervisor with the rosier “looking back” views from HDR candidates at the completion stage of their studies. A collection of light and dark learning thresholds, acquired by HDR supervisors while developing a pedagogy of supervision, is offered for consideration.
References
Carter, S. (2016). Supervision learning as conceptual threshold crossing: When supervision gets ‘medieval’. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(6), 1139-1152. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2016.1160875
Carter, S., & Sterm, S. (2014). The hardest step is over the threshold: Supervision learning as threshold crossing. Paper presented at the 11th Biennial Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference, The National Wine Centre, Adelaide. http://www.qpr.edu.au/Proceedings/QPR_Proceedings_2014.pdf
Hyland, K. (2004). Graduates’ gratitude: the generic structure of dissertation acknowledgements. English for Specific Purposes, 23(3), 303-324. doi:doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(03)00051-6
Ismail, H. M., Majid, F. A., & Ismail, I. S. (2013). “It's complicated” relationship: Research students’ perspective on doctoral supervision. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 90, 165-170. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.07.078
Mantai, L., & Dowling, R. (2015). Supporting the PhD journey: Insights from acknowledgements. International Journal for Researcher Development, 6(2), 106-121.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (2013). Qualitative data analysis (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Item An Examination of Financial Literacy Levels Amongst Owner/Managers of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises(2017-07-01) Barnes, Lisa; Campo, Michael A.To date there has been limited research focusing on the financial literacy of small and medium business sized business. This research looks specifically at the level of financial literacy among small business owners/mangers within an Australian context. The purposes of the hypotheses are to understand the relationship between the financial literacy of the owners/managers of small businesses against both their demographic and company characteristics. More specifically, the key research question investigated in this study is: what is the level of financial literacy among small business owners/managers, and what are the determinants of the level of literacy The research has significant implications for small business, as the reason given for many small business failures relates to the financial ability of owners/managers. Therefore, the research should provide consequential information to industry-groups, small businesses, financial institutions and policy makers. The literature review defines financial literacy and small business and looks at the literature to date with respect to the relevant hypotheses. The methodology for the dissertation will exploratory and quantitative in nature and will use a multiple choice questionnaire for a survey into business in Australia. The sampling frame will consist of professional members of the Australian Institute of Management. The findings show that overall financial literacy can improve for SME owner managers, and that education in particular can assist to increase overall financial literacy.
Item Analogy As a Means of Communicating(2014-12-01) Rickett, Carolyn; Williams, AnthonyThe issue which impacts most significantly on the process of reaching shared understanding, through the design discussion in the team, is the ability of team members to communicate their design ideas and technical concepts with other members of the team. The ability to effectively participate in the forum of a design team unquestionably requires an ability to communicate design ideas and discipline specific information. The study, reported in this paper, considers one of the communication strategies available to the designer, which contributes to effective communication within the design team context, the paper will focus on analogy or the metaphor. In research,to date, on problem solving in scientific research teams [Dunbar,1995] two levels of analogy have been identified. In this study of Multi-disciplinary Design Teams it was established that the team members used a third level of analogy, this relating to the use of “metaphors” drawn from outside the specific design domain the team is working within. The industry based research identified both the importance and complexity of the role of analogy has as a communication practice, but what do our students know about its use and do they know how to use it effectively? This paper looks at the use of analogy and considers ways of introducing our graduates to an understanding of analogy as an effective part of their range of communication strategies.