Faculty of Education - Theses
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ItemGirls can do science!!! : a personal history of professional development(University of Melbourne, 1992)
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ItemSurvivors : a theatre in education project(University of Melbourne, 1991)The function of this kit is to accompany the performance of the play "Survivors" with follow up material for classroom use. It is designed for senior secondary students, between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years. The purpose of this material is : 1) To provide historical information about the Holocaust which will give the students a factual context with which to consider the events of the play. 2) To provide exploratory dramatic experiences which will enhance their understanding of the issues raised in the play. The specific aim of the kit is to extend the experience of the play "Survivors" so that the students have the opportunity to consider the content of the play in more depth. The material and dramatic experiences included in the kit aim 1) to build empathy and identification by working from the students own feelings. 2) to encourage further research and documentation in the area of Holocaust studies. 3) to encourage the examination of prejudice in contemporary society in the context of the play. 4) to further develop the students understanding of dramatic process.
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ItemMore than the noise of shoes on asphalt : a history of the Advisory Council for Children with Impaired Hearing(University of Melbourne, 1990)This history of the ACCIH spans twenty years from 1969-1989 - from its inception by a small group of formidable women to a large organisation run by a council of more than twenty people; catering for the education of children, both hearing impaired and normally hearing, teachers of the deaf and audiologists. Its main thrusts have been in the areas of early intervention, pre-school and post-graduate education and the provision of physical facilities in which to pursue these. It has had a significant impact on education of the hearing impaired and forms an important part of its growth and increased educational standing. The growth in strength of the ACCIH has been dependent on the hard work of many individuals - including parents and family of hearing impaired children, teachers and other professionals concerned with the deaf - who have held honorary council positions and in paid capacities. Its development was also aided by the fortunate meeting of the founding members of the Council; the Council's careful financial husbandry and its funding policies; as well as technological improvements and increased social respect for the needs and rights of individuals with impairments. The background to this history comes from several people who were, and continue to be, personally involved in education of the hearing impaired and in the foundation of the ACCIH. This study also relies on the more general information available about the past twenty years contained in some educational histories, writings of professionals involved in deaf education, unpublished theses and various general references which pertain to certain idiosyncratic features of the ACCIH.
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ItemThe professional development needs of adult literacy and basic education teachers in multiethnic classes(University of Melbourne, 1994)This thesis is an ethnographic case-study of six adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) teachers working with multiethnic classes of students from English-speaking (ESB) and language other than English (LOTE) background in a variety of ALBE programs in Victoria. The thesis seeks to critically evaluate the nature of the skills and strategies required to work effectively with multiethnic classes in order to determine the nature of the knowledge required by teachers working in such contexts and the extent to which their professional development needs are being met. The changing nature of the ALBE profession and its construction of professional knowledge are examined as well as different functions and models of professional development. This thesis is significant in the context of current ALBE policy development, teaching and research because the field is undergoing such rapid growth and change. The professionalisation of the ALBE field, coming at the same time as its increasing politicisation, has exacerbated the need to develop strong professional development policies and practices in this area. Theory, policy and practice are often being developed simultaneously, frequently leading to some confusion in the awareness of the levels and types of knowledge needed to operate in different contexts. The theisis argues that effective multiethnic practice is very complex and demands the systematic and informed integration of language and literacy teaching. The thesis concludes that theoretical and institutional understandings cannot necessarily be translated directly into classroom practice and that the development of teachers' knowledge requires on-going input, collaboration, observation and critical reflection as well as a long practice time. Institutional support is particularly important for the effective professional development of ALBE teachers working in multiethnic contexts.
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ItemA study of effective training programs for Indigenous health workers(University of Melbourne, 1993)This study set out to examine the effectiveness of health worker training programs designed for indigenous health care trainees. The geographical areas covered include the Northern Territory coastline of Australia, Hawaii, Arizona, South Dakota and New York from the United States of America. A review of the relevant literature available led to the conclusion that major barriers exist when endeavouring to deliver meaningful health education programs which would compliment the indigenous health workers world view. A study of the programs provided for the Yolngu Aboriginal Health Workers from Australia, the Apache, Navajo, Hopi, Sioux, Seneca and Salamanca Native American Indians from Northern America and the Traditional Hawaiians from Hawai'i was conducted in an endeavour to identify the cultural obstacles to existing programs. The results were used to determine the basis on which more effective programs should be developed.
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ItemLearning and language : some problems and some possible solutions(University of Melbourne, 1990)The Language Across The Curriculum movement of the seventies seems to have had little impact on current teaching practice. The first chapter of this pilot study,Centres on the theoretical basis and historical background of this movement. It also surveys learning and . obstacles to it. Teachers limit- learning by limiting the scope for students to explore ideas. The second chapter suggests teaching strategies to maximise the opportunity for students to discuss their work and hence. examine ideas in detail. They have an opportunity to theorise and experiment with their thoughts. The third chapter is based on four interviews with. a range of teachers. The subjects discussed were their teaching styles, the reasons for them and their opinions of group work. The teachers were chosen on the basis of their experience as teachers and their attitudes to group work. My conclusions are that teacher training should once agaln feature the methodology advocated by the LATC movement. There is also a need for further study of the relationship between personality and teaching styles with reference to this kind of strategy, and of teacher and student attitudes to group work.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableSt. John the Baptist : a parish school and church in suburban Melbourne, Clifton Hill, 1875-1988(University of Melbourne, 1990)In 1864 a site at Clifton Hill was reserved under the Land Act for the Catholic Church Authorities for church purposes. The projected church was delayed due to the small number of Catholics living In the area. In November 1875 non-Catholics embarked upon petitioning the government to place the land up for auction on the grounds that the Catholics, by not taking possession of their land, had forfeited their claim. On the initiative of a prominent local resident, the land was retained by the Catholic Church and the building of a church begun. The depression of the late 1880's slowed down the building until 1890 due to a shortage of money, materials and labour. In 1884 a Sunday school existed and on the 1st November 1885, St. John's, semi-built, became a separate parish from St. Brigid's and a parish Catholic school was founded the same year in suburban Clifton Hill, Melbourne, with an attendance of eighty students. For nine years the school was conducted by lay teachers and supported by the parish and student fees until 1894 when the Sister's of Charity arrived with their Irish convent traditions. They worked hard to maintain discipline, upgrade the schools academic profile and to please the visiting State and Catholic Inspectors. In 1950 commenced a course which later, with the aid of multiculturism, flourished into a Commercial Secondary College. Demographic, social and economic circumstances caused the school numbers to fluctuate and eventually take a plunge. The Secondary section closed in 1988 while the Primary section remained open.
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ItemThe investigation into the application of chaos theory and fractal geometry as a cross-curricular enrichment theme for highly able students(University of Melbourne, 1994)Chaos theory and fractal geometry is investigated as an interdisciplinary enrichment theme for gifted students. A literature search revealed the recommendation that this topic be introduced into secondary schools, but no references could be found to a suitable course. Hence an action research group of highly able secondary school students aged from twelve to seventeen was established to help develop just such a course. It was found to be necessary to divide the emergent curriculum into seven streams to satisfy the individual needs of the students. The streams were mathematics, science, programming, software, history and philosophy, communications and art. The mathematics stream formed the basis introducing concepts such as iteration, deterministic systems, iterated function systems, complex numbers, the Cantor, Mandelbrot and Julia Sets, The Koch curve, fractal dimensions, period doubling and phase space. Some students programmed the mathematical procedures in both Quick Basic and Turbo Pascal. The applications in science, including weather forecasting, dissecting lungs, chemical reactions, astronomy, population dynamics and magnetic pendulums were investigated using practical methods wherever possible. Software packages were explored as were the historical, philosophical, sociological and artistic questions which arose during the action research phase. Modern communications were used to gain programs and information over Internet. Links with people of similar interests around the world were established. Through these activities, a final course of eighty work sheets and supporting reference sheets was developed. This course is presented in Volume Two. Students and the candidate maintained journals and these, along with a questionnaire and other documentary data, were analysed using a grounded theory methodology. As a result, chaos theory and fractal geometry was shown to be a suitable and stimulating theme for cross-curricular enrichment of highly able students.
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ItemThe link between secondary education and the chemical industry in Victoria( 1994)This study investigates the existing links between the chemical industry and secondary education in Victoria. The current views of the chemical industry towards their involvement with secondary schools and secondary teachers' perceptions of industry are examined. The authors' personal perspective based on professional participation in industry and in education forms an integral part of the study. The major factors that currently impact on the link between education and industry are outlined. The effectiveness of recent initiatives, both national and international for the development of closer links are examined. Key personnel in schools. and industry were interviewed in order to examine the current relationship between secondary schools and industry. The extent to which each party takes responsibility for incorporating this relationship as an important factor contributing to the chemical industry's future is also examined. This study reveals that the number of initiatives aimed at securing a closer link between secondary schools and industry within Victoria are limited and the overall coordination and direction of this link is inadequate. Recommendations are therefore put forward to improve this situation.
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ItemThe effectiveness of roleplay in changing disadvantaged students' attitude to schooling and to themselves( 1994)This study sets out to examine the relationship between the development of language and social competence. It draws on the theories of language development proposed by Chomsky, Piaget's cognition development and the sociolinguistic notions of Bruner, Vygotsky and Labov. The educational context of the study is that imposed by the policies developed by the Victorian Ministry of Education which requires schools to provide an inclusive curriculum to meet the needs of all students. For many secondary schools, groups of students, especially those who are disadvantaged by social and emotional difficulties place a great demand upon the existing structures and their needs are unfulfilled. A review of relevant literature on social competence and roleplay was undertaken which indicated that a program of communication and roleplay activities may address the needs of these students. Therefore this study has sought to examine the impact of such activities on the level of social competence of a group of disadvantaged students who were aggressive, cynical, disruptive and not participating in school life. This study was undertaken in a mainstream school in the Western Region of metropolitan Melbourne. Students who participated were pretested to establish their attitudes towards the use of aggression and power, established authority and cynicism level. After participating in a program of communication activities and reflective roleplays the students were tested again to determine the level of attitudinal change. The key findings of this study demonstrated that significant attitudinal change occurred in the participants and that they considered themselves to be better able to understand why existing constraints were in place. The study also indicated that a program which utilises roleplay and implemented within the also found that there communication activities can existing school organisation. It also found that there is a need for change in teacher perception and school structure to accommodate students with social/emotional difficulties.