Showing papers by "Edith Cowan University published in 2000"

An instructional design framework for authentic learning environments

Abstract: The instructional technology community is in the midst of a philosophical shift from a behaviorist to a constructivist framework, a move that may begin to address the growing rift between formal school learning and real-life learning. One theory of learning that has the capacity to promote authentic learning is that of situated learning.

Y-Chromosomal Diversity in Europe Is Clinal and Influenced Primarily by Geography, Rather than by Language

Abstract: Clinal patterns of autosomal genetic diversity within Europe have been interpreted in previous studies in terms of a Neolithic demic diffusion model for the spread of agriculture; in contrast, studies using mtDNA have traced many founding lineages to the Paleolithic and have not shown strongly clinal variation. We have used 11 human Y-chromosomal biallelic polymorphisms, defining 10 haplogroups, to analyze a sample of 3,616 Y chromosomes belonging to 47 European and circum-European populations. Patterns of geographic differentiation are highly nonrandom, and, when they are assessed using spatial autocorrelation analysis, they show significant clines for five of six haplogroups analyzed. Clines for two haplogroups, representing 45% of the chromosomes, are continentwide and consistent with the demic diffusion hypothesis. Clines for three other haplogroups each have different foci and are more regionally restricted and are likely to reflect distinct population movements, including one from north of the Black Sea. Principal-components analysis suggests that populations are related primarily on the basis of geography, rather than on the basis of linguistic affinity. This is confirmed in Mantel tests, which show a strong and highly significant partial correlation between genetics and geography but a low, nonsignificant partial correlation between genetics and language. Genetic-barrier analysis also indicates the primacy of geography in the shaping of patterns of variation. These patterns retain a strong signal of expansion from the Near East but also suggest that the demographic history of Europe has been complex and influenced by other major population movements, as well as by linguistic and geographic heterogeneities and the effects of drift.

Environmental Education and Attitudes Emotions and Beliefs are What is Needed

Abstract: The main focus of environmental education programs has been to change environmental behavior through increasing environmental knowledge. As many environmental studies have failed to apply successfu...

Variables affecting information technology end-user satisfaction

Abstract: The level of end-user satisfaction with information technology (IT) has widely been accepted as an indicator of IT success. The present research synthesizes and validates the construct of IT end-user satisfaction using a meta-analysis. It accomplishes this by analysing the empirical results of 45 end-user satisfaction studies published between 1986 and 1998 and by focusing on relationships between end-user satisfaction and nine variables: perceived usefulness, ease of use, user expectations, user experience, user skills, user involvement in system development, organizational support, perceived attitude of top management toward the project and user attitude toward information systems (IS) in widely divergent settings. The present analysis found positive support for the influence of all nine variables on end-user IT satisfaction but to varying degrees. The most significant relationships were found to be user involvement in systems development, perceived usefulness, user experience, organizational support and user attitude toward the IS. This has implications for IS analysis and design as well as user training and the development of training support packages.

N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 is mutated in hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy-Lom.

Abstract: Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies, to which Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease belongs, are a common cause of disability in adulthood. Growing awareness that axonal loss, rather than demyelination per se, is responsible for the neurological deficit in demyelinating CMT disease has focused research on the mechanisms of early development, cell differentiation, and cell-cell interactions in the peripheral nervous system. Autosomal recessive peripheral neuropathies are relatively rare but are clinically more severe than autosomal dominant forms of CMT, and understanding their molecular basis may provide a new perspective on these mechanisms. Here we report the identification of the gene responsible for hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy–Lom (HMSNL). HMSNL shows features of Schwann-cell dysfunction and a concomitant early axonal involvement, suggesting that impaired axon-glia interactions play a major role in its pathogenesis. The gene was previously mapped to 8q24.3, where conserved disease haplotypes suggested genetic homogeneity and a single founder mutation. We have reduced the HMSNL interval to 200 kb and have characterized it by means of large-scale genomic sequencing. Sequence analysis of two genes located in the critical region identified the founder HMSNL mutation: a premature-termination codon at position 148 of the N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1). NDRG1 is ubiquitously expressed and has been proposed to play a role in growth arrest and cell differentiation, possibly as a signaling protein shuttling between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. We have studied expression in peripheral nerve and have detected particularly high levels in the Schwann cell. Taken together, these findings point to NDRG1 having a role in the peripheral nervous system, possibly in the Schwann-cell signaling necessary for axonal survival.

Age Differences in Negotiation and Feedback in Classroom and Pairwork

Abstract: This study examines whether differences exist in the provision and use of negative feedback, according to the age of the learners and the context of the interaction The data were collected from 20 classrooms (10 adult and 10 child ESL classes) and 32 NS-NNS dyads (16 adult and 16 child) Transcriptions of these formed the basis of analysis and were coded to reflect three parts of the conversational exchange and the interactional patterns to which these could be assigned The results showed that learners both received negative feedback in response to their non-targetlike utterances and used this feedback Further, the findings indicated that the age of the learners and context of the exchanges did indeed affect the pattern of inter- action

A Bayesian approach to skin color classification in YCbCr color space

Abstract: This paper addresses an image classification technique that uses the Bayes decision rule for minimum cost to classify pixels into skin color and non-skin color. Color statistics are collected from YCbCr color space. The Bayesian approach to skin color classification is discussed along with an overview of YCbCr color space. Experimental results demonstrate that this approach can achieve good classification outcomes, and it is robust against different skin colors.

Designing Learning Environments for Cultural Inclusivity: A Case Study of Indigenous Online Learning at Tertiary Level.

Abstract: Flexible delivery of educational resources must take account of cultural variables and recognise the specific learning needs, preferences and styles of learners. In designing instruction, there may be a tension between the need to ensure access for a diverse student population, while at the same time taking into account the need for localisation to accommodate learners' particular cultures, cognitive styles and preferences. Considering the micro and macro cultural levels of instructional design is therefore essential if appropriate learning environments are to be created. The acceptance, use and impact of WWW sites is affected by the cultural backgrounds, values, needs and preferences of learners.One of the limitations in current instructional design models is that they do not fully contextualise the learning experience, and are themselves the product of particular cultures. The design of Web based instruction is not culturally neutral, but instead is based on the particular epistemologies, learning theories and goal orientations of the designers themselves. Recently, theorists have argued for a cultural dimension in the design process and the need to provide culturally sensitive learning environments.In this paper, we trace the design processes involved in the development of an online learning environment for indigenous Australian learners preparing to enter university, and account for the cultural issues that impacted on creation of learning tasks and styles of communication. The paper argues for cultural localisation, which means incorporating the local values, styles of learning and cognitive preferences of the target population. It also means going beyond surface level design considerations, to achieve culturally inclusive constructivist learning environments. Examples of tasks, activities and forms of online interaction are provided in the context of a bi-cultural model of learning that recognises diversity and different learning needs. It is recommended that when creating WWW based course support sites for cultural inclusivity, systematic attention must be given to particular design guidelines, which include responsiveness to learner needs, community based learning and cultural contextualisation of learning activities.

Service quality at the cellar door: implications for Western Australia’s developing wine tourism industry

Abstract: Wine tourism has emerged as a growing area of special interest tourism in Australia, and is an increasingly significant component of the regional and rural tourism product of Western Australia. The increased significance and growing competitiveness of this sector has led to a heightened concern by producers and consumers for the quality of services being offered, and has forced many within the industry to invest in the delivery of higher levels of service quality as a means to achieving competitive differentiation. An integral part of any organisation’s attempt to deliver on this front is a commitment to a process of continuous quality improvement. This requires a systematic approach to quality measurement. Investigates the conceptualisation and measurement of service quality and its importance to the wine tourism industry and reports the findings from a recently‐conducted survey of cellar door customers at four Western Australian wineries. Demonstrates the relative usefulness of the importance/performance methodology for cellar door operators in highlighting how wineries are performing from a customer point of view, and also what is important in terms of performance from the customers’ point of view.

Addressing ecosystem effects of fishing using marine protected areas

Abstract: This article is a synthesis of the current literature on the potential of marine protected areas (MPAs) a useful management tool for limiting the ecosystem effects of fishing, including biological and socio-economic aspects There is sufficient evidence that fishing may negatively affect ecosystems Modelling and case studies show that the establishment of MPAs, especially for overexploited populations, can mitigate ecosystem effects of fishing Although quantitative ecosystem modelling techniques incorporating MPAs are in their infancy, their role in exploring scenarios is considered crucial Success in implementing MPAs will depend on how well the biological concerns and the socio-economic needs of the fishing community can be reconciled

A case study of co-ordinative decision-making in disaster management

Abstract: A persistent problem in the management of response to disasters is the lack of co-ordination between the various agencies involved. This paper reports a case study of inter-agency co-ordination during the response to a railway accident in the UK. The case study examined two potential sources of difficulty for co-ordination: first, poorly shared mental models; and, second, a possible conflict between the requirements of distributed decision-making and the nature of individual decision-making. Interviews were conducted with six individuals from three response agencies. Analysis of reported events suggested that inter-agency co-ordination suffered through a widespread difficulty in constructing a reflexive shared mental model; that is, a shared mental representation of the distributed decision-making process itself, and its participants. This difficulty may be an inherent problem in the flexible development of temporary multi-agency organizations. The analysis focused on a distributed decision over how to transport casualties from an isolated location to hospital. This decision invoked a technique identified here as the progression of multiple options, which contrasts with both recognition-primed and analytical models of individual decision-making. The progression of multiple options appeared to be an effective technique for dealing with uncertainty, but was a further source of difficulty for inter-agency co-ordination.

An exercise intervention for advanced cancer patients experiencing fatigue: a pilot study.

Abstract: Fatigue is reported by advanced cancer patients to be their most prevalent and distressing symptom. Despite this, few interventions have been developed and tested to manage this debilitating symptom. This paper describes a pilot study undertaken to test the effects of a 28-day exercise intervention on levels of fatigue in advanced cancer patients. All participants were able to increase their activity levels with no increase in reported fatigue. Furthermore, a trend was noted in all patients toward increased quality of life scores and decreased anxiety scores. All participants described a sense of satisfaction in attaining increased activity levels. These preliminary pilot results suggest that patients who initially report the highest levels of fatigue may achieve the largest decrease in fatigue scores. These findings provide support for the suitability of this intervention for the palliative care population and justify the importance of further hypothesis testing.

"You can feel them looking at you": the experiences of adolescent girls at swimming pools.

Abstract: Introduction Although it is well known that girls at around 15 years of age are not as physically active or as fit as boys, the reasons for this remain largely a mystery. A quantitative study in 1995 looked at girls' perceived alienation from certain active recreational spaces as a possible factor affecting their participation (James, 1995). It found that there were certain recreational spaces that girls said they would use more in the absence of boys. The public swimming pool was one of these places. The follow-up qualitative study, reported in this paper, explored the reasons for the attitudes of 15-16 year old girls towards certain recreational spaces, and identified strategies that active girls have used to overcome or "negotiate" constraints to their participation. This paper focuses on these girls' feelings at swimming pools. Swimming is a healthy, relaxing form of physical activity that girls should feel free to participate in without constraint. It is argued that most girls are very conscious of their presentation in public and that this can affect the quality and quantity of their participation. Measures that can be taken to alleviate some of these constraints are suggested. Background General inactivity of girls at around 15 years of age, and associated concerns about unhealthy diets have been the topics of various studies (Department of the Arts, Sport, Environment and the Territories, 1992; Overdorf & Gill, 1994; Paxton, Wertheim, Gibbons, Szmukler, Hillier, & Petrovich, 1991). At this age, young people decide "either to drop out of sport, or stay with it. If they continue, then it is more than likely that they will do so for a significant part of their lives" (Australian Sports Commission 1991, p. 13). Research shows that girls are less fit than boys of the same age (Australian Sports Commission, 1991) and only half as likely to be involved in sporting organizations (Ministry of Sport and Recreation, 1997). Despite commendable efforts around the world to decrease this gender gap, an American study found that women's fitness participation across all age groups had actually decreased slightly in recent years, with the decline in fitness participation greater among younger than older women (Robinson & Godbey, 1993) . Body image is a big issue during adolescence and many girls are unhappy with their physical appearance. A large study of Western Australian adolescents found that although 62% of boys felt that they were the right weight, 66% of adolescent girls thought they were overweight. Over half of the girls, aged between 12 and 16 years, reported that they were trying to lose weight, yet only 21% had a body mass in excess of their recommended level (Institute for Child Health Research, 1995) . Studies by Shaw (1991) and Paxton et al. (1991) , found that many young women, motivated by media images to be thin, were turning to radical and unhealthy diet strategies to look slim, rather than turning to physical activity with its associated benefits. Girls' bodies, especially during puberty, rarely match up to the unrealistic ideals portrayed in the media. Heterosexual romances featured in novels, magazines, movies and on television, perpetuate the notion that men judge women by their appearance. Girls who are self-conscious about their appearance may limit their recreation participation in public places to avoid embarrassment, and it was this concept that motivated the original study in 1995. Relationship to the 1995 Quantitative Study The 1995 study sought to measure girls' attitudes to a series of public and private sites for recreation in the community, to ascertain if these contexts or settings affected girls' leisure participation (James, 1995). Leisure means different things to different people: here it is used interchangeably with recreation and refers to experiences that are freely chosen and intrinsically motivated, that may be active or passive in nature. …

School Restructuring and the Dilemmas of Principals’ Work

Abstract: The complexity of principals work is often characterized in terms of dilemmas. In this paper three are identified. The autonomydilemma concerns providing strong and shared leadership. The efficienc...

Wine Tourism — A Thirst for Knowledge?

Abstract: Wine tourism is a growing segment of the tourism industry. Wine tourists are not a homogeneous group, but seek differing components of the overall wine tourism experience. This research evaluates their demand for an educational element in the overall process, within Australia. Personal surveys were carried out in two wine regions in Western Australia. Respondents were questioned on their previous experience of wine education, the possibilities for learning at the cellar door, the benefits of wine education, and how far their expectations for wine education had been met. The research yielded findings from which broad visitor profiles of the Western Australian wine tourist can be constructed, as well as general conclusions on the provision of wine education at the cellar door. Some variation between responses from the two regions are also reported.

Perceptions of Web Site Design Characteristics: A Malaysian/Australian Comparison.

Abstract: Compares the perceptions of Malaysians (representing eastern, Asian culture) and Australians (representing western, European culture) for four Web site design characteristics – atmospherics, news stories, signs and products and services – as part of the integrated Internet marketing model. Under controlled laboratory conditions, two groupings of 30 subjects evaluated eight Web sites – four in Malaysia and four in Australia – in the retail and services sectors. Hypothesises that the predominant culture is not generalised to another culture. Some tentative support for the research premise is found since where a group’s perceptions for Web design characteristics and their effectiveness was significantly higher, it was for sites originating in that group’s country. Furthermore, perceptions both support and contradict previous research suggesting that Australians prefer an environment of low context and high explicit communications while Asians operate in an environment of high context that stresses implicit communications.

Analysis of the volatile components in vanilla extracts and flavorings by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography.

Abstract: The development and application of a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method in the analysis of vanilla extracts and vanilla flavorings was studied. The SPME method was developed to be used in conjunction with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The optimized SPME sampling parameters for the determination of the volatile components included a poly(acrylate) fiber, a 40-min sampling time at room temperature, and a 2-min desorption time. The reproducibility of the method was good, with a percent relative standard deviation between 2.5 and 6.4% for the target compounds. The data suggest that the origin of natural extracts can be readily determined from the GC profile and that differences exist between nature-identical and synthetic flavorings and the natural extracts. The method also has potential for identifying the type of vanilla extract/flavoring used to flavor food.

Environmental Narratives and the Need for Multiple Perspectives to Restore Degraded Landscapes in Australia

Abstract: This article examines environmental narratives for their potential to contribute to the restoration of ecosystem health in areas recently degraded by agricultural activities, including Australian rural landscapes. Environmental narratives encompass oral environmental histories and other anecdotal sources of knowledge and perceptions that are bounded by the narrator's experiences, observations, and attachment to place. They are analogous to indigenous knowledge. Environmental narratives can make a significant contribution to ecological restoration. We argue that restoration ecologists should acknowledge the rigor of ecological knowledge gained through detailed observation of landscapes over lengthy time periods by nonscientists. Accordingly, we advocate a view of knowledge that permits multiple perspectives: local, indigenous, and scientific. Ecological restoration in fragmented agricultural landscapes is as much a cultural as a biophysical process. It requires an understanding of and respect for cultural attributes of landscapes, including the beliefs, values, and perceptions people hold about their local environment, such as a sense of loss felt for particular landscape components, features, or functions. Recent work in Australia shows environmental narratives emerging as a practical means of integrating these biophysical and cultural aspects in ecological restoration.

Biogeographic regionalization of Australia: assigning conservation priorities based on endemic freshwater crayfish phylogenetics

Abstract: There are many methods available for evaluating conservation priorities. Traditional methods of species richness, genus richness and critical species counts were compared with newer methods of phylogenetic and genetic diversity. Conservation priorities for areas designated by the Interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia (Thackway & Cresswell, 1995) were assessed on the basis of the freshwater crayfish fauna of Australia. Distributions for all crayfish species were taken from the literature, and plotted in the IBRA areas. Species and genus richness, as well as the number of rare or endangered species were calculated for each area. A phylogeny of 35 representative crayfish based on 16 S rDNA sequence data was used to assess phylogenetic and genetic diversity of species and genera. Methods of species richness and phylogenetic diversity agreed to a large extent in their ranking of areas, both methods agreed that the north-west coast of Tasmania and the south-eastern portion of the continent were of highest priority for conserving the greatest amount of diversity. These results differ greatly from high priority areas based on other taxonomic groups, emphasizing the importance of broad taxonomic and ecological sampling in making conservation decisions.

Using situated learning as a design strategy for Web-based learning

Abstract: Many writers argue for a place for the use the new educational technologies from the perspective of IT management (e.g., Holt & Thompson, 1998). This form of reasoning sees a technological, rather than educational, imperative as leading the move to embrace learning technologies. The technological imperative sees the need and place for information technologies in education being based on such organisational factors as opportunity, competition and efficiency. When such imperatives are driving change, the applications of learning technologies are more likely to be made through additive strategies which see existing strategies and methods being complemented by technology-oriented initiatives. Many writers argue for more integrated approaches which have the potential to redefine and transform the more fundamental aspects of teaching and learning (e.g., Collis, 1997), that is, a pedagogical imperative. Teachers are using the Web for a variety of reasons and the extent and scope of the usage differs significantly. A majority of current Web-based learning environments have evolved from face-to-face teaching programs in the additive form described above. Typically the first step in the evolutionary process is the creation of an electronic form of existing course content. This content usually takes the form of HTML with hyperlinks to related information within and beyond the immediate course. An added feature is often a communicative element enabling interactions between learners and the teacher. What is characteristic in much of this development is the absence of any particular Web-based instructional design. The purpose of this paper is to explore a possible Web-based instructional design model that seeks to make optimal use of the opportunities and advantages of the Web as a learning environment and which can return enhanced learning outcomes.

The South African truth and reconciliation commission as a therapeutic tool.

Abstract: A Truth Commission is one of the institutions used in international law to investigate gross human rights violations within a specific country. In this article we examine claims that the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was therapeutic. In the absence of empirical evidence, this examination will be guided by a theoretical framework that will reflect ways by which we believe international legal institutions can contribute tot he healing of the people of a country in which human rights abuses have taken place. We developed this framework with reference to the literature. Our conclusion is that the legislator's emphasis on truth, reconciliation, stability, and restorative justice enhanced the TRC's potential to promote healing, but that some features of this procedure and the enabling Act, the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (1995), restricted its ability to be therapeutic. We conclude by looking at the role culture may have played in the success of the TRC. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Encounters With the Dominant Culture: Voices of Indigenous Students in Mainstream Higher Education

Abstract: Students from minority and non-dominant backgrounds often have negative experiences when dealing with higher education systems. In this study we explored Indigenous student's experiences in mainstream higher education. Interviews were conducted with 34 participants, systematically selected from a listing of 110 past and present students, about their experiences in mainstream higher education. Participants included people who had successfully completed programs at Curtin University of Technology, those who did not complete courses, and those who were participating in bridging courses at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS). The qualitative data were analysed for unique and recurring themes using content analyses. The data showed that subtle and overt forms of racism impact on students' experiences in mainstream education. Participants mentioned issues associated with conflicts between indigenous and mainstream cultural values that are reflected in course content and levels of support across schools. The CAS was highlighted as a context for the strengthening of cultural identities, providing emotional and tangible support, and providing a link between the community and the university. Efforts aimed at strengthening of cultural identities need to be supported and the diversity of Aboriginal people must be acknowledged. Research and interventions challenging mainstream norms and structures that maintain social inequality are required. The challenges to affirmative action need to be located in their proper historical context.

Self-Harm in Prison Manipulators can Also Be Suicide Attempters

Abstract: This study sought to determine whether self-harm incidents classified as manipulative would also be classified as low suicidal intent and low risk to life. Seventy-four prisoners who had self-harme...

Standards for Standards: The Development of Australian Professional Standards for Teaching

Abstract: Professional standards for teaching have been developed in many countries during the 1990s. In Australia, the first wave of standards development has been dominated by the large state government school systems, and influenced by competency-based conceptions of standards. This paper provides a review of the first wave standards, concluding that these standards are characterised by long lists of duties, opaque language, generic skills, decontextualised performances, an expanded range of duties and weak assessments. As a second wave of standards development begins, led by teachers professional associations and deeply influenced by the methods of the American National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the paper proposes a set of standards for development of professional standards in Australia. Standards, it is argued, should be brief, transparent, specialised, contextualised, focused on teaching and learning, and matched by strong assessments.

An analysis of consanguineous marriage in the Muslim population of India at regional and state levels

Abstract: Consanguineous marriage is widely favoured in a large majority of the world's Islamic populations. According to recent estimates, the resident Muslim population of India is over 100 million. However, apart from a few numerically small or geographically defined surveys, little is known about their patterns of marriage preferences since partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and patterns of consanguineous marriages contracted among Indian Muslims at regional and state levels during the last two generations. Data from the 1992/93 Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS) were used in the analysis. The NFHS was a nationally-representative survey of ever-married women aged 13-49 years, conducted across 25 states of India. Of the initial 9845 respondents, 8436 were included in the final weighted analysis sample. Overall, 22.0% of marriages were found to be contracted between spouses related as second cousins or closer, ranging from 15.9% in the eastern states to 32.9% in the western states of India. In all parts of the country first cousin marriages were the preferred form of consanguineous union, and in four of the five regions paternal first cousin marriages predominated. Despite predictions to the contrary, there was no evidence of a significant change in the prevalence of consanguineous unions over the course of the study period, which extended from the late 1950s to the early 1990s.

Changes in corticomotor excitability after fatiguing muscle contractions

Abstract: To investigate whether the type and duration of activity influences corticomotor excitability following fatiguing exercise, we compared motor evoked potential (MEP) responses of the biceps brachii to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during recovery from two different exercise regimens. Responses were recorded in both the resting state and during a weak contraction. Ten subjects performed a 60-s maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and, on a subsequent occasion, a sustained 20% MVC to the point of exhaustion. Resting MEP amplitude declined following maximal and submaximal protocols, reaching 34% and 31% of pre-exercise means, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). In contrast, mean facilitated MEP amplitude showed a smaller and more transient decrement following the sustained submaximal effort (64%; P < 0.05), but not the 60-s MVC. Abolition of the postexercise depression in resting MEP amplitude by a weak tonic contraction indicates that decreases in excitability at the spinal level contribute to the reduced corticomotor excitability observed after fatiguing exercise.