165 results on '"Watt P."'
Search Results
2. How Do Perceived Teacher Beliefs and Classroom Goal Structures Relate to Motivations and Enrollments in Secondary School Mathematics and English?
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Helen M. G. Watt, Nir Madjar, and Liam Dacosta
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Our study examined how students' perceived teacher beliefs and classroom goal structures, gender (of teachers and students) and own perceived talent, controlling for prior achievements, together explained motivational outcomes of students' achievement goals, intrinsic value and enrollment choices in mathematics and English. Participants were 1086 grades 9-11 students (respective Ns = 380, 369, 337) from 3 coeducational middle-class schools in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed student-perceived teacher beliefs as the most consistent predictor of motivational outcomes in mathematics and English, over and above the effects of other measured influences. Perceived teacher beliefs moderated the effects of classroom goal structures, as well as relationships of gender with motivational outcomes in English. Grade-level effects were more positive among older students which coincided with the grade 11 transition.
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- 2024
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3. Cultures of Work, the Neoliberal Environment and Music in Higher Education. Palgrave Critical University Studies
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Sally Macarthur, Julja Szuster, Paul Watt, Sally Macarthur, Julja Szuster, and Paul Watt
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This edited book considers the impact of neoliberalism on music teaching, research and scholarship in a higher education context. As a subject that bears little resemblance to other university practical disciplines, and fares poorly in a model driven by economics, the book considers whether musicology is a 'public good' or a threatened species. It contemplates what musicology can usefully contribute to a paradigm driven by economics, and questions whether it is ever possible to recover an ideal civil subject in neoliberal music academia. Contributions investigate what it means to build music research capacity in innovative ways, such as forging cross-cultural relationships, subverting conventional notions of quality and value, replacing them with knowledges and values that guide Indigenous intellectual traditions, and whether interventions into the legacy of colonialism are truly ever possible in neoliberal higher education institutions that celebrate difference and diversity while reinforcing social inequities. The book also explores the relationships between gender and music, music research training and scholarship, and whether the interdisciplinarity championed by the university is ever workable. Finally, it undertakes a cross-disciplinary, new materialist reading of a canonical musical work, offering a radically new perspective. The book will appeal to students and scholars of music education, musicology, higher education studies and the creative arts more broadly.
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- 2024
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4. Micro-Credentials through the Eyes of Employers: Benefits, Challenges and Enablers of Effectiveness
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Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, Nina Van Dyke, Michael Spittle, Anthony Watt, and Andrew Smallridge
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Purpose: This study explores the perceptions of Australian employers regarding the benefits and challenges of micro-credentials within higher education and enablers of their effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach that included 11 semi-structured interviews with employers affiliated with an Australian university was used. A deductive thematic approach was employed to analyse the data. Findings: Micro-credentials were generally seen to be beneficial for an array of people, including employees, employers, customers and communities -- stakeholders in all environmental layers of micro-credentials' ecological system. Findings also indicated that both challenges of micro-credentials and enablers of their effectiveness depended heavily on attributes of learners, employers and higher education providers. The conclusion is that, based on the evidence of this study, micro-credentials within higher education are worth trialling. Originality/value: Although research interest in micro-credentials is growing, few empirical studies have investigated micro-credentials' benefits, challenges and enablers of effectiveness, especially from the perspective of employers. The study carries practical and policy implications for those involved with micro-credential research and development.
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- 2024
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5. Middle School Teachers' Perspectives of How Service Learning Projects Contribute to Student Well-Being
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Jennifer Watt, Heather Krepski, and Rebeca Heringer
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The purpose of this study was to explore how teacherpractitioners in a Canadian middle school perceive students' experiences of well-being in student-led service learning projects (SLPs). Through semistructured interviews, we explored five school practitioners' accounts of how SLPs contributed to student relating and functioning in a well-being context. The themes identified demonstrate how well-being can be deliberately integrated within curricular aspects of schooling, and how student well-being can be enhanced as well as enriched when practitioners include well-being as an aim. We conclude that although students may encounter discomfort in the planning and implementation of SLPs, they provide authentic opportunities to develop student voice and autonomy, which can make education more meaningful to them.
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- 2024
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6. Australia's Hidden Musicians: Education and Training in Rural and Regional Areas
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Paul Watt, Ben Green, Andrea Baker, Andy Bennett, and Paul Long
- Abstract
This article examines the fortunes of music education programs in rural and regional Australia. It argues that the two key national reports on music education across the nation undertaken in 2005 and 2019 have tended to focus on metropolitan and urban settings and formalised school education at the pre-tertiary level at the expense of music education programs in rural and regional areas. In this article, we argue that a more complete picture of music education across Australia -- and, indeed, elsewhere -- can only be fully assessed when music education outside of formal primary and secondary school education is accounted for. Through extensive interviews with music education stakeholders during COVID, the article highlights the diverse and impactful state of music education in rural and regional Australia.
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- 2024
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7. How Do Occupational Goals Influence Adult Women's and Men's Decisions to Opt out of Aspired Mathematics-Related Careers during Adolescence?
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Lili Toh and Helen M. G. Watt
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An explanation for the underrepresentation of women in mathematical fields is the communal goal congruity perspective; that women tend to value communal over agentic goals, perceived to not be afforded by mathematical careers. Less is known about how agentic and communal goals may interact to influence mathematical career trajectories. Analysing a longitudinal dataset, we examined gender differences and combinations of agentic and communal goals, and how goal groups associated with trajectories from adolescent aspirations until actual careers. Among 279 participants followed from secondary school until approximately 20 years later, women valued communal goals higher than men but agentic goals similarly. Despite similar mathematical achievement, the low agentic/high communal goal group was the only group to decline in their choice of a mathematics-related career. There were more women in this group than men, concordant with the communal goal congruity perspective. Implications for future research and educational practice are discussed.
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- 2024
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8. Career Motivations and Interest in Teaching of Tertiary Students Taking Mathematics and Science Subjects
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Suzanne Rice, Helen M. G. Watt, Paul W. Richardson, and Susan Crebbin
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Many countries face mathematics and science teacher shortages. There is a need for greater knowledge about eligible individuals' potential interest to teach and career motivations. We explored career motivations and interest in a teaching career, among 470 tertiary mathematics and science students from four Australian universities. Students with high interest in teaching were distinguished from those with low interest, by high 'altruistic' motives, positive prior experiences, career progression prospects, family flexibility and working in a team. They also held more positive perceptions of the status, salary and expertise of teaching. Policy initiatives likely to attract them into teaching were identified, of which those most endorsed were jobs combining teaching with other work, increased permanency and salary, and paid study leave.
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- 2024
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9. Quality Early Childhood Education through Self, Workplace, or Regulatory Support: Exploring the Efficacy of Professional Registration for Early Childhood Teachers in Australia
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Fenech, Marianne and Watt, Helen
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Teacher registration is increasingly utilised as a governance mechanism to audit teachers' work and drive professional practice. There is limited and mixed empirical evidence, however, as to whether registration drives teaching quality. Our study extends this limited empirical base by critically examining the policy trajectory in Australia to bring early childhood teachers into a uniform system of registration with primary and secondary teachers. Adopting a relatively novel methodology, the study intertwined a critical social policy framing with a national quantitative survey. Results showed that respondents perceived their professional self, followed by their workplace (colleagues and employer) as key influencers of quality practice, and neither agreed nor disagreed that teacher registration was beneficial. Findings problematise the need for, and benefits of, teacher registration. That early childhood teachers' practice and development was most driven by intrinsic motivation and, to a lesser extent, being employed in high-quality, not-for-profit, and preschool settings where other early childhood teachers are employed, suggests that more effective and progressive policy approaches to support quality early childhood education require an addressing of the contexts and conditions in which early childhood teachers work.
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- 2023
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10. Boys' Motivation Profiles in Mathematics: Relations with Contextual Factors, Wellbeing and Engagement in a Boys-Only School
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Beswick, Kim, Watt, Helen M. G., Granziera, Helena, Geiger, Vince, and Fraser, Sharon
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This study examined the extent to which boys fell into clusters comprised of different levels of motivations and costs. In turn, the antecedents of these clusters and associations with engagement and wellbeing outcomes were considered. Based on survey responses from 168 students across Years 5, 7 and 9 from an all-boys' school in Sydney, Australia, three clusters were identified: "Positively Engaged," "Disengaged," and "Struggling Ambitious." Performance-approach and avoidance achievement goals, mastery classroom goal structure, perceived peer valuing of mathematics and teacher enthusiasm differentially predicted profile membership. Clusters were also found to differ in terms of both wellbeing and engagement, such that students within maladaptive profiles evidenced the most negative outcomes. The study reaffirms prior work, holds implications for addressing student motivation in mathematics, and adds to understanding of the interplay of individual and classroom goal structures in relation to students' mathematics expectancies, values and resultant outcomes.
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- 2023
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11. Establishing Consensus for the Core Concepts of Physiology in the Australian Higher Education Context Using the Delphi Method
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Tangalakis, Kathy, Lexis, Louise, Hryciw, Deanne H., Towstoless, Michelle, Bakker, Anthony J., Beckett, Elizabeth, Brown, Daniel, Cameron, Melissa, Choate, Julia, Chopin, Lisa, Cooke, Matthew B., Douglas, Tracy, Estaphan, Suzanne, Etherington, Sarah, Gaganis, Voula, Moorhouse, Andrew, Moro, Christian, Paravicini, Tamara, Perry, Ben, Phillips, Ruben, Scott, Christopher, Todd, Gabrielle, Uebergang, Tanya, Wadley, Glenn, Watt, Matthew, and Hayes, Alan
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A set of core concepts ("big ideas") integral to the discipline of physiology are important for students to understand and demonstrate their capacity to apply. We found poor alignment of learning outcomes in programs with physiology majors (or equivalent) from 17 Australian universities and the 15 core concepts developed by a team in the United States. The objective of this project was to reach Australia-wide consensus on a set of core concepts for physiology, which can be embedded in curricula across Australian universities. A four-phase Delphi method was employed, starting with the assembling of a Task Force of physiology educators with extensive teaching and curriculum development expertise from 25 Australian universities. After two online meetings and a survey, the Task Force reached agreement on seven core concepts of physiology and their descriptors, which were then sent out to the physiology educator community across Australia for agreement. The seven core concepts and their associated descriptions were endorsed through this process (n = 138). In addition, embedding the core concepts across the curriculum was supported by both Task Force members (85.7%) and educators (82.1%). The seven adopted core concepts of human physiology were Cell Membrane, Cell-Cell Communication, Movement of Substances, Structure and Function, Homeostasis, Integration, and Physiological Adaptation. The core concepts were subsequently unpacked into themes and subthemes. If adopted, these core concepts will result in consistency across curricula in undergraduate physiology programs and allow for future benchmarking.
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- 2023
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12. Sport Specialism in Schools Contributing to Culture: Supporting Student-Athletes to Become Better People
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Walklate, Erin and Watt, Anthony
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The purpose of this study was to consider the role of sport specialisms in contributing to local and community culture, and in supporting student-athletes to become 'better people'. Research questions focused on why schools are adopting sport specialism and whether community organisations value the sport specialism. The study was phenomenological and qualitative in nature, whereby six school leaders were asked to share their experiences of sport specialism via in-depth, extended and face-to-face interviews with the researchers. Results generated the following themes: intended outcomes, student engagement, sport specialism and the local community. Conclusions highlighted that schools with sport specialism often feel the need to compete in an educational marketplace and sport specialism can have positive outcomes for young people and their communities. Findings may contribute to schools, school leaders and teachers considering the importance of positive relationships developed with the local community. The creation of an athlete-friendly culture and the focus of sport specialisms in schools to assisting young athletes to become better people were also identified as outcomes.
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- 2023
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13. The National School Reform Agreement: Its Implications for State-Level Curriculum Reforms
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Watt, Michael
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Release of the report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools in March 2018 led the Australian Government to develop a National School Reform Agreement, including bilateral agreements established with the states and territories. The purpose of this article was to compare emerging state-level curriculum reforms with the actions that states and territories agreed to undertake in bilateral agreements and analyse state-level curriculum reforms. Results showed that states and territories prioritized a mixture of actions relating to national policy initiatives, state-specific initiatives and sector-specific initiatives in their bilateral agreements. The scope of curriculum reforms varied at the state level. Implementation of the Australian Curriculum formed an important element of systemic educational reforms in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victoria. Reform of the state curriculum in New South Wales focused on improving its design and relationship to the Australian Curriculum. Curriculum reform in Tasmania focused on designing a curriculum for years 9 to 12 incorporating the Australian Curriculum. Curriculum reforms in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia focused on specific learning areas or integrating disciplines associated with the Australian Curriculum. The degree of alignment between the actions set out in bilateral agreements and state-level curriculum reforms varied from strong to moderate, suggesting that other actions were seen by policymakers as important for supporting students, student learning and achievement.
- Published
- 2020
14. Exploring the Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Secure Children's Home Admissions
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Martin, Aisling, Nixon, Carol, Watt, Kirsty Leanne, Taylor, Abigail, and Kennedy, P. J.
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Background: "Adverse Childhood Experiences" (ACEs) have been linked to negative outcomes for adult behavioural, physical and mental health. There is limited research into the prevalence of ACEs experienced by children and young people in the children and young people secure estate, and specifically, a lack of research into England's secure children's homes (SCH) population. Objective: To explore the reported prevalence of ACEs experienced by young people admitted to an SCH in the North of England between January 2018 and March 2020. Methods: A retrospective file review was used to explore ACEs experienced by young people. Data was collated for a convenience sample of 58 young people. Descriptive analysis was completed. Results: 81.1 % of the sample yielded an ACE score of [greater or less than] 4. The average ACE score was 5.55, and the most common ACEs experienced by the sample were exposure to parental separation, physical neglect and emotional abuse. Females were significantly more likely to have experienced sexual abuse and emotional neglect. Children and young people entering the secure estate were 1.85 times as likely to have experienced [greater or less than] 1 ACE and 13.08 times as likely to have experienced [greater or less than] 4 ACEs compared to the general population. Conclusions: This unique population are likely to have experienced multiple and significant developmental trauma. These findings spotlight the vulnerabilities and complex needs of the SCH population, and have implications both for the young people's physical and mental health trajectories and for policies and care approaches within SCHs. Study limitations are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.
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- 2022
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15. The Relationships among Motivational Climate, Perceived Competence, Physical Performance, and Affects during Physical Education Fitness Testing Lessons
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Huhtiniemi, Mikko, Sääkslahti, Arja, Tolvanen, Asko, Watt, Anthony, and Jaakkola, Timo
- Abstract
Despite the prominence of fitness testing in school physical education (PE), there is a sparsity of research examining the antecedents of students' affective experiences during fitness testing lessons. This study aimed to investigate the associations among task- and ego-involving motivational climates, perceived physical competence, physical performance, enjoyment, and anxiety during two different types of PE fitness testing lessons. Altogether, 645 Finnish students from Grade 5 (50% boys, M[subscript age] = 11.2, SD = 0.36) and Grade 8 (47% boys, M[subscript age] = 14.2, SD = 0.35) participated in two fitness testing lessons with different content (lesson 1: 20-meter shuttle run test and a test of flexibility; lesson 2: curl-ups, push-ups, 5-leaps, and a catching-throwing combination test). Students' experiences were collected using short questionnaires immediately after the lessons. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the direct and indirect associations among study variables. Results indicated that task-involving climate and perceived competence increased students' enjoyment and decreased their anxiety levels whereas ego-involving climate had no effect on students' enjoyment but increased their anxiety levels. In addition, students' actual physical performance as a mediator between motivational climate and affects, or as a direct predictor of affects, was limited. Strategies advancing task-involving motivational climate and students' perception of competence should be employed to increase enjoyment and decrease anxiety during PE fitness testing lessons.
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- 2022
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16. Plagiarism, Academic Integrity and the Law
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Douglas, Susan and Watt, Gregory
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues of plagiarism and academic integrity as they are covered by universities and to then identify the existence of legislation that would impose legal consequences. Accordingly, this paper adopts a legal approach to critical analysis and discourse in the examination of the issues and the appropriate legislation.
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- 2019
17. The National School Reform Agreement: Its Implications for Curriculum Reform
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Watt, Michael
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The purpose of this study was to examine policy making that led to the National School Reform Agreement and its effects on national and state-level curriculum reforms. Content analysis method was used to reveal the philosophic positions on education held by experts appointed to conduct the national policy reviews and the opinions of education commentators. Survey method was used to elicit information from state-level policymakers and officials about their priorities and to identify key aspects of the decision-making process. The results showed that the recommendations of the national policy reports, in particular the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools, influenced the attributes of the reform directions and national policy initiatives set out in the National School Reform Agreement. The influence of the Review's recommendations on emerging curriculum reforms was limited, since the mission of the National Learning Progressions and Online Formative Assessment Initiative is to develop voluntary resources to support the Australian Curriculum. Evidence that the Review's recommendations affected the reform plans set out in the bilateral agreements is scanty, since the complex decision-making process in each state and territory involving negotiations between the three education sectors as well as the curriculum, assessment and certification board ameliorated any effect. Consequently, there is no evidence that the Review's recommendations influenced current state-level curriculum reforms with the possible exception of the New South Wales Curriculum Review. The findings of the study showed that the influence of the national policy reports was confined to the national level with limited impact on national and state-level curriculum reforms.
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- 2019
18. Profiles of Teachers' Striving and Wellbeing: Evolution and Relations with Context Factors, Retention, and Professional Engagement
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De Clercq, Mikaël, Watt, Helen M. G., and Richardson, Paul W.
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Drawing on an existing typology, this study used latent transition profile analysis (LTPA) to examine changes in the striving and wellbeing profiles among teachers from their early until midcareer. Five profiles were identified (Sparing, Good Health, Ambitious, Burnout, and Wornout) among a longitudinal sample of 414 Australian secondary and primary teachers. LTPA showed that 28% of teachers were movers over time. Most movers from maladaptive types underwent a recovery transition to a more adaptive profile by midcareer, although initial Burnout and Wornout profiles were overrepresented among those who subsequently quit teaching. Perceived excessive work demands and supportive leadership were significant covariates: Perceived excessive work demands decreased the likelihood of transitioning to Good Health or Ambitious profiles; supportive leadership increased the likelihood of transitioning to Ambitious. Profiles were associated with teachers' professional engagement; the Wornout profile exhibited the lowest, and the Ambitious and Good Health profiles the highest professional engagement by midcareer. Implications for theory and policy to support teachers' development and wellbeing are discussed.
- Published
- 2022
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19. Attracting, Retaining and Sustaining Early Childhood Teachers: An Ecological Conceptualisation of Workforce Issues and Future Research Directions
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Fenech, Marianne, Wong, Sandie, Boyd, Wendy, Gibson, Megan, Watt, Helen, and Richardson, Paul
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A well-qualified, well-paid, stable workforce with high psychological and emotional wellbeing is critical to the provision of quality early childhood education and care, yet workforce shortages and high turnover persist in Australia and internationally. This paper uses ecological theory to conceptualise and make sense of findings from research that has investigated the recruitment, retention and wellbeing of early childhood teachers in Australia. The theoretical framing of early childhood teacher workforce issues proffered in the paper highlights the utility of considering these issues from a holistic ecological perspective. Analysis of Australian early childhood workforce studies draws attention to the need for large-scale, longitudinal research that holistically investigates influences on the attracting, retaining and sustaining of early childhood teachers, and the impact of these influences on teacher quality.
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- 2022
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20. A Comparison of the Change Process in States' and Territories' Implementation of the Australian Curriculum
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Watt, Michael G.
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The purpose of this study was to examine and compare key elements of the actions that states and territories are taking to implement the Australian Curriculum, and what innovative processes and products they are using to facilitate implementation. A rubric adapted from a diagnostic tool, developed by Achieve and the U.S. Education Delivery Institute, was used to analyze the strength of strategies employed by states and territories to implement the Australian Curriculum. The analysis of state-level implementation focused on the preliminary phase, 'organize to implement', and the first two implementation actions: 'align instructional practices'; and 'train educators'. Content analysis was used to analyze educational literature and research studies investigating state- and local-level implementation of the Australian Curriculum, and to describe and classify the strategies reported by eight Australian states and territories. The results showed that the strengths of states' and territories' capacities to implement the Australian Curriculum varied widely across the preliminary phase and the two implementation actions. The preliminary phase sets out a process for a state or territory to organize implementation based on seven building blocks: aspiration; internal leadership team; time line; budget; gap analysis; guiding coalition; and communications. The capacity of the states and territories was equal and strong for aspiration and internal leadership team, equal and moderate for time line, equal and weak for budget, and varied from weak to moderate for gap analysis, guiding coalition and communications. Implementation action I sets out a process for a state or territory to disseminate aligned instructional practices to teachers by undertaking three critical actions: identify strategies to achieve success; understand how the strategies will be implemented through the field to the classroom; and connect strategies to expected outcomes. The capacity of states and territories ranged from moderate to strong for identifying strategies to achieve success and understanding how the strategies will be implemented through the field to the classroom, but weak for connecting strategies to expected outcomes. Implementation action II sets out a process for a state or territory to train teachers by undertaking three critical actions: identify strategies to achieve success; understand how the strategies will be implemented through the field to the classroom; and connect the strategies to expected outcomes. The capacity of states and territories were strong for identifying strategies to achieve success and understanding how the strategies will be implemented through the field to the classroom, and ranged from weak to strong for connecting strategies to expected outcomes. The findings identified important implications for educational theory, research and practice relating to the four objectives for the study. First, planning, structuring and implementing decisions made during the change process were effective in producing a national curriculum that satisfied the expectations of most stakeholders. Second, each state and territory engaged with stakeholders on various strategies to align instructional practices to the Australian Curriculum and train educators to implement the Australian Curriculum. Third, states and territories showed some variation in the strength of plans for aligning instructional practices to the Australian Curriculum, but little variation in the strength of plans for training educators to implement the Australian Curriculum. Fourth, there was no evidence that states and territories use delivery approaches, although several states have created new structures at the local level conducive to adoption of a delivery framework.
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- 2018
21. Finnish Students' Enjoyment and Anxiety Levels during Fitness Testing Classes
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Huhtiniemi, Mikko, Salin, Kasper, Lahti, Jukka, Sääkslahti, Arja, Tolvanen, Asko, Watt, Anthony, and Jaakkola, Timo
- Abstract
Background: Fitness testing is a commonly applied learning and teaching practice implemented in both secondary and elementary school physical education (PE). Many teachers believe that by using a variety of different tests, they are able to provide students with feedback regarding their fitness status, and furthermore, increase students' willingness to be physically active later in their lives. However, empirical evidence concerning students' affective responses during fitness testing classes is limited. Purpose: The primary aim of the study was to investigate whether students' perceptions of enjoyment and anxiety differed between two different types of fitness testing classes and PE in general. In addition, the measurement invariances over time and between Grade 5 (aged 11-12) and Grade 8 (aged 14-15) groups were determined. Method: A total sample of 645 Finnish Grade 5 (N = 328, 50% boys, mean age = 11.2, SD = 0.36) and Grade 8 students (N = 317, 47% boys, mean age = 14.2, SD = 0.35) participated in the study. Series of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the level of measurement invariance between general PE and fitness testing classes, and between age groups. Strict factorial invariance was supported for both enjoyment and anxiety scales allowing for latent mean comparisons. Latent mean differences were studied using z-tests. Results: Grade 5 students perceived significantly lower levels of enjoyment and cognitive processes and a higher level of somatic anxiety in fitness testing classes compared to general PE. Additionally, for Grade 8 students, levels of enjoyment and cognitive processes were significantly lower and somatic anxiety and worry higher in fitness testing classes than in general PE. Furthermore, enjoyment was significantly higher, and cognitive processes, somatic anxiety and worry lower among Grade 5 students compared with Grade 8 students in both contextual PE and during fitness testing class. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that students' perceptions of enjoyment were lower in fitness testing classes compared to PE in general. Additionally, students perceived lower levels of cognitive anxiety and higher levels of somatic anxiety in fitness testing classes than in general PE. It is noteworthy that students might not significantly dislike fitness testing per se but instead have significantly more positive affects towards PE in general. Generally, practitioners conducting fitness testing lessons are encouraged to embrace different strategies such as fostering basic psychological needs or promoting mastery climate to facilitate enjoyment and diminish anxiety.
- Published
- 2021
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22. Understanding Why Apprentices Consider Dropping Out: Longitudinal Prediction of Apprentices' Workplace Interest and Anxiety
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Powers, Tim E. and Watt, Helen M. G.
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Although apprenticeships ease the school-to-work transition for youth, many apprentices seriously consider dropping out. While associated with noncompletions, dropout considerations are important to study in their own right, because they reflect a negative quality of apprenticeship experience and can impact apprentices' quality of learning and engagement. Few studies have addressed apprentices' dropout considerations using comprehensive theoretical frameworks. To address this gap, this study examined how apprentices' interest and anxiety growth trajectories predicted dropout considerations and associated with perceived resources and demands, grounded in expectancy-value theory (EVT) and the job demands-resources (JD-R) model. Australian apprentices (N = 2387) were surveyed at 6-month intervals utilising an accelerated longitudinal design, on their workplace interest and anxiety, job-related resources (role model, timing of choice, employer teaching, expertise, job security, and training wages) and demands (lack of information, career indecision, and excessive work). Latent growth models (LGM) within a structural equation modelling framework showed apprentices began with high interest which declined over time, and low anxiety which increased in the latter half of their first year until the end of their second year. Apprentices' dropout considerations were predicted by initial interest and anxiety levels (at the beginning of their apprenticeship), and by interest losses during their apprenticeship (but, not by increases in anxiety). Almost half the variance in interest and anxiety trajectories was explained by apprentices' perceived resources and demands: resources had a greater effect on promoting interest than reducing anxiety, whereas demands were more important in exacerbating anxiety.
- Published
- 2021
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23. Teacher Burnout and Turnover Intent
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Rajendran, Natalia, Watt, Helen M. G., and Richardson, Paul W.
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Correlates of turnover intent among primary (N = 580) and secondary (N = 675), male (N = 254) and female (N = 999) teachers, were examined through the lens of the job demands-resources (JD-R) model. Multigroup structural equation modelling indicated that job demands (workload, student misbehaviour), and the personal demand of work-family conflict, were positively associated with emotional exhaustion--the core dimension of burnout. All demands indirectly related to turnover intent via emotional exhaustion. Among all teacher groups, no significant differences were found in level of emotional exhaustion or turnover intent, and only mild stress was reported as a result of student misbehaviour. Work-family conflict was the strongest predictor of emotional exhaustion for male and female teachers. Results suggest the JD-R as a promising theory for use in explaining job-related outcomes among Australian teachers, and that personal demands should be examined in addition to job demands within it.
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- 2020
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24. Aligning Curriculum Materials with the Australian Curriculum: What Is Happening in the Field and What Needs to Be Done?
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Watt, Michael
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The purpose of this study was to inform the deliberations of a policymakers' working group by investigating what key actors in the materials' marketplace are doing to align digital and print-based materials with the Australian Curriculum and what steps need to be taken to deliver aligned materials to schools. Content analysis method was used to review research literature about the materials' marketplace, the publishing industry, and the procurement, selection and use of materials. Survey method was used to investigate the experiences of a sample of publishers in aligning their products with the Australian Curriculum. Case study method was used to study the backgrounds, current status and environmental interactions of the Australian Curriculum Connect and the Curriculum into the Classroom projects. The results of the study showed that four key attributes characterize the materials' marketplace. The marketplace is dominated by a small number of foreign companies, but small publishing companies play an important role as niche publishers. The adequate supply of materials is dependent on whether individual schools use book-list, book-hire or class-set systems as a basis for procuring new materials. Selection procedures are decentralized, highly differentiated, unsystematic and dependent on demographic characteristics affecting individual schools. Teachers depend in their instructional practice on using teacher-developed resources derived from photocopying print-based materials. Within the interactions of publishers' production and marketing strategies, the Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing, established by the Australian Publishers Association, have enhanced publishers' role in developing high quality materials, and publishers are using a range of techniques to align materials with the Australian Curriculum. The Australian Government has invested funds in developing a repository of digital materials, delivering the materials by means of an online platform and conducting an extensive series of studies to evaluate students' use of learning objects. The Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment has developed and implemented various digital materials in the Curriculum into the Classroom project as the principal means for implementing the Australian Curriculum in Queensland schools. The delivery chain, however, is impeded by the lack of a comprehensive and effective means of providing evaluative information about the alignment of digital and print-based materials with the Australian Curriculum to help teachers make informed decisions in selecting materials. The conclusion sets out recommendations referring to the roles of key actors in a plan to improve delivery of materials as they proceed through a complex set of interactions between publishers' production and marketing strategies, selectors' decision-making processes, and consumers' patterns of use. The following are appended: (1) Sample of Australian Publishers of Curriculum Materials; and (2) Survey of Publishers of Curriculum Materials.
- Published
- 2016
25. Supporting Placement Supervision in Clinical Exercise Physiology
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Sealey, Rebecca M., Raymond, Jacqueline, Groeller, Herb, Rooney, Kieron, Crabb, Meagan, and Watt, Kerrianne
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The continued engagement of the professional workforce as supervisors is critical for the sustainability and growth of work-integrated learning activities in university degrees. This study investigated factors that influence the willingness and ability of clinicians to continue to supervise clinical exercise physiology work-integrated learning opportunities and makes recommendations for future supervision engagement. Themes identified from a supervisor survey were: staffing and time availability; administrative processes and support; student quality, knowledge and attitudes; student learning experiences; supporting the profession; service benefit; clinical personal benefit; funding; workplace support; staff qualifications and experience; prior positive experiences; future recruitment; facilities and infrastructure; and supporting the university. The responses resulted in five key recommendations for future enhanced and sustainable placement supervision. These were: adoption of efficient supervision structures; development and use of a competency checklist; enhanced recognition of supervision; standardized placement paperwork and assessment tools; and broadening of placement scheduling.
- Published
- 2015
26. Psychological Literacy: A Multifaceted Perspective
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Hulme, Julie A., Skinner, Rebecca, Worsnop, Francesca, Collins, Elizabeth, Banyard, Philip, Kitching, Helen J., Watt, Roger, and Goodson, Simon
- Abstract
The concept of psychological literacy has grown in importance within psychology education at all levels, in the UK and globally, in recent years. Increasingly, psychology educators and policy makers are seeking to emphasise the relevance and usefulness of psychology within everyday life, within the workplace, and as an element of global citizenship. The Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (DART-P), recognising this recent development, hosted a symposium at the British Psychological Society (BPS) Annual Conference 2015, at which the concept of psychological literacy was explored within the context of higher and pre-tertiary psychology education. The aim of the symposium, reflected in this article, was to explore current thinking, developments and practice within contemporary psychology education, with a view to stimulating critical discussion and reflection on psychological literacy and its delivery within both pre-tertiary and higher education contexts. Ultimately, the symposium, and this article, are intended to facilitate exploration of the opportunities provided by psychology education, at all levels, to develop students as psychologically literate citizens. This article summarises the talks and discussions which occurred during the symposium. Firstly, we introduce the concept and literature surrounding psychological literacy and its importance to modern psychology education. This is followed by a case study illustrating one way in which psychological literacy has been embedded into the curriculum within a university undergraduate programme. We move to consider the development of thinking about psychological literacy in a historical context, linking it to societal benefits and Miller's (1969) concept of "giving psychology away." This raises the question of the extent to which pre-tertiary psychology education can equip students with psychological literacy, and the impact of the growing numbers of people who have studied psychology upon society. In England and Wales, the most popular pre-tertiary psychology qualification is the A level, which has undergone recent revisions, and so we consider the contribution of the new A level psychology specifications to psychological literacy. In conclusion, this paper offers some thoughts about the implications of the growth in emphasis on education for psychological literacy, reflecting the discussions held during the plenary session at the end of the symposium.
- Published
- 2015
27. States' Implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the Australian Curriculum: A Comparison of the Change Process in Two Countries
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Watt, Michael
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine and compare key elements of the actions that states in the USA and Australia took to implement the Common Core State Standards or Phase One of the Australian Curriculum, and what processes and products they used to facilitate implementation of these innovations. A rubric adapted from a diagnostic tool, developed by Achieve and the U.S. Education Delivery Institute, was used to analyse the strength of the strategies employed by states to implement the Common Core State Standards or Phase One of the Australian Curriculum. The analysis of state-level implementation of these innovations focused on the preliminary phase, "organize to implement", and the first two implementation actions: "align instructional materials"; and "train educators". The results showed that the strength of states' capacities to implement the Common Core State Standards or the Australian Curriculum varied widely across the preliminary phase and the two implementation actions. The capacity of states in the USA and Australia were equal and strong for "aspiration" and "internal leadership team". Although states in both countries varied widely from weak to strong for "guiding coalition", the capacities of states in the USA and Australia were equal. On the other hand, the capacities of states in Australia were weaker than states in the USA for "timeline", "gap analysis", "budget" and "communications". A pattern of north-eastern and mid-western states using local-level procedures and south-eastern, southern and western states using state-level procedures to adopt instructional materials persists in the USA. A pattern of all states and territories using local-level procedures to adopt instructional materials prevails in Australia. The capacity of 19 states in the USA that use state-level procedures to provide delivery plans for selecting, procuring and distributing adopted materials to classrooms is stronger than states in the USA or Australia that use local-level procedures. The delivery plans that states use to train teachers are complex. Professional development is provided directly to teachers by state education agencies, regional structures, districts or vendors, or indirectly by electronic means, professional associations, intermediary organisations or train-the-trainer models. In the USA, state education agencies depend on the widespread use of train-the-trainer models to train large numbers of teachers. Some of the 18 states, which received Race to the Top grants and invested them extensively in training strategies, were more successful than other states in balancing and coordinating training activities, providing delivery chains consisting of strong relationships between participants, and setting metrics and targets for success. In contrast, state education agencies in Australia do not use train-the-trainer models extensively to provide training on the Australian Curriculum, but it is more difficult to understand the nature of the training provided to teachers, because this information is not easily accessible to the public.
- Published
- 2015
28. Gender Differences in Physical Activity Are Partially Explained by Anxiety Sensitivity in Post-Secondary Students
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DeWolfe, Christopher E. J., Watt, Margo C., Romero-Sanchiz, Pablo, and Stewart, Sherry H.
- Abstract
Objective: Female post-secondary students typically engage in less physical activity than their male counterparts. Given that women have greater anxiety sensitivity (ie, fear of arousal-based body sensations) and anxiety sensitivity is inversely related to physical activity participation, this study sought to determine if anxiety sensitivity mediates gender differences in self-reported physical activity. Participants and methods: A sample of 802 post-secondary students completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 and a Lifestyles Questionnaire in September 2017. Results: Women reported significantly less physical activity and significantly greater anxiety sensitivity. Anxiety sensitivity was significantly and inversely related to self-reported physical activity. A significant indirect effect of gender on physical activity via anxiety sensitivity was shown (B = 5.56, SE = 2.81, p < 0.05, 95% CI [1.31, 12.78], P[subscript M] = 0.0843). Conclusions: Results suggest that anxiety sensitivity partially explains gender differences in physical activity. Anxiety sensitivity reduction interventions might increase physical activity participation and reduce the existing gender gap.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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29. An Attachment Aware Schools Programme: A Safe Space, a Nurturing Learning Community
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Kelly, Paul, Watt, Lizzie, and Giddens, Sara
- Abstract
There is a growing expectation that schools have a good understanding of attachment theory and its implications in practice, in order to meet the needs of Looked After Children, and other vulnerable learners. Derbyshire County Council's Attachment Aware Schools programme, now in its fifth year, is meeting this need by providing a substantial school development programme which has led to innovative and sustainable ways of developing school practice. This programme has involved a comprehensive range of bespoke long-term development work with 77 schools to date, through a dynamic interaction of training, action research and reflective practice to promote safe, nurturing and effective learning environments. The programme, underpinned by attachment theory, has led to schools throughout the county becoming communities of inquiry and hubs of excellence, through a process of practice-as-research, where the cyclical nature of action research enhances the complementary relationship of theory and practice. Evaluation of the programme has shown that all participating schools have effected ethos change, and developed better informed pedagogical practice, to support Looked After Children, and other vulnerable learners. This article explores how building attachment awareness in schools, with a focus on relationship-building and a better understanding of teacher--pupil interaction, can contribute meaningfully to whole school development.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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30. Lecture Capture: An Effective Tool for Universal Instructional Design?
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Watt, Susan, Vajoczki, Susan, Voros, Geraldine, Vine, Michelle M., Fenton, Nancy, and Tarkowski, Jacob
- Abstract
Student enrolment and instructional accommodation requests are rising in higher education. Universities lack the capacity to meet increasing accommodation needs, thus research in this area is required. In Ontario, new provincial legislation requires that all public institutions, including universities, make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. The objective of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is to provide universal access for students with disabilities. The purpose of this case study is to understand the experiences of students regarding the ability of a lecture capture technology to align with the principles of Universal Instructional Design (UID). Data were collected using a mixed-method research design: (a) an online questionnaire, and (b) individual face-to-face interviews. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) literature provides a useful background to explore AODA legislation and universal accessibility vis-à-vis lecture capture technologies. Results indicate that lecture capture can align both with the principles of UID and AODA.
- Published
- 2014
31. A Double Take: The Practical and Ethical Dilemmas of Teaching the Visual Method of Photo Elicitation
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Wakefield, Caroline and Watt, Sal
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This paper advocates the teaching of photo elicitation in higher education as a valuable data collection technique and draws on our experience of teaching this visual method across two consecutive postgraduate cohorts. Building on previous work (Watt & Wakefield, 2014) and based on a former concern regarding student duty of care, a modification was made that constrained or made less "risky" the topic area of a photo elicitation project for the second year group. The paper compares and contrasts the effects of this change through student and tutor reflections. In Cohort 1, (year one) although the reflections of some of the students gave us cause for concern, the work produced was exceptionally creative and of an excellent standard. The work produced by the following year, Cohort 2, was of much lower quality, in the main lacked creativity which was supported by student reflection that similarly lacked depth or insight. In comparing and contrasting the two cohorts we discuss the effect of the topic change in potentially affecting student engagement, creativity and quality of work. In taking what pedagogically, we perceived as a less risky topic area, we discuss the potential this had on stifling creativity and student engagement concluding that ours should serve as a cautionary tale that there is a need to be careful in what we wish for; a less risky topic equated to less risky work and affected student engagement.
- Published
- 2014
32. Picture It! The Use of Visual Methods in Psychology Teaching
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Watt, Sal and Wakefield, Caroline
- Abstract
Photo elicitation theoretically located under Creative Analytic Practice was set as an assessment on a taught postgraduate programme. In groups of three to four, 30 students acted as both researcher and participant. Group topics were self-selected, each member took five photographs that group members reflected on. Topics chosen were varied and students reflexively critically reported their experience of the method. The power of photo elicitation saw some students engage in a cathartic journey which pedagogically raised concern. This paper reports both the potential and creativity of photo elicitation but also discusses and makes suggestions on how to overcome ethical issues.
- Published
- 2014
33. Attribution and Motivation: Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion Differences among Indonesian University Students
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Sutantoputri, Novita W. and Watt, Helen M. G.
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The study explores the possibilities of gender, ethnicity, and religion differences on attributions (locus of control, stability, personal and external control), motivational goals (learning, performance approach, performance avoidance, and work avoidance), self-efficacy, intelligence beliefs, religiosity, racial/ethnic identity, and academic performance (mid-term test, final test, and GPA scores) within the Indonesian university settings. Racial/ethnic identity had three dimensions: private regard, ethnic importance, and social embeddedness; whilst religiosity had two dimensions: religious behaviour and intrinsic religiosity. 1,006 students (73.8% Native Indonesians and 24.8% Chinese Indonesians) from three public and two private universities participated. Males were significantly higher on work avoidance goals. Ethnic and religion differences were found on religiosity: Native Indonesians and Hindus reported higher intrinsic religiosity; Christians reported greater behavioural religiousity. Gender and religion interactions revealed lower locus of control among male Chinese, and lower final test score among male Muslim. Explanations for these differences are advanced and directions for further research outlined.
- Published
- 2013
34. Teaching as a Career: Perspectives of Indonesian Future Teachers
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Suryani, Anne, Watt, Helen M. G., and Richardson, Paul W.
- Abstract
The paper examines future teachers' motivations for choosing a teaching career and their perceptions about the profession in the Indonesian context. Data were obtained from 802 fourth-year undergraduate teacher education students at two public and two private universities in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The mean age of participants was 21.61 years (SD=2.31), consisting of mainly women (83.16 %). Following translations and piloting, participants completed a paper-based questionnaire adapted from the Factor Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice; Watt & Richardson, 2007) with factors added to adjust to the Indonesian setting: "religion influences," "second job (time for casual work)," "tuition fee for teacher education (cheaper)," "admission into teacher education (less competitive)," "time for teacher education studies (shorter)" and "media dissuasion," and Professional Engagement and Career Development Aspiration scales (PECDA; Watt & Richardson, 2008); and the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10; Worthington Jr., et. al., 2003). The translated Indonesian adaptation of the instruments was valid and reliable. "Social utility value" was rated high; "make social contribution," "prior teaching and learning experiences," "work with children/adolescents," "intrinsic career value" and "religion influences" were the main reasons for choosing a teaching career, followed by job security and "second job". Teaching was perceived as a highly expert career, with high social status, and salary was rated above the midpoint. The findings significantly contribute to the international literature on choosing a teaching career, adding to the comparisons of previous FIT-Choice studies in Australia, the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Croatia, Switzerland, Turkey, and China.
- Published
- 2013
35. What Is Popular Is Not Always Right--Measuring Teacher Professional Behaviour
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Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Morris, Zoe A., Richardson, Paul W., and Watt, Helen M.G
- Abstract
Teaching is considered one of the most trusted professions, yet literature evaluating teachers' understanding of professional behaviour is scarce. Recently, technological advancements such as Social Networking Sites (SNS; e.g. Facebook) have created fresh debate about appropriate behaviour for teachers: in school and online. The "Professional Interactions and Behaviours Scale" (PIBS) was developed to assess the degree to which teachers have developed an understanding of appropriate professional interactions with students. 30 items were developed with reference to the "Victorian Institute of Teachers Profession Code of Conduct" (2008) which states teachers are required to maintain professional relationships with students which are centered on learning at all times whether at school or not. Preservice teachers recruited for the study ("N" = 197) rated acceptability of specific student-teacher interactions and/or behaviours (e.g. "hugging a student as a form of consolation", "being friends with a student on a SNS") on a Likert scale of 1 (unacceptable) to 5 (acceptable). The dimensionality of the PIBS was evaluated using principal components analyses with varimax rotation and 20 items were retained yielding four components; befriending, hugging, external engagement and teacher disclosure. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted and the model demonstrated adequate fit. The PIBS is a unique and promising measure for stimulating dialogue and contribute to the developing definition of "appropriate boundaries" for teachers. An appendix presents the PIBS Scale (30-item version). (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)
- Published
- 2012
36. How Do Life Goals and Motivations of International Students Studying in Australia Impact Their Achievement Outcomes?
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Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Guns, Ann, Richardson, Paul W., and Watt, Helen M. G.
- Abstract
Many international students aim beyond their country boundaries by moving away from home and studying abroad. This longitudinal design addressed a gap in current research, by linking together antecedent life goals and motivations on entry to students' studies, to predict exit achievement scores, to provide information concerning optimising international students' engagement and learning. Participants were international students (N = 342) from South-East Asian backgrounds who at arrival to Australia did not meet university requirements and therefore enrolled in a university preparatory course. At its beginning and end, they completed ethically approved reliable psychological survey measures which elicited information on a range of study motivations; a measure of general life goals was purpose-developed and validated. Exit achievement data were provided by course administrators. The stereotypical view that international students' goal is to migrate to Australia was not supported, being the lowest rated life goal. Students rated future career and life enjoyment highest, and also family related goals were regarded highly. Regression analysis showed these goals impacted academic "task value", which subsequently was the sole motivational factor significantly predicting course achievement. Promoting and sustaining these life goals should foster academic task value and actual achievement. (Contains 5 figures, 5 tables and 1 footnote.)
- Published
- 2012
37. Attribution and Motivation: A Cultural Study among Indonesian University Students
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Sutantoputri, Novita W. and Watt, Helen M. G.
- Abstract
Relationships between cultural factors (ethnicity and religiosity) and dimensions of students' attributions for their success and failure (locus of control, stability, personal control and external control), along with motivational goals (learning, performance approach, performance avoidance, and work avoidance), self-efficacy, intelligence beliefs, and academic performance were examined among 1,006 Indonesian university students. Students' stability attributions predicted their learning goals, whereas neither locus of control, personal, or external control attributions predicted any motivational goals. Self-efficacy predicted learning and performance approach goals, as well as performance avoidance goals. Students' intelligence beliefs did not show significant predictions. Ethnic importance predicted performance approach goals; whilst intrinsic religiosity predicted learning goals.
- Published
- 2012
38. Inquiry Learning: Level, Discipline, Class Size, What Matters?
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Vajoczki, Susan, Watt, Susan, Vine, Michelle M., and Liao, Xueqing
- Abstract
Inquiry learning is a pedagogical approach that focuses on the processes and skills required to conduct research. It is a pedagogical approach that has been demonstrated to have positive learning outcomes. McMaster University has been committed to this form of learning for more than ten years in three of the faculties on campus (i.e., Humanities, Science and Social Sciences). This commitment has been in the creation of stand-alone, small class size first-year inquiry classes. The current research, involving document analysis of 545 course outlines from the Faculty of Social Sciences demonstrates that inquiry learning is concentrated in first and fourth year primarily with modest amounts in second and third year courses. Results reveal cross-discipline variation. Some disciplines exhibit higher levels of inquiry (i.e., Social Work, Labour Studies and Political Science) than others (i.e., Gerontology, Geography and Anthropology). Although inquiry was more likely to occur in small classes there were examples of inquiry learning in classes with more than 250 students.
- Published
- 2011
39. Dual Credit: Creating Career and Work Possibilities for Canadian Youth
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Watt-Malcolm, Bonnie
- Abstract
In this article, I investigated the problems that educators are addressing with dual credit initiatives and consider tensions that have limited the seamless implementation of dual credit programming. Stakeholder representatives clearly identified common resources and support required to sustain their dual credit programs. Study participants noted the need for strong partnerships for dual credit initiatives, for government policies to allow for articulation of credits between secondary and post-secondary and, in particular, for the means to fund these programs. Findings from individual interviews and focus groups conducted in British Columbia and Ontario with individuals who had formal work-related involvement (e.g., industry associations, government, organized labour, high schools, school boards, colleges, and industry) in dual credit initiatives suggest that access to dual credit options provide secondary students valuable opportunities for future career and post-secondary education, giving support for policies to support stakeholder partnerships to advance the effectiveness of dual credit models. However, with partnerships, tensions exist because stakeholders compete to gain and maintain control of their institutional territories and established standards. Questions arise--"who is going to pay?" and "who is going to benefit?"--that suggest concerns about student access and who is allowed to make use of the resources allotted for these initiatives. (Contains 1 table and 2 footnotes.)
- Published
- 2011
40. Beyond Learning Management Systems: Designing for Interprofessional Knowledge Building in the Health Sciences
- Author
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Lax, Leila, Scardamalia, Marlene, Watt-Watson, Judy, Hunter, Judith, and Bereiter, Carl
- Abstract
This paper examines theoretical, pedagogical, and technological differences between two technologies that have been used in undergraduate interprofessional health sciences at the University of Toronto. One, a learning management system, WebCT 2.0, supports online coursework. The other, a Knowledge Building environment, Knowledge Forum 2.0, supports the collaborative work of knowledge-creating communities. Seventy students from six health science programs (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy and Physical Therapy) participated online in a 5-day initiative to advance understanding of core principles and professional roles in pain assessment and management. Knowledge Forum functioned well as a learning management system but to preserve comparability between the two technologies its full resources were not brought into play. In this paper we examine three distinctive affordances of Knowledge Forum that have implications for health sciences education: (1) supports for Knowledge Building discourse as distinct from standard threaded discourse; (2) integration of sociocognitive functions as distinct from an assortment of separate tools; and (3) resources for multidimensional social and cognitive assessment that go beyond common participation indicators and instructor-designed quizzes and analyses. We argue that these design characteristics have the potential to open educational pathways that traditional learning management systems leave closed. (Contains 7 figures and 1 table.)
- Published
- 2010
41. Serving up a Smorgasbord of Collaborative Practice: Keys to Approaching Collaboration in Your School and How to Encourage Teaching Colleagues to Participate in This Journey with You
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International Association of School Librarianship (IASL), School Library Association of Queensland Inc. (SLAQ), White, Senga, and Watt, Donna
- Abstract
Collaborative practice which acknowledges differentiated learning needs of students, diverse long term educational outcomes, and acknowledges the respective skill sets of both teacher and librarian in delivering a curriculum which embraces the future focused needs of 21st century learners--to be literate and numerate, critical and creative thinkers, active seekers, users and creators of knowledge, informed decision makers, and active participants in their future world. Looking at the journey of two school library managers and their diverse school communities, both involved in the Otago/Southland Information Literacy Project from June 2007 to November 2008. This project, commissioned by the National Library of New Zealand in collaboration with the Otago University Education Department and the New Zealand Ministry of Education, involved the participation of librarians and teachers from seven schools from the Otago and Southland regions of New Zealand looking at a collaborative approach to student learning outcomes and focused on year 8 students. Collaboration in the case studies outlined has resulted in improved communication and understanding of expertise between teachers and librarians, and in improved learning outcomes for students. The work is just beginning, and as the information environment continues its exponential expansion, the combined strength of collaborative teaching will share the burden between teachers and librarians. Both parties bring individual strengths to the partnership, and each party also learns from the other, benefiting the professional practise of each. Students are better served by working with two professionals, and the benefit of seeing their teachers working collaboratively, as we so often expect them to do, cannot be overstated.
- Published
- 2010
42. Early Means Early: Understanding Popular Understandings of Early Childhood Development in South Africa
- Author
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Richter, Linda M., Tomlinson, Mark, Watt, Kathryn, Hunt, Xanthe, and Lindland, Eric H.
- Abstract
Scientific and policy advances are putting early childhood development (ECD) at the center of efforts to improve human development. This study was undertaken to understand what knowledge and attitudinal barriers exist that 25 hinder the full-scale roll-out of services for the youngest children and their families. We used anthropological methods honed by the Frameworks Institute to plumb beliefs about early childhood development among members of the public and implementation and policy stakeholders, and compare those with the findings from ECD research. While members of the public and stakeholders agree on the importance of ECD, as demonstrated in other country settings, a major barrier to directing services to the youngest children is a perceptual tendency to 'age up'. That is, to consider learning and other important skills as being acquired in the pre-school rather than infancy period. Communication strategies that incorporate debate are needed to give full effect to the ECD and related policies, especially around the topics of prioritizing the youngest 40 children, physical punishment, child rights, and the pervasiveness Q5 of threats to ECD arising from poverty and disadvantage.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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43. The Movement for National Academic Standards: A Comparison of the Common Core State Standards Initiative in the USA and the National Curriculum in Australia
- Author
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Watt, Michael
- Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nature of activities in the change process undertaken by two initiatives to produce national standards in academic disciplines, national assessments and accountability measures. The Common Core State Standards Initiative, a project coordinated by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, aims to produce common core standards for states in the USA, and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority aims to produce a national curriculum. Content analysis method was applied to summarise information obtained from searches on the web sites of organisations involved in these initiatives and education newspapers. A model for classifying the activities of research, development, diffusion and adoption in the change process was applied to evaluate the two innovations. The results showed that activities involving research and development, at which point evaluation of both innovations was made, were well-defined. Each initiative was preceded by publication of policy documents advocating innovation and research activities to uncover possibilities for change, although these activities were more extensive and substantial in the USA than Australia. The emphases in each innovation for developing academic standards are different. Benchmarking standards against state, national and international standards, using a research-based process for decision making, reviewing successive drafts by stakeholders, and conducting an independent validation characterise the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Specifying plans and guidelines, inventing and refining standards, using a consensus-building process for decision making, and reviewing successive drafts by stakeholders characterise the national curriculum initiative in Australia. Initial steps to sustain adoption of the innovations are the formation of the National Policy Forum to build support for the Common Core State Standards Initiative and the foundation of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. However, attention to other activities to assist practitioners adopt the innovations are lacking in both initiatives. The paper concludes by presenting some judgments about the potential success of each initiative. (Contains 1 figure.)
- Published
- 2009
44. Early Career Teachers' Self-Efficacy: A Longitudinal Study from Australia
- Author
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George, Sindu V., Richardson, Paul W., and Watt, Helen M. G.
- Abstract
Although Bandura had proposed that self-efficacy once established is relatively stable, it remains a topic of debate, as empirical evidence has shown different patterns of changes in self-efficacy across different career stages. The current study presents longitudinal data from 74 beginning school teachers in Victoria, Australia to discern changes during their first five years. Their increase in self-efficacy is discussed with reference to existing (primarily cross-sectional) studies, and policy implications for supporting early career teachers.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Changing Hearts and Minds: The Importance of Formal Education in Reducing Stigma Associated with Mental Health Conditions
- Author
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Hampson, Margaret E., Watt, Bruce D., Hicks, Richard E., Bode, Andrew, and Hampson, Elizabeth J.
- Abstract
Background: The expansion of user-friendly mental health services for young people is an important goal of mental health reform in Australia; however, stigma and discrimination associated with mental health conditions constitute major deterrents to help-seeking among young people. Objective: This paper reports on a qualitative study conducted in South East Queensland, which explored perceptions concerning employment barriers and support needs of people living with psychosis. Method: Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 137 participants comprising community members, employers, clients, carers, employment consultants and health professionals. Results: Stigma and discrimination were identified as major employment barriers for people living with psychosis. The formal education system was seen as a key means to overcome stigma and discrimination through improved awareness and understanding of mental health problems. Conclusion: This paper highlights participants' views on how the formal education system might be adapted to increase public awareness and understanding of psychosis and reduce community stigma and discrimination.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. The Future of National Curriculum Collaboration in Australia: An Analysis of Policies and Possibilities
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Watt, Michael
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to review policies and inquiries on national curriculum reform, initiated during the federal election campaign in 2007, to identify whether a new phase of national curriculum collaboration, characterised as standards-based reform, is likely to be initiated. A set of ten criteria, defining key features of standards-based education, was applied to analyse the contents of two policy documents and a report from an inquiry. The results showed that the documents reflected increasing refinement of the concept of standards-based education, but were only clear and comprehensive in their descriptions for four criteria. The conclusion recommended that policy making should be conceptualised in greater detail as a process of planned change, which a decision making body could apply to design a standards-based education system in a setting involving large change supported by a low level of knowledge. (Contains 1 table.)
- Published
- 2008
47. National Curriculum Collaboration in Australia: An Analysis of the National Debate
- Author
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Watt, Michael G.
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to review five initiatives in national curriculum collaboration, which have emerged since the move to national consistency arose in 2003, and to examine reports on these initiatives published by the news media and the education profession. Searches on web sites of education organisations, an electronic magazine, and the Australian Education Index were conducted to identify documents, news reports and educational literature referring to the five initiatives. Content analysis method was applied to summarise and categorise the documents. The results showed that policy making during this phase of national curriculum collaboration has shifted from establishing national consistency to introducing standards-based education, and reports published by the news media and the education profession have increased since this shift occurred. The conclusion indicated that, whilst a national debate has emerged on this issue, only a small proportion of policy makers and leaders within the education community has been engaged in contributing to this debate.
- Published
- 2008
48. Decision Making in the Curriculum Development Process and Raising the Quality of Academic Standards: What Does a Review of Australian Curriculum Documents Tell Us?
- Author
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Watt, Michael G.
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the extent, to which factors in the process of decision making involved in curriculum development in Australia, have determined the quality of curriculum documents. Searches on web sites of education organisations and electronic databases of educational literature were conducted to identify source documents and research literature. Content analysis method was applied to identify evidence in written communications about factors affecting decision making in the process of curriculum development. The results showed that curriculum development is conducted at the national level and in all states and territories, except Tasmania, by a two-tiered structure of committees. Super-ordinate committees make decisions in overseeing and coordinating the work of subordinate committees, which are responsible for conceptualising curriculum. Curriculum co-construction, in which super-ordinate committees make decisions in overseeing and coordinating the work of teachers in conceptualising curriculum, forms the principal means for undertaking curriculum development in Tasmania. The results indicated that the findings of research studies, investigating the decision-making process, identify formal and informal relationships between particular groups playing crucial roles and the dynamic process of interactions between these groups, but offer few insights to improve understanding of what factors in the decision-making process influence the development of a rigorous curriculum. Policy makers and education officials, who wish to gain greater insight into particular factors influencing decision making in the process of curriculum development, could apply one of four evaluation techniques outlined in the conclusion. (Contains 1 table.)
- Published
- 2008
49. From Essential Learnings to Tasmania's Curriculum: Will this Change Improve Curriculum Reform?
- Author
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Watt, Michael G.
- Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to evaluate initiatives the state government announced in 2006 to review the curriculum and assessments, and enhance capacity building and accountability. The methodology for reviewing states' systemic reform policies devised by Achieve, an organisation based in Washington, DC, was applied to identify issues and challenges confronting these initiatives, and determine whether they improve capacity building, accountability and public leadership. The results indicated that the initiatives took account of surveys conducted by the Australian Education Union and Tasmanian State School Parents and Friends, and the Reporting to Parents Taskforce. Comparisons with standards-based reforms in California, Indiana, and Massachusetts identified that some factors leading to success in these states were absent in Tasmania. Potential for improving capacity building and accountability has been met by an 18-month plan. David Bartlett, the new Minister for Education, has restored credible leadership following controversy over the Essential Learnings curriculum in 2005, but absense of a cross-sectoral group to provide strong leadership limits the likelihood of successful reform. Comparison with the controversy over the Profile of Learning in Minnesota revealed similarities to challenges faced in Tasmania. A set of recommendations is presented to meet challenges faced by curriculum reform in Tasmania.
- Published
- 2007
50. From National Curriculum Collaboration to National Consistency in Curriculum Outcomes: Does this Shift Reflect a Transition in Curriculum Reform in Australia?
- Author
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Watt, Michael G.
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to review national and state level initiatives in curriculum reform to identify whether the move towards greater national consistency in curriculum outcomes confirms the dominance of outcomes-based education or reflects a shift from outcomes-based to standards-based education. Policy documents were examined, and the content of curriculum documents developed at both the national and state levels in Australia was analysed to identify whether the philosophical and theoretical bases of curriculum reforms derived from outcomes-based or standards-based education. The results indicated that the principles underpinning the national statements and profiles, which were published in 1994, derived initially from the national curriculum being developed at that time for England and Wales, although outcomes-based education increased in its influence. However, outcomes-based education became the predominant educational philosophy underpinning the curriculum frameworks and syllabuses developed by the states and territories from the national statements and profiles. The development of the statements of learning, commenced in 2003, represented an attempt to circumscribe the increasing diversity among state and territory curriculums, but also gave greater acknowledgement and recognition to the principles of standards-based education. The results showed that whilst curriculum developers are giving greater attention to setting clear and measurable outcomes in curriculum documents, the lack of a strong tradition of independent evaluation of these documents makes it difficult to judge their quality. As well as recommending the need for independent evaluations of curriculum documents, policymakers and curriculum developers need to consider alternative approaches to curriculum planning to ameliorate divisive debates. The document includes two tables, a bibliography and a glossary.
- Published
- 2006
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