Marketing an Alternate Model for Science and Mathematics Initial Teacher Education

An innovative initial teacher education undergraduate degree has been offered for the first time in 2016 at an Australian University. The degree provides for qualification as a secondary science and mathematics teacher through the completion of a four-year integrated science, mathematics and education program of study where the synergies available through concurrent, integrated study of content and teacher pedagogy are available. The paper describes the results of the analysis of data from science and mathematics school teachers and career advisors in relation to the potential market for the program and perceived advantages and barriers to students selecting the degree

AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION

Background While there has been substantial movement towards integrating the study of STEM disciplines in the United States (Becker & Park, 2011), the situation in Australia is such that these disciplines are still largely taught separately (Blackley & Howell, 2015). This abstract reports on the development of an innovative four-year undergraduate ITE degree for secondary teachers, the Bachelor of Education (Science and Mathematics) (BEDSM) developed as part of the IMSITE project. Students enrolled in the degree will simultaneously study a science major, mathematics minor and education units that have been designed to allow for teaching and learning with an integrated STEM approach. Aims The aim of the research was to assess the attractiveness of the BEDSM to science and mathematics teachers and career counsellors in secondary schools with a view to determining the potential for the program to attract future students. Design and methods Face-to-face interviews were conducted in March 2015 with 12 staff from secondary schools, comprising nine teachers or heads of department for science and/or mathematics and three school career counsellors. Each participant was provided with an overview of the BEDSM, and were asked for their views in relation to the approach being taken, how attractive the program might be to future ITE students and how likely they were to recommend the program. All interviews were digitally recorded and subsequently transcribed and coded to allow for the identification of common themes across the dataset. Results The interviewees identified two distinct market groups: namely school students who viewed teaching of science/mathematics as their preferred career option and people of mature age looking to change careers, but who lacked the formal academic qualifications to gain direct entry to a postgraduate teacher education program. Concerns were raised in two regards, firstly the extent to which graduates of the BEDSM would be sufficiently prepared in the science and mathematics content to be successful teachers and hence disadvantaged when compared with teachers who graduate with an undergraduate degree in these fields, and secondly that the program would be offered in distance mode only. Of particular interest was that only one participant identified the integrated nature of the program as an advantage, while two others indicated the requirement to study both mathematics and science was a disadvantage. Conclusions As a result of these preliminary interviews, developers of the course concluded that in order to attract students directly from secondary schools into the BEDSM course, an innovative marketing approach would be required that targeted two cohorts. Firstly, marketing the advantages of a direct career path to teaching and the shorter time to entry into the profession to secondary students. Secondly, marketing the advantages and rigorous nature of studying science and mathematics content and pedagogy, via an integrated ITE program, to teachers and career counsellors in secondary schools in order to gain their support for the program. References Becker, K., & Park, K. (2011). Effects of integrative approaches among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects on students’ learning: A preliminary meta-analysis. Journal of STEM Education, 12(5/6), 23-37. Blackley, S., & Howell, J. (2015). A STEM narrative: 15 years in the making. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(7), 102-112

Laughter, Humor and Pain Perception in Children: A Pilot Study

Although there are many clinical programs designed to bring humor into pediatric hospitals, there has been very little research with children or adolescents concerning the specific utility of humor for children undergoing stressful or painful procedures. Rx Laughter™, a non-profit organization interested in the use of humor for healing, collaborated with UCLA to collect preliminary data on a sample of 18 children aged 7–16 years. Participants watched humorous video-tapes before, during and after a standardized pain task that involved placing a hand in cold water. Pain appraisal (ratings of pain severity) and pain tolerance (submersion time) were recorded and examined in relation to humor indicators (number of laughs/smiles during each video and child ratings of how funny the video was). Whereas humor indicators were not significantly associated with pain appraisal or tolerance, the group demonstrated significantly greater pain tolerance while viewing funny videos than when viewing the videos immediately before or after the cold-water task. The results suggest that humorous distraction is useful to help children and adolescents tolerate painful procedures. Further study is indicated to explore the specific mechanism of this benefit

Scarlet moons: the Australian women's liberation movement and the Communist Party of Australia, 1965-1975

"A Dissertation submitted to the fulfilments of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of History, Philosophy and Politics, Macquarie University."PhDBibliography: pages 462-477.Chapter 1: Heritage and legacy -- Chapter 2: Crossroads and cracked pathway -- Chapter 3: Liberating communism -- Chapter 4: Definitions and dialectical dilemma -- Chapter 5: Why is it that only women are behind the typewriters? -- Chapter 6: Social structures and hierophantic culture -- Chapter 7: The Parallax view -- Chapter 8: From the vertical to the horizontal -- Chapter 9: Testing times -- Chapter 10: Red renaissance.This thesis analyses the intersection of the Communist Party of Australia and the women's liberation movement during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It examines a number of theoretical issues and contradictions which arose, and also looks at some of the practical experiences and outcomes for This thesis analyses the intersection of the Communist Party of Australia and the women's liberation movement during thelate 1960s and early 1970s. It examines a number of theoretical issues and contradictions which arose, and also looks at some of the practical experiences and outcomes forCommunist women which resulted from this conjunction. It is argued that the women's liberation movement was a major influence on the Party, assisting in changing some of itspolitical, theoretical and social perspectives. In particular. Party women raised some of the contradictions and theoretical dilemmas which existed in the Party's inherited view of 'the woman question'. The thesis maintains that at the time of the emerging women's liberation movement in Australia, the Communist Party was successfully attempting to analyse its political and ideological heritage. In particular its Stalinist heritage, its relationship to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and to the Communist International were deeply dissected. The thesis analyses the influence of the Soviet Union on the Australian Party, especially the theory and practice of 'work among women'. It also argues that the Communist Party was influenced by traditional labourist definitions and political views of the working class and the labour movement in Australia. The thesis suggests that the impact of the women's liberation movement can be seen in all areas of Party work and life, including its agendas, political programs, ideology and theory, cultural activities, and in the personal lives of some of its members. It is argued that Communist women assisted in the development of feminist critiques, particularly on issues of the family, sexuality , gender and class, patriarchy, the gender division of labour, and the state. Such critiques have been central to the development of socialist feminist theoretical perspectives. The development of such critiques has assisted in the re-definition of many aspects of the socialist project and of the socialist vision. The thesis examines the historical and political threads from the 1970s which assist in explaining the current concerns and problems confronting socialism and socialist feminism. One of the continuing issues has been how to develop a unified theory of socialist feminism. The thesis rejects feminist critiques which deny the relevance of Marxism and class analysis to women's oppression, and argues that the theory of class struggle is essential to analyses of capitalism and provides a unifying theory which links all oppression. Communist women which resulted from this conjunction. It is argued that the women's liberation movement was a major influence on the Party, assisting in changing some of its political, theoretical and social perspectives. In particular. Party women raised some of the contradictions and theoretical dilemmas which existed in the Party's inherited view of 'the woman question'. The thesis maintains that at the time of the emerging women's liberation movement in Australia, the Communist Party was successfully attempting to analyse its political and ideological heritage. In particular its Stalinist heritage, its relationship to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and to the Communist International were deeply dissected. The thesis analyses the influence of the Soviet Union on the Australian Party, especially the theory and practice of 'work among women'. It also argues that the Communist Party was influenced by traditional labourist definitions and political views of the working class and the labour movement in Australia. The thesis suggests that the impact of the women's liberation movement can be seen in all areas of Party work and life, including its agendas, political programs, ideology and theory, cultural activities, and in the personal lives of some of its members. It is argued that Communist women assisted in the development of feminist critiques, particularly on issues of the family, sexuality , gender and class, patriarchy, the gender division of labour, and the state. Such critiques have been central to the development of socialist feminist theoretical perspectives. The development of such critiques has assisted in the re-definition of many aspects of the socialist project and of the socialist vision. The thesis examines the historical and political threads from the 1970s which assist in explaining the current concerns and problems confronting socialism and socialist feminism. One of the continuing issues has been how to develop a unified theory of socialist feminism. The thesis rejects feminist critiques which deny the relevance of Marxism and class analysis to women's oppression, and argues that the theory of class struggle is essential to analyses of capitalism and provides a unifying theory which links all oppression.Mode of access: World Wide Web.1 online resources (xxxii, 477 pages

Postprandial glycaemic and lipaemic responses to chronic coffee consumption may be modulated by CYP1A2 polymorphisms.

There is much epidemiological evidence suggesting a reduced risk of development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in habitual coffee drinkers, however to date there have been few longer term interventions, directly examining the effects of coffee intake on glucose and lipid metabolism. Previous studies may be confounded by inter-individual variation in caffeine metabolism. Specifically, the rs762551 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CYP1A2 gene has been demonstrated to influence caffeine metabolism, with carriers of the C allele considered to be of a “slow” metaboliser phenotype. This study investigated the effects of regular coffee intake on markers of glucose and lipid metabolism in coffee-naïve individuals, with novel analysis by rs762551 genotype. Participants were randomised to either a coffee group (n=19) who consumed 4 cups/day instant coffee for 12 weeks or a control group (n=8) who remained coffee/caffeine free. Venous blood samples were taken pre- and post13 intervention. Primary analysis revealed no significant differences between groups. Analysis of the coffee group by genotype revealed several differences. Prior to coffee intake, the AC genotype (“slow” caffeine metabolisers, n=9) displayed higher baseline glucose and non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) than the AA genotype (“fast” caffeine metabolisers, n=10, p<0.05). Post-intervention, reduced postprandial glycaemia and reduced NEFA suppression were observed in the AC genotype, with the opposite result observed in the AA genotype (p<0.05). These observed differences between genotypes warrant further investigation and indicate there may be no one-size-fits-all recommendation with regard to coffee drinking and T2D risk

Cross faculty Collaboration in the Development of an Integrated Mathematics and Science Pre-service Teacher Education Program

This paper describes a collaborative project involving mathematicians, scientists and educators at an Australian university where an innovative mathematics/science pre-service teaching degree was developed. The theoretical frameworks of identity theory and academic brokerage and their use in understanding the challenges associated with the early stages of collaborative projects is described. Data from reflections by the participants after involvement in the project for 12 months are presented to illustrate these challenges. The paper concludes with a description of the importance of the academic broker in overcoming identity challenges of academics involved in cross-disciplinary collaborations and the time and resource requirements to achieve a successful outcome