Books Bring Europe to You

So you\u27re going to be a foreign traveller. Well then, you\u27ll have to get a passport, and pack and ... But wait a minute. Have you taken time to read about the countries you will visit? Think how much more your trip will mean if you have read some history and geography. People will be more friendly if you understand some of their customs. and habits. Your souvenirs can take on new meaning if you have some idea of how they are made and their importance to the country\u27s economy

Please Pass the Popcorn!

A bowl of popcorn and a crisp apple has become as popular a combination as pork and beans; but here are some ideas to change that food cliche into a unique entertaining treat

All the choice and all the responsibilities: an exploration of the agency perceived by women with children around their childbearing

Findings from an exploratory study of agency around childbearing perceived by women with children from a feminist perspective are presented. Contemporary women‘s childbearing has confusedly been portrayed as chosen but constrained and also a duty. Most recently women have been considered to have a duty to reproduce to stimulate economic growth. Furthermore, a plethora of fertility theories have been put forward to explain recent declining fertility but these have found to be incapable of explaining fertility trends and the complexity of childbearing negotiations. Amongst these deliberations women‘s interests tend to get lost. This research attempts to reverse that tendency. Taking part in this research were 26 women each of whom had at least one child of nine years of age or younger from in and around Orange, NSW. Data was collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups. As agency is ill-defined within sociology, seven criteria for recognising agency were constructed from a review of sociological theory. These criteria were used as a series of lenses through which the data were viewed; allowing for the explanatory powers of theories to be compared. The findings show that women‘s agency around childbearing was intermittent and imperfect but not completely absent. Important to the discourse of choice prevalent in the popular media and expounded by economic rationalists, the concept of choice was shown to be simplistic. Rather the women described complex negotiations between biological factors, social influences and personal preferences. This research demonstrates that despite making some progress in workforce participation, women‘s expected role in the home curtailed what they could achieve. The thesis furthers understanding of women‘s childbearing agency, has implications for public policy, provides insights into the relevance of sociological theories to women who have children and provides a novel methodological approach for assessing agency

Hearts and Flowers

Thinking of weddings? Then you\u27re thinking of music, wedding cakes, rings, bouquets, flowers, gifts and many other things. If you\u27re also thinking of your checkbook, then think twice in selecting the flowers for your wedding and the wedding gifts for your friends

Realising the inclusive potential of online teaching and learning for marginalised students

Online teaching and learning can contribute to inclusive and accessible teaching and learning. By prioritising inclusion, accessibility and careful planning we will find the potential in online platforms and resources and our most marginalised students will benefit most

Feedforward: helping students interpret written feedback

"Assessment for Learning is the process of seeking and interpreting evidence for use by learners... "(Assessment Reform Group, 2002, p.2): for the Higher Education tutor, written feedback forms an integral part of this. This short article reports on teaching methods to engage students in feedback and assessment of their written work

“I already know how I feel about this”: using assessment to encourage criticality

Tutors involved with teaching and assessing a global citizenship module identified a potential conflict between global citizenship’s values-laden status and the academic and professional standards (TDA, 2007), requiring student teachers to demonstrate critical engagement. In an attempt to facilitate more critical engagement with the relatively new curriculum subject of global citizenship, students generated specific assignment criteria. This approach is evaluated through scrutiny of student assignments. Initial research findings suggest that criticality can be facilitated through some student ownership of the assessment process; in addition, there is a need for tutors to reflect on what may influence their interpretations of assessment criteria. Further critique of the tutor-designed analysis model suggests opportunities for, and potential value in, increased student engagement with the model. Plans are in place for a pilot study with future cohorts

Opportunities for personalised learning: enabling or overwhelming?

This paper evaluates the development of a personalised learning approach within a professional distance learning course. The issues arising are of relevance to academics engaged in course development, with an emphasis on fostering independent learning. The course focuses on enabling student teachers to develop their generic skills, attributes and knowledge through reflective practice. The current course differs from the previous model through its emphasis on a question-led approach in which students are encouraged to identify and respond to their own learning needs in independent ways. Student evaluations and contributions at the course midpoint suggest that, while most are engaged with the notion of being an independent learner, some students are challenged by this expectation. This in turn raises questions about the concept of personalised learning