Authentic digital representation of creative works in education: addressing the challenges of digitisation and assessment. This project will investigate the digitisation and marking of portfolios for the purposes of summative assessment in the visual arts and design senior secondary school courses. The aim is to enhance moderation, compare between media and course contexts, compare methods of marking, and generally increase the authenticity of the assessment.
Investigating the feasibility of using digital representations of work for authentic and reliable performance assessment in senior secondary school courses. Nationally, school curricula are increasingly focused on performance outcomes, such as technology literacy, because of the need for a highly skilled workforce. The study aims to provide credible assessments of these outcomes to ensure that they become an integral part of the delivered curriculum and in so doing better meet the needs of a di ....Investigating the feasibility of using digital representations of work for authentic and reliable performance assessment in senior secondary school courses. Nationally, school curricula are increasingly focused on performance outcomes, such as technology literacy, because of the need for a highly skilled workforce. The study aims to provide credible assessments of these outcomes to ensure that they become an integral part of the delivered curriculum and in so doing better meet the needs of a diverse set of students and enhance school retention with the ensuing economic and social benefits to the students and society. A capacity to conduct reliable assessments around agreed standards will also further the national curricula consistency agenda.Read moreRead less
The transition from secondary school to adulthood: Experiences and life outcomes for youth with an intellectual disability and their families. This project seeks to explore the challenges faced and outcomes achieved by students with an intellectual disability as they move from secondary school into adult life. The study will investigate the factors at an individual, educational, family, and societal level which positively and adversely affect outcomes for young people with an intellectual disab ....The transition from secondary school to adulthood: Experiences and life outcomes for youth with an intellectual disability and their families. This project seeks to explore the challenges faced and outcomes achieved by students with an intellectual disability as they move from secondary school into adult life. The study will investigate the factors at an individual, educational, family, and societal level which positively and adversely affect outcomes for young people with an intellectual disability and their families. Family impacts can include significant loss of income as parents may have to cease employment to care for their young adult who has limited employment or day placement options. Gaining the knowledge to minimise the disruption to family life, which often occurs at this time of transition, will lead to strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
The cause(s) and management of the Eucalyptus gomphocephala decline epidemic in Western Australia. Tree declines are prevalent throughout rural and metropolitan Australia. Apart from loss of habitat, biodiversity, shade and aesthetics, tree death is a financial burden to land managers. This project will increase our understanding of factors that drive tree declines by: (a) understanding changes in hydrological processes that occur through declining rainfall or ground water use; (b) exploring t ....The cause(s) and management of the Eucalyptus gomphocephala decline epidemic in Western Australia. Tree declines are prevalent throughout rural and metropolitan Australia. Apart from loss of habitat, biodiversity, shade and aesthetics, tree death is a financial burden to land managers. This project will increase our understanding of factors that drive tree declines by: (a) understanding changes in hydrological processes that occur through declining rainfall or ground water use; (b) exploring tree nutrient requirements in relation to soil fertility and land management; (c) identifying revegetation strategies for disturbed lands; and (c) through linking environmental correlates with tuart decline. It will provide the community with tools to mitigate decline such as though improved revegetation strategiesRead moreRead less
Indicators of ecosystem health in Western Australian recovery catchments. Dryland salinity and rural community decline in Australia are important and inter-related issues. Any ecosystem recovery actions proposed to address salinity should be examined for their potential to assist rural communities, rather than exacerbate their problems. The framework theories of ecosystem health and participatory research embrace these issues. A PhD student placed in each of two recovery catchments will use meth ....Indicators of ecosystem health in Western Australian recovery catchments. Dryland salinity and rural community decline in Australia are important and inter-related issues. Any ecosystem recovery actions proposed to address salinity should be examined for their potential to assist rural communities, rather than exacerbate their problems. The framework theories of ecosystem health and participatory research embrace these issues. A PhD student placed in each of two recovery catchments will use methodologies adapted for these approaches to develop indicators for the detection of trends in recovery or deterioration of ecosystem and community well-being. This will allow for adaptive changes to recovery actions, and for an analysis of causal relationships.Read moreRead less
Measuring the effectiveness of specialist science enrichment programs. Australia faces critical problems in science education with student attitudes to science in decline and a shortage of science teachers. We also face significant problems in indigenous education. This project will determine the ability of science enrichment centres to change student attitudes and to motivate them towards science using exciting and innovative new education facilities. Results will provide valuable data to allo ....Measuring the effectiveness of specialist science enrichment programs. Australia faces critical problems in science education with student attitudes to science in decline and a shortage of science teachers. We also face significant problems in indigenous education. This project will determine the ability of science enrichment centres to change student attitudes and to motivate them towards science using exciting and innovative new education facilities. Results will provide valuable data to allow future funding priorities to be optimised.Read moreRead less
Development of class-leading bioluminescence resonance energy transfer technologies for real-time monitoring of molecular interactions. The purpose of this project is to develop improved technologies for identifying and developing pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects. The expected outcome is the development of technologies that provide a level of sensitivity and data quality that enables adoption by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Igniting interest and promoting understanding in engineering and technology among primary school students through engaging learning environments. The project involves designing and evaluating an educational programme that promotes understanding and interest in engineering and technology (E&T) among primary school students. Benefits include the dissemination of effective pedagogical strategies for capturing the interest of primary school children and
improving their understanding in E&T.
Towards improved quality of written patient records: language proficiency standards for non-native speaking health professionals. This project will focus on the quality and safety of healthcare in Australia by improving the screening of written communication of overseas trained non-native English speaking health professionals. This project will be achieved by investigating writing practices in hospitals and by setting more profession-oriented standards on the Occupational English Test.
Improving the face of cosmetic medicine - an automatic three-dimensional facial analysis system for facial rejuvenation. 'How will I look?' is the most common question to cosmetic doctors from patients considering facial rejuvenation. This project will answer this question for the first time by providing patients with a three-dimensional model of their post-treatment face as well as informing cosmetic doctors exactly how to achieve the patient's desired face.