Effective pedagogy for improving critical thinking. Many people reason poorly, by almost any measure of reasoning. Although there is evidence that people can be taught to think critically, educators don't really know how. They don't know what works, what doesn't, and why. This study will systematically examine the effectiveness of different techniques for teaching reasoning and will cross-validate an Australian test of reasoning - the GSA - with an international standard. The expected outcomes o ....Effective pedagogy for improving critical thinking. Many people reason poorly, by almost any measure of reasoning. Although there is evidence that people can be taught to think critically, educators don't really know how. They don't know what works, what doesn't, and why. This study will systematically examine the effectiveness of different techniques for teaching reasoning and will cross-validate an Australian test of reasoning - the GSA - with an international standard. The expected outcomes of the study are data about what improves reasoning and about the success of the GSA. The significance of the study lies in the potential benefits these data will have to students and employers.Read moreRead less
Turning Points: Redemption, Women and Alcohol in Melbourne, 1870-1945. History is one of the most effective forms of public communication, currently thriving in the public sphere in books, film, television, and in the passion for genealogy. It can be uniquely effective as a means of public health education, enabling individuals and communities to comprehend the causes and significance of public health problems and their solutions. Alcohol abuse remains a searing issue in Australian public health ....Turning Points: Redemption, Women and Alcohol in Melbourne, 1870-1945. History is one of the most effective forms of public communication, currently thriving in the public sphere in books, film, television, and in the passion for genealogy. It can be uniquely effective as a means of public health education, enabling individuals and communities to comprehend the causes and significance of public health problems and their solutions. Alcohol abuse remains a searing issue in Australian public health and private life. This history would be the first to explore the language, practice and experience of both addiction and treatment of alcoholic women, and would contribute to debate over current practice and policy.Read moreRead less
The human elements: a cultural history of Australian weather. This project will study the experience of weather in Australia from the 1880s to the 1980s. Drawing upon environmental history, history of science and cultural history, we aim to go beyond a catalogue of weather events or climatic obsessions, to explore how the meanings of weather and climate are themselves constructed through the interaction of science, nature and society. This project uses a series of case studies to explore what is ....The human elements: a cultural history of Australian weather. This project will study the experience of weather in Australia from the 1880s to the 1980s. Drawing upon environmental history, history of science and cultural history, we aim to go beyond a catalogue of weather events or climatic obsessions, to explore how the meanings of weather and climate are themselves constructed through the interaction of science, nature and society. This project uses a series of case studies to explore what is human in the elements. The outcomes will include a book, two Metarch publications, collection development and an exhibition brief for the NMA, and web-materials for both industry partners.Read moreRead less
The culture of weeds: invasion biology, identity and aesthetics in Australia. Weeds are a significant threat to Australia’s biodiversity - but when does a plant become one? Defining plants and landscapes as weedy reflects not only ecological values, but also economics, aesthetics, and national identity. The question of how and why weeds spread reveals cultural values that inform the management of all invasive species.
Regional performing arts: theory, practice and policy. SCU and NORPA will collaborate to: research and develop a new music-theatre piece using local experiences of floods to explore broader universal themes; mount an exhibition of visual works on this theme; prepare a volume of essays on the theme; host a conference on theories of music-theatre and publish the papers in a philosophical volume; and develop policy on the performing arts in regional Australia.
The project will bring together leadi ....Regional performing arts: theory, practice and policy. SCU and NORPA will collaborate to: research and develop a new music-theatre piece using local experiences of floods to explore broader universal themes; mount an exhibition of visual works on this theme; prepare a volume of essays on the theme; host a conference on theories of music-theatre and publish the papers in a philosophical volume; and develop policy on the performing arts in regional Australia.
The project will bring together leading practitioners and theoreticians to develop a long-term strategic research and development alliance. It will involve local, Australian and overseas academics and practitioners.Read moreRead less
Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability. Unique challenges face the disability, aged care and health sectors because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability (ID) and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting ....Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability. Unique challenges face the disability, aged care and health sectors because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability (ID) and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting disability and aged care services to their needs. This research will inform the development of policy and programs in the disability, aged care, and health sectors. The research aims to improve the capacity of disability group homes to respond to the health and ageing issues of older people with ID,to improve their quality of life.Read moreRead less
Community Foundations of Resilience of Young People. Understanding and promoting resilience in young people is one of the most important health priorities of the Federal Government. The proposed project advances resilience research in a new direction. It is highly innovative in bringing together a research team from disciplines and professional knowledge domains that generally do not inform each other, to fill the conceptual gap in current knowledge around care, control and social resilience usi ....Community Foundations of Resilience of Young People. Understanding and promoting resilience in young people is one of the most important health priorities of the Federal Government. The proposed project advances resilience research in a new direction. It is highly innovative in bringing together a research team from disciplines and professional knowledge domains that generally do not inform each other, to fill the conceptual gap in current knowledge around care, control and social resilience using an applied community development project and a methodology of engagement with young people, to bring about social change.Read moreRead less
But does it work? Evaluation of science communication activities in Australia. Public science communication activities such as talks, blogs, and social evenings are numerous and drawing larger audiences. But how do we measure their success? This project will collect existing evaluations and develop guidelines for science communication evaluation. The evaluation guidelines developed in this project will assist professional science communicators as well as researchers who wish to communicate t ....But does it work? Evaluation of science communication activities in Australia. Public science communication activities such as talks, blogs, and social evenings are numerous and drawing larger audiences. But how do we measure their success? This project will collect existing evaluations and develop guidelines for science communication evaluation. The evaluation guidelines developed in this project will assist professional science communicators as well as researchers who wish to communicate the results of their scientific research, impacting a range of Australian audiences for science. This project aims to inform science communicators to create better science engagement activities, better ways of evaluating them, and, ultimately, audiences who are more engaged with the results of Australian scientific research. Read moreRead less
Breaking the cycle: the role of housing and support in resolving chronic homelessness. The Australian Government aims to reduce homelessness by half by 2020 and to offer supported accommodation to all rough sleepers by 2020. Chronically homeless people are often part of an impoverished underclass, largely excluded from the labour force and other mainstream institutions. This research will lead to improvements in service delivery and program designs and will link them to the wider areas of housi ....Breaking the cycle: the role of housing and support in resolving chronic homelessness. The Australian Government aims to reduce homelessness by half by 2020 and to offer supported accommodation to all rough sleepers by 2020. Chronically homeless people are often part of an impoverished underclass, largely excluded from the labour force and other mainstream institutions. This research will lead to improvements in service delivery and program designs and will link them to the wider areas of housing policy and social inclusion. The findings will directly contribute to the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health and the priority goal strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
The role of the internet in building social capital amongst homosexually active men: virtual communities in HIV prevention. Social capital comprises features of social organisation such as civic participation, norms of reciprocity and trust in others that facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit, including health and wellbeing. The proposed research focuses on the role of the internet in producing the networks that engender social inclusion and community connectedness. There is scepticism about ....The role of the internet in building social capital amongst homosexually active men: virtual communities in HIV prevention. Social capital comprises features of social organisation such as civic participation, norms of reciprocity and trust in others that facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit, including health and wellbeing. The proposed research focuses on the role of the internet in producing the networks that engender social inclusion and community connectedness. There is scepticism about whether the 'virtual community' of the Internet can build social capital. The study will explore the potential benefits as well as harms to those homosexually active men who use the internet to access health information, meet sexual partners and build friendships that affirm gay identity and community inclusion.Read moreRead less