Living and Learning in a Knowledge Society: The implications of young adults' knowledge-creating practices for higher education. As society moves into a new era, knowledge creation has become vital to Australia's participation in global society. Knowledge creation fuels innovation and economic prosperity, and fosters social cohesion through new forms of community engagement. Young adults play an important role in our society as the next generation of knowledge workers, with many already active k ....Living and Learning in a Knowledge Society: The implications of young adults' knowledge-creating practices for higher education. As society moves into a new era, knowledge creation has become vital to Australia's participation in global society. Knowledge creation fuels innovation and economic prosperity, and fosters social cohesion through new forms of community engagement. Young adults play an important role in our society as the next generation of knowledge workers, with many already active knowledge creators in their everyday and academic lives. By investigating how young adults create knowledge across these diverse contexts, this research will provide important practical insights for educators and policy-makers who are trying to determine the role of higher education in a knowledge society.Read moreRead less
Conceptual Understanding and Problem-solving Approaches in the Presence of Graphics Calculators. The objectives of the project are to identify how students conceptualise mathematical relationships and formulate problem solutions, when graphics calculators are utilised. Graphics calculators are now common in schools and research is needed to provide sound bases for teaching and assessment. Investigation will centre on upper-secondary applied mathematics subjects because they are studied by a high ....Conceptual Understanding and Problem-solving Approaches in the Presence of Graphics Calculators. The objectives of the project are to identify how students conceptualise mathematical relationships and formulate problem solutions, when graphics calculators are utilised. Graphics calculators are now common in schools and research is needed to provide sound bases for teaching and assessment. Investigation will centre on upper-secondary applied mathematics subjects because they are studied by a high proportion of students for university entrance, are relevant to a wide range of careers and have received relatively little research attention in relation to calculator use. The project will yield, for school and research communities, new knowledge of mathematics learning with graphics calculators.Read moreRead less
Learning through inquiry in Higher Education. This project can make a significant contribution to socioeconomic well-being. It addresses a major dilemma in higher education practice. It focuses on learning through inquiry - an approach to education that many claim is particularly appropriate for training graduates for knowledge work in the 21st Century. Our project makes a timely intervention by providing broad-based evidence that can inform debates about the future direction of this area of hig ....Learning through inquiry in Higher Education. This project can make a significant contribution to socioeconomic well-being. It addresses a major dilemma in higher education practice. It focuses on learning through inquiry - an approach to education that many claim is particularly appropriate for training graduates for knowledge work in the 21st Century. Our project makes a timely intervention by providing broad-based evidence that can inform debates about the future direction of this area of higher education. In practical terms, take-up of the outcomes of this project can improve the quality of Australian higher education, as well as the knowledge and skills of graduates entering the Australian workforce. It helps understand what is involved in promoting an innovation culture.Read moreRead less
Learning through online and co-present discussion in higher education: expectations, experiences and outcomes. This project will make a substantial contribution to international research in the fields of learning and teaching in higher education and learning and teaching with ICT. In practical terms, the project will provide evidence-based guidelines for the integration of 'blended' learning approaches, especially with respect to the ways ICT can support small group discussion activity. Scientif ....Learning through online and co-present discussion in higher education: expectations, experiences and outcomes. This project will make a substantial contribution to international research in the fields of learning and teaching in higher education and learning and teaching with ICT. In practical terms, the project will provide evidence-based guidelines for the integration of 'blended' learning approaches, especially with respect to the ways ICT can support small group discussion activity. Scientifically, the project will add to our understanding of how students and teachers approach learning and teaching through discussion (co-present and online). Such knowledge is a vital, strategic asset given the growing economic importance of Australian higher education and of its international reputation for quality.Read moreRead less
Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the env ....Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the environment in intact plants through the generation and analysis of transgenic plants with altered guard cell function. This will aid in the development of strategies for direct manipulation of stomatal function.Read moreRead less
Singular Causation: A Conceptual Analysis. The concept of causation plays a central role in structuring our experience of the world. Bu how is the concept of causation itself to be understood? This project aims to answer this question by advancing a novel theory to explain the content and structure of the concept. A book monograph outlining the new theory will be of interest not only to philosophers, but also to natural and social scientists concerned to understand the application of the concept ....Singular Causation: A Conceptual Analysis. The concept of causation plays a central role in structuring our experience of the world. Bu how is the concept of causation itself to be understood? This project aims to answer this question by advancing a novel theory to explain the content and structure of the concept. A book monograph outlining the new theory will be of interest not only to philosophers, but also to natural and social scientists concerned to understand the application of the concept in their disciplines, and to cognitive psychologists and artificial intelligence experts concerned to understand its role in human cognition.
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Exploring Aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry as a Paradigm for Advanced Functional Materials. This research proposal aims to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the deve ....Exploring Aspects of Supramolecular Chemistry as a Paradigm for Advanced Functional Materials. This research proposal aims to provide an intellectual grounding in the use of molecular recognition for the assembly of complex arrays for new materials research. The development of molecular systems and supramolecular arrays that are capable of solar energy conversion (e.g. photovoltaics and artificial photosynthesis) or that have potential applications in catalysis will provide advances in the development of these industries within Australia. Such developments may also lead to breakthroughs in areas such as optoelectronics and cleaner energy production. Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Technology Transfer Capability of Australian Univerities. This project aims to assist in achieving enhanced University capability in technology transfer which is regarded by government as cruicial to improving national innovation performance. I seeks to identify the determinants of effective technology transfer and provide in-depth understanding of the social process involved in transferring both inventions and associated scientific knowledge from universities to corporationss. Emp ....Enhancing the Technology Transfer Capability of Australian Univerities. This project aims to assist in achieving enhanced University capability in technology transfer which is regarded by government as cruicial to improving national innovation performance. I seeks to identify the determinants of effective technology transfer and provide in-depth understanding of the social process involved in transferring both inventions and associated scientific knowledge from universities to corporationss. Employing a contingent effectiveness model, the research will focus on the characteristics of the transfer agent, the transfer recipient, the transfer medium, the transfer object and the demand environment. Results and recommended strategies will be communicated to university and industry managers and government officials.Read moreRead less
The role of technology-enriched, technology-mediated learning communities in reforming mathematics teacher education. This project examines the impact of a technology-enriched teacher education program on beginning teachers' integration of educational technologies into secondary school mathematics classrooms. It seeks to increase theoretical understanding of how beginning teachers are initiated into a collaborative professional community featuring both web-based and face to face interaction, and ....The role of technology-enriched, technology-mediated learning communities in reforming mathematics teacher education. This project examines the impact of a technology-enriched teacher education program on beginning teachers' integration of educational technologies into secondary school mathematics classrooms. It seeks to increase theoretical understanding of how beginning teachers are initiated into a collaborative professional community featuring both web-based and face to face interaction, and how participation in such a community shapes their pedagogical beliefs and actions. Of central interest is the role of technologically knowledgeable pre-service and beginning teachers as agents ofinnovation and reform in secondary school mathematics. Outcomes will inform the design and implementation of models of pre-service teacher education and professional development.Read moreRead less
Towards a social theory of semiotic technology: Exploring PowerPoint's design and its use in higher education and corporate settings. PowerPoint has become the dominant technology for designing and delivering presentations in many important settings and skills in the use of PowerPoint have become essential for professional and academic success. This study will investigate the use of PowerPoint in higher education and corporate settings in order to discover what these skills are and how the desig ....Towards a social theory of semiotic technology: Exploring PowerPoint's design and its use in higher education and corporate settings. PowerPoint has become the dominant technology for designing and delivering presentations in many important settings and skills in the use of PowerPoint have become essential for professional and academic success. This study will investigate the use of PowerPoint in higher education and corporate settings in order to discover what these skills are and how the design of PowerPoint supports or hinders the achievement of a range of communicative purposes. The study will provide guidelines for evaluating and improving the design and use of PowerPoint and other, similar presentation software.Read moreRead less