Context, Judgement and Informal Learning at Work: An Investigation of Factors Crucial for Enhancing Performance. This project investigates learning that enables people to perform well the demanding aspects of their occupations. Detailed case studies of critical incidents in a range of workplaces will be constructed and the learning or otherwise by key players involved in these incidents will be elucidated and analysed. These findings will test and refine a theory of learning at work that concept ....Context, Judgement and Informal Learning at Work: An Investigation of Factors Crucial for Enhancing Performance. This project investigates learning that enables people to perform well the demanding aspects of their occupations. Detailed case studies of critical incidents in a range of workplaces will be constructed and the learning or otherwise by key players involved in these incidents will be elucidated and analysed. These findings will test and refine a theory of learning at work that conceptualises it, at its best, as a growing capacity to make appropriate context-sensitive judgements. Developing a sound theory of workplace learning is very important because, though it is currently a major policy focus, received theories are of limited explanatory value.Read moreRead less
Bacterial Cell Division: Discovering how it begins and the network of protein interactions it requires. All cells must coordinate cell division with chromosome replication to ensure that the DNA is partitioned equally into newborn cells. We will establish the defect of a novel mutant blocked in the earliest stage of cell division in bacteria to obtain unique information about this vital regulatory step. We will use our newly discovered protein interaction network to establish what role protein i ....Bacterial Cell Division: Discovering how it begins and the network of protein interactions it requires. All cells must coordinate cell division with chromosome replication to ensure that the DNA is partitioned equally into newborn cells. We will establish the defect of a novel mutant blocked in the earliest stage of cell division in bacteria to obtain unique information about this vital regulatory step. We will use our newly discovered protein interaction network to establish what role protein interactions play in integrating cell division with other biological pathways in the cell to ensure its tight regulation. Our discoveries will facilitate the design of new antibiotics that target cell division to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and bioterrorism organisms.Read moreRead less
Establishing how bacterial cells position the division site. Cell division is essential for life. It is required for bacterial infections and, if uncontrolled, causes diseases such as cancer. We will establish how bacterial cells position the division site precisely to ensure faithful production of newborn cells. We will use the latest technology in bacterial cell biology to provide novel, clear-cut information to maintain Australia at the leading edge of this important area of research. There i ....Establishing how bacterial cells position the division site. Cell division is essential for life. It is required for bacterial infections and, if uncontrolled, causes diseases such as cancer. We will establish how bacterial cells position the division site precisely to ensure faithful production of newborn cells. We will use the latest technology in bacterial cell biology to provide novel, clear-cut information to maintain Australia at the leading edge of this important area of research. There is an alarming increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria and an imminent threat of bioterrorism. This research allows the opportunity for the development of new antibiotics to protect Australia protected from these dangerous bacteria. Read moreRead less
Regulating the earliest step in bacterial cell division: Z ring assembly. Cell division is essential for survival. What are the cues that signal cells to divide at the right place and at the right time? How do cells ensure that when division occurs to produce two newborn cells, each one receives the correct amount of DNA? The answers to these questions are essential to understand how organisms reproduce and grow. But they remain unknown. This research addresses these questions in bacteria. Our d ....Regulating the earliest step in bacterial cell division: Z ring assembly. Cell division is essential for survival. What are the cues that signal cells to divide at the right place and at the right time? How do cells ensure that when division occurs to produce two newborn cells, each one receives the correct amount of DNA? The answers to these questions are essential to understand how organisms reproduce and grow. But they remain unknown. This research addresses these questions in bacteria. Our discoveries will have a significant impact on our understanding of the regulation of this vital process and will facilitate the design of novel antibiotics that target it.Read moreRead less
The commercial provision of schooling and its implications for Australia. This project aims to identify modes of commercial provision of schooling around the globe and the policy networks and changing forms and practices of the state that help this provision. The integration of public schooling and corporate investment has become relatively commonplace around the world, yet there is no academic research on how this phenomenon could affect Australia. The project expects to show how commercial pro ....The commercial provision of schooling and its implications for Australia. This project aims to identify modes of commercial provision of schooling around the globe and the policy networks and changing forms and practices of the state that help this provision. The integration of public schooling and corporate investment has become relatively commonplace around the world, yet there is no academic research on how this phenomenon could affect Australia. The project expects to show how commercial provision of schooling creates relationships between governments and private companies and the implications of this commercial provision for equitable and democratic schooling in Australia.Read moreRead less
Beyond training and learning: integrated development practices in organisations. It is necessary for Australian businesses to maintain and enhance their productivity in the competitive global marketplace. As enterprises anticipate and face the challenges of the contemporary economy, a central concern is ensuring that employees learn what is needed to engage successfully with these challenges. Rapid growth in unstructured training in organisations demonstrates the importance of focusing on learni ....Beyond training and learning: integrated development practices in organisations. It is necessary for Australian businesses to maintain and enhance their productivity in the competitive global marketplace. As enterprises anticipate and face the challenges of the contemporary economy, a central concern is ensuring that employees learn what is needed to engage successfully with these challenges. Rapid growth in unstructured training in organisations demonstrates the importance of focusing on learning that is integrated into work processes. The outcomes of this project will help organisations exploit the productive potential of these different forms of learning. It will do this by identifying the links between organisational imperatives and the development of personnel.Read moreRead less
Changing work, changing workers, changing selves: a study of pedagogies in the new vocationalism. Changes in the form of work have led to an emphasis on the development of new kinds of working identities. This project aims to map, analyze and theorize the way in which pedagogical strategies in vocational education produce new worker identities. It examines contextual differences across different sectors and industries as well as forms of inclusion and exclusion. For policy-makers it provides ....Changing work, changing workers, changing selves: a study of pedagogies in the new vocationalism. Changes in the form of work have led to an emphasis on the development of new kinds of working identities. This project aims to map, analyze and theorize the way in which pedagogical strategies in vocational education produce new worker identities. It examines contextual differences across different sectors and industries as well as forms of inclusion and exclusion. For policy-makers it provides a new mapping and evaluation of different types of institutional programs; for practitioners it brings new insights about effective practices; for theorists it offers a new, empirically-grounded theorisation of workplace knowledge.Read moreRead less
Sustaining practice: The theory and development of educational practice/praxis in the context of education for sustainability (EfS). This project investigates educational practice in ten Education for Sustainability initiatives, to characterise exemplary practice in schools and the community. It contributes to environmental, economic, cultural and social and dimensions of sustainability through improved educational practice, with implications for theory, policy and practice in sustainability, te ....Sustaining practice: The theory and development of educational practice/praxis in the context of education for sustainability (EfS). This project investigates educational practice in ten Education for Sustainability initiatives, to characterise exemplary practice in schools and the community. It contributes to environmental, economic, cultural and social and dimensions of sustainability through improved educational practice, with implications for theory, policy and practice in sustainability, teacher education and education for the professions. It will also contribute directly to sustainability through enhancing the work of Education for Sustainability Initiatives in communities and schools. It will provide enhanced tools for understanding practice/praxis to assist policy makers, especially those concerned with sustainability, Education for Sustainability, teacher education and education for the professions.Read moreRead less
A cross-national study of the relative impact of an oral component on PhD examination quality, language and practice. High quality doctoral degrees call for the most effective forms of assessment. This project investigates the role of oral examination in PhD assessment, common internationally but not in Australia, and is the first to compare the relative impact of oral and 'no oral' models on examination quality, language and practice.
Investigating professional learning lives in the digital evolution of work. This project aims to investigate learning practices of professionals working in professions effected by digitalisation. The project expects to generate new knowledge about how professionals’ learning practices shape and are being shaped by evolving work practices. Expected outcomes of the project include new conceptual thinking about professional learning, and a contemporary and nuanced evidence base to inform innovative ....Investigating professional learning lives in the digital evolution of work. This project aims to investigate learning practices of professionals working in professions effected by digitalisation. The project expects to generate new knowledge about how professionals’ learning practices shape and are being shaped by evolving work practices. Expected outcomes of the project include new conceptual thinking about professional learning, and a contemporary and nuanced evidence base to inform innovative teaching and learning solutions for individuals, workplaces and education providers; particularly higher education. This project should provide significant benefits for a national policy on lifelong learning to address Australia’s agile skills development needs.
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