Geraldine Torrisi-Steele

The literature landscape of blended learning in higher education: the need for better understanding of academic blended practice

If we are to realise the potential of blended learning in higher education, then further research into academic practice and relevant academic development is essential. Our review of literature on blended learning in higher education reveals an interesting scholarship landscape which, when described in detail, pointedly directs attention to the lack of literature seeking to understand academics’ current blended practices. We argue that this is problematic in terms of formulating the required professional development and support. In essence, this paper uncovers the need for further research into understanding not only why academics may choose to engage in blended learning, but also, once engaged, why some choose to integrate technology to create transformative blends while others choose minimally impacting blends. This paper may interest those supporting academics in developing blended learning. It provides a guiding resource both for researchers investigating blended practices and those embarking on blended learning implementations.

Education about Child Sexual Abuse on Interactive Multimedia CD-Rom for Undergraduate Teachers

In many countries, one aspect of health education, namely child sexual abuse, has become an important issue for teachers in pre-schools, primary schools and high schools to address. In Australia, many states now have mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse by teachers to their Principals then to the police or the Department of Families. Consequently, as preparation for this role, all teachers should have appropriate knowledge and attitudes about child sexual abuse. This paper analyses the educational bases of an interactive multimedia CD-Rom module on child sexual abuse designed for use by Australian university undergraduate teachers, to enhance their knowledge and attitudes about child sexual abuse. This application of Blooms Levels of Thinking Skills as well as Constructivist principles in designing educational multimedia may assist other educational curriculum developers when designing pedagogical interactivities that are appropriate, productive and relevant in teaching about child sexual abuse to undergraduate teachers.

Pedagogical Design Considerations in Sex Education on Interactive Multimedia Using CD-Rom: An Example of Sexual Intercourse

Human sexuality is a significant issue for educators to understand and teach about, and for young people to learn about. The development of interactive multimedia technologies has added a range of new dimensions associated with designing pedagogies for sex education on Interactive Multimedia (IMM). Here, a module on CD‐Rom on Sexuality and Human Relationships designed for student teachers is presented as an example of a resource, and analysed for the pedagogical considerations that accompany it. The paper concludes that the conceptualisation and design of IMM on CD‐Rom on sexuality is able to address a range of commonly used pedagogies. The most significant pedagogical renegotiation appears to lie in the transposing of human‐to‐human interaction, as in discussion, real life scenarios, simulation, role analysis, values and attitude clarification, to human‐to‐screen interaction. This may be addressed principally by using camera phones where human‐to‐human interaction occurs visually and in real time, whilst email and discussion groups can cater for delayed, typed text human‐to‐human interactions. For some learners, using IMM on CD‐Rom for sex education may be less effective, but for others it may be ideal as it provides for privacy, solo contemplation, self‐dialogue, and negates embarrassment in front of peers or teachers.

Teaching about Human Relationships Education for primary school student‐teachers using an interactive CD‐ROM

Human Relationships Education is a very important part of primary school student‐teacher education. All primary school children need sound guidance and enhanced knowledge about puberty, growing up successfully, and feeling competent and confident in themselves. An interactive multimedia CD‐ROM was designed and developed for some Australian university student‐teachers in the final fourth year of their Bachelor of Education (Primary School), and addresses the Human Relationships Education curriculum. This paper analyses some of the pedagogies used in this pastoral care learning as examples of a Constructivist approach to designing multimedia interactivities based on Anderson and Krathwohls learning framework. Such an approach may be useful for other educational designers to improve student‐teacher involvement in their pastoral care learning, to provide pedagogical variation and to use interactive multimedia, thus enhancing learning outcomes for student‐teachers and, in turn, their primary school students.

Philosophy and Practice of Career and Technical Education Practitioners in China and U.S.: Some Insights

ABSTRACT Teaching philosophy is recognized as a major force shaping teaching practices of instructors across all fields of education. In the present article, we take a cross-cultural perspective on teaching philosophy in the field of career and technical education. The teaching philosophies of practitioners in Chinese vocational agricultural universities and American land-grant universities are compared in terms of 6 philosophical approaches commonly found in adult education. Data collected through the researcher-developed Philosophies of Vocational Education Scale revealed commonalities between the 2 groups (64 Chinese, 64 American) of randomly polled instructors, despite the difference in social settings. Liberal, progressive, behaviorist, somewhat humanistic philosophy was favored in both groups. Analytic and radical philosophies were not so apparent among instructors in either group.

Survey Research: Methods, Issues and the Future

Survey research is prevalent among many professional fields. Both cost effective and time efficient, this method of research is commonly used for the purposes of gaining insight into the attitudes, thoughts, and opinions of populations. Additionally, because there are several types of survey research designs and data collection instruments, the researcher has the flexibility to determine which methods will work best for his or her particular study. However, regardless of the method, the researcher must carefully select an excising instrument or construct the data collection instrument, as this is the key to a successful survey research study. This article defines survey research, outlines the basic structure for conducting such research, identifies some of the major challenges surrounding survey research and provides some recommendations, and provides some insights into the shape of survey research in the future.

Research Goes Digital: Some Methods, Frameworks, and Issues

Traditionally, librarians take a role in connecting researchers with resources. With the advent of the digital age, the nature of research is expanding; there are more, and different, sources of data, ways of collecting data, and methods of analyzing and interacting with data. If librarians are to remain relevant and able to serve their patrons, then they must engage in research as guides or even as partners in the research process. To do this, it is critical that librarians gain an understanding of the nature of research in the digital age and of the frameworks, methodologies, and issues related to digital research. The purpose of this article is to contribute to literature on digital research as it relates to librarianship.