Ruth Sibson

Undergraduate perceptions of the development of team-working skills

Purpose – The ability to working effectively with others (WEWO) is critical yet industry continues to lament deficiencies in new graduates. Progress in developing this highly valued skill in undergraduates is impeded by a lack of conceptual clarity and evidence of how best to measure it, and a tendency to adopt an outcomes-focused, rather than process-oriented, approach. This paper aims to investigate undergraduate perceptions of how well a stand-alone employability skill development programme, operating in an Australian Business Faculty, is fostering the WEWO skill set and which pedagogical practices are considered to add most value. Design/methodology/approach – The study examines undergraduate perceptions using data gathered from a skills audit of 799 business undergraduates from all four sequential units within the skills programme. Undergraduates rated and described their development against an established framework of WEWO behaviours. Findings – Findings indicate that, overall, skill development is ...

Is physical activity leisure or work? Exploring the leisure-tourism-physical activity relationship with holidaymakers on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Abstract To help overcome preventable health problems in the developed world, the ‘active living’ concept seeks to stimulate peoples physical activity in everyday environments. This study contributes to the understanding of the leisure‐tourism‐physical activity relationship by investigating the self‐reported physical activity of holidaymakers on Rottnest Island, Western Australia, compared to their home environment. The qualitative analysis of 41 participant interviews on behaviour, motivation, and constraints revealed that physical activity was seen as leisure on Rottnest but work at home. A uniquely attractive and easily accessible environment and positive social interactions were key contributors to participation in physical activity.

‘I think it adds value, but I don’t use it’: use, perceptions and attitudes of outdoor exercise equipment in an urban public park

ABSTRACT Public open spaces are important places that can contribute to public health initiatives through facilitating leisure-time physical activity. Using the findings from 400 self-completed questionnaires of park visitors, this exploratory study examined people’s use, perception and attitudes of a specific type of outdoor exercise equipment (in the form of a stretch station circuit) installed in an urban public park in a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. The data highlights that the equipment is positively perceived by existing park users in that it is seen to add value to the park and is a ‘good investment’ by their local government authority. Users of the equipment did enjoy it and wanted more installed. However, there appears to be little perceived benefit in terms of its contribution to the physical activity levels of park users, particularly with regard to a key target group – those people who engage in little leisure-time physical activity.

Professional development to support the embedding of eportfolios in higher education programs

The documentation of achievement in program outcomes is important in higher education and often occurs in upper year courses through capstone and/or work-integrated learning projects. There is growing recognition that ePortfolios can be used in this process. Embedding ePortfolios across the curriculum offers a framework for student learning, increases student satisfaction, and provides a mechanism to demonstrate standards and professional competencies. However, if ePortfolios have not been embedded across a program, evidence for outcomes and the student experience can be disjointed or unclear, and can exclude important elements of the learning journey. This chapter uses case studies of professional development workshops to assist higher education curriculum leaders, academic developers and teaching staff to identify and develop methods for building a structured program that embeds ePortfolios from first to final year within tertiary and industry contexts. The process includes understanding and mapping program learning outcomes, scaffolding course learning outcomes, and addressing and assessing these outcomes to ensure that holistic program design provides evidence to meet quality standards and competencies. Higher education teaching staff often design and deliver courses individually, without considering implications of assessment design and learning outcomes for a program as a whole. The aim of the professional development workshop was to simulate authentic, collaborative planning activities where participants worked in small groups to plan the integration of ePortfolios across a program. Utilising self-completed questionnaire data gathered through end-of-workshop evaluations, this chapter discusses the pedagogical design, content and considerations addressed by the professional development workshop, as well as implications for its use to support higher education teaching staff.

The motivations and experiences of Australian Football League interstate sport tourists

Abstract Using a self-complete questionnaire, this paper examines the motivating factors and associated tourism experiences of interstate tourists visiting Western Australia who attended an Australian Football League game. The main motivating factor was ‘achievement’ or the associated feeling they have when their team wins, while the least important was the ‘physical attractiveness of players’. This research also identified, however, that far from being a homogenous group of interstate sport tourists, there were some significant differences in their motivations and commitment towards the sport and/or their club, and their travel plans, based on their main reason for travel.

BBQs and beers, or cappuccinos? Globalisation, field hockey and social change.

Abstract Since the early 1990s, there has been a steady growth in discussions about sport under the rubric of globalisation. Not surprisingly though, different interpretations exist in regard to the globalisation-sport connection. Significantly, scholars have argued that global trends must be examined alongside the cultural contingencies of specific localities. Using a case study of field hockey in Newcastle, Australia, this paper examines the impact that global processes have had upon the consumption and management of ‘local’ grassroots sport. It is argued that the introduction of synthetic turf playing surfaces has effectively compelled local hockey associations to establish new facilities, and that this development has contributed to a loss of many of the sport’s social aspects, and also to notions of club commitment. Conversely, this development has provided both players and spectators with a centralised facility incorporating undercover viewing areas and an all-weather surface, and, for many participants, playing hockey at a ‘professional’ standard facility is now more important than the potentially negative impacts of this change.