Terry Judd

Beyond natives and immigrants: exploring types of net generation students

Previously assumed to be a homogenous and highly skilled group with respect to information and communications technology, the so-called Net Generation has instead been shown to possess a diverse range of technology skills and preferences. To better understand this diversity, we subjected data from 2096 students aged between 17 and 26 from three Australian universities to a cluster analysis. Through this analysis, we identified four distinct types of technology users: power users (14% of sample), ordinary users (27%), irregular users (14%) and basic users (45%). A series of exploratory chi-square analyses revealed significant associations between the different types of technology users and the university that students attended, their gender and age and whether the student was local or international. No associations were found for analyses related discipline area, socio-economic status or rurality of residence. The findings are discussed in light of the rhetoric associated with commentaries about the Net Generation, and suggestions about their implications for teaching and learning in universities are offered.

Close-range vertical photography for measuring cover changes in perennial grasslands.

We describe a method of close-range vertical photography and digital image analysis for measuring changes in total projective cover in perennial tussock grasslands of semi-arid Australia. Repeated photographs of permanent plots (1 m 2 ) were classified using supervised image analysis, providing a clear and objective record of the effects of single-burns on grass cover relative to controls. Computer simulations of the photographic set-up indi cated that errors due to camera perspective were consistently less than 4% across a range of cover classes. Other errors, including misclassification error, were not quantified because simplified laboratory tasks indicated that conventional field methods, such as point sampling and visual estimation, provided unreliable esti mates of grass cover and were therefore not suitable benchmarks for assessing the photographic method. However, the presented data indicate that the photographic method was sufficiently accu rate and precise to measure treatment effects over time and to elucidate relationships between independent growth parameters across a range of cover conditions. In addition, the photographic method was inexpensive, involved minimal field time, and utilised commercial software to classify images. It has the clear advantage over more traditional methods of providing outputs that are readily archived for retrospective studies.

The response of growth and foliar nutrients to fertilizers in young Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) plantations in Gippsland, southeastern Australia

Abstract Fertilizer trials, which included rates of application of up to 400 kg ha−1 N, 200 kg ha−1 and 200 kg ha−1 K, were established in experimental plantations of E. globulus at three sites in Gippsland, southeastern Australia. These sites cover a range of annual rainfall and soil fertility, from 620 mm on a deep infertile sand, to 1000 mm on a rich gradational clay loam. Early growth at all sites was significantly increased by the addition of fertilizers and by age 4 years was consistently best at the highest combined rates of N and P. Foliar N and P concentrations were significantly increased at all sites by combined additions of N and P at Age 1, but were insensitive to treatment at Ages 2 and 4. Relationships between foliar nutrient concentrations and growth were site dependent. Correlations between foliar nutrients and growth in the same year were strongest at Age 1. Foliar nutrients at Age 1 were also strongly associated with growth at later ages at all sites. The best growth was associated with foliar concentrations at Age 1 of about 2.5% N and 0.23% P. Additions of P, alone or with N, consistently decreased foliar N P ratios at Age 1 to between 11 and 12 whereas N and P additions resulted in foliar N P ratios of 15 to 16 at Age 4. These ratios indicate a greater requirement for P than N in the first year suggesting that the N P ratio of fertilizers should be 1:1 within the first year, increasing to 2:1 in later applications. General recommendations for fertilizer addition in the routine establishment of E. globulus are presented. Mean tree volumes at Age 4 ranged from 0.014 to 0.019 m3 in control treatments and from 0.031 to 0.055 m3 at the highest rate of fertilizer addition. Growth responses to fertilizers were greatest, in both absolute and relative terms, at the most fertile site and appeared to be constrained by unfavourable soil texture and limited water availability at the other sites. Because the responses of E. globulus are site specific, detailed assessments of fertilizer requirements on soil types other than those described here require the establishment of further trials. A schedule for the establishment and monitoring of such trials is proposed.

The effects of fertilizers on early growth and foliar nutrient concentrations of three plantation eucalypts on high quality sites in Gippsland, southeastern Australia

Abstract Fertilizer trials of a standard design were established in experimental plantations of Eucalyptus regnans, Eucalyptus nitens and Eucalyptus globulus on sites of high potential productivity in Gippsland, southeastern Australia. The design involved factorial combinations of three rates of N (up to 400 kg ha −1 elemental) and four rates of P (up to 200 kg ha −1 ) with four additional treatments including K and trace elements. Treatments were complete after up to four applications at 2, 9, 14 and 26 months post-planting. P additions significantly increased foliar P concentrations and growth of E. regnans to 45 months but poor survival and competition from woody weeds limited growth responses to treatments. Foliar concentrations of N and P in E. nitens and E. globulus at age 1 year were significantly increased by N and P additions and were positively correlated with both early and later growth. Added P significantly decreased the foliar N to P ratios of all species at age 1 year, indicating that P additions, in particular, were required for good early growth. Combined additions of N and P significantly increased growth of E. nitens in the first year but growth responses to further additions of fertilizer were minimal. In contrast, growth of E. globulus increased in response to all fertilizer additions, leading to the greatest mean volumes at the highest combined rates of N and P. Relative gains in productivity were therefore greater in E. globulus (m.a.i. range at 71 months: 10–24 m 3 ha −1 year −1 ) than E. nitens (16–33 m 3 ha −1 year −1 ). There were no additional growth responses of any species to added K or trace elements. However, concentrations of K in E. regnans foliage at age 1 year were increased by K additions and were correlated with later growth. Low concentrations of Mg in E. nitens foliage suggest a probable response to Mg additions. General fertilizer prescriptions for the establishment phase of eucalypt plantations on sites of high quality are presented. Refinement of these prescriptions will rely on a better understanding of the nutritional requirements of individual species.

Tensions in post-examination feedback: information for learning versus potential for harm

Self‐regulation is recognised as being a requisite skill for professional practice This study is part of a programme of research designed to explore efficient methods of feedback that improve medical students’ ability to self‐regulate their learning. Our aim was to clarify how students respond to different forms and content of written feedback and to explore the impact on study behaviour and knowledge acquisition.

Utilising Mobile Electronic Health Records in Clinical Education

The use of electronic health records (EHRs) in clinical environments to manage patient care is changing clinical practice; however, the explicit teaching of EHR-related skills to trainee clinicians is often lacking in medical curricula. The novelty of EHR-related skills training means there is little evidence on what is considered best practice: it is currently unclear which methods or tools are most effective. In this chapter, the authors present findings from a mixed methods study with thirty-four undergraduate medical students on clinical placement. The study had two major aims: (1) to investigate the effectiveness of a student-centered EHR system as a tool for learning EHR-related skills; and (2) to explore students’ perceptions and use in the hospital environment of the EHR system implemented on mobile devices. Findings from student interviews showed that the EHR system supported the learning of EHR skills by: scaffolding patient interviews; providing a means of managing information gathered from multiple patients; providing opportunities to practise EHR skills; and raising awareness of the potential benefits of EHRs for patient care. Learning benefits of the system that extended beyond EHR skills were also identified. Regarding the use of the mobile EHR system, electronic monitoring data showed that students infrequently created patient records in hospital locations. Network connectivity issues, concerns that mobile devices were not easy to carry around, and concerns that mobile devices would negatively impact patient interactions, were identified as potential barriers to the adoption and use by students of the mobile EHR system in the clinical environment.