This paper presents an analysis of the combined data sets from a large ARC (Australian Research C... more This paper presents an analysis of the combined data sets from a large ARC (Australian Research Council) funded study on the declining enrolments of female students in high school information technology subjects, and a SiMERR (Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia) study of 9 rural or remote schools in the state of Queensland. The aim of examining the combined data set was to investigate any apparent differences between girls’ perceptions of studying higher level ICT subjects in rural areas compared to metropolitan areas. The findings of the study highlighted some problems experienced by female students studying outside of metropolitan areas. They perceived the subject offerings to be ‘more boring’ than their city counterparts and reported a lower level of home ownership. The paper offers possible explanations for the findings and strongly recommends that strategies need to be implemented to overcome these problems.
Successful ageing of Australian baby boomer career women: The psychosocial processes in constructing quality of life judgements. ERA Conference, Brisbane
Background: Baby boom women (people born from 1946 to 1964) are reaching retirement age; however,... more Background: Baby boom women (people born from 1946 to 1964) are reaching retirement age; however, they have experienced a very different life course than previous generations. Social and economic changes for baby boom women (e.g., the enormous growth of women in the workforce, single-parent families) reflect their multiple roles and identities. Baby boomers are also living longer than previous generations, which has resulted in baby boom women having more active, multi-generational caregiving roles (e.g., caring for spouse, parents, grandparents, grandchildren) (Blieszer, 2009). In order to ensure that baby boom career women have optimal work and retirement trajectories or transitions in later life, it is crucial to examine factors that contribute towards their view of retirement. Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate Australian baby boom career women's attitude towards retirement, the differential effect of unknown caregiving roles, and marital status. Method: This p...
Focus group findings: successful ageing of Australian baby boom career women
Worldwide attention is focused on the massive baby boom cohort as they move into their retirement... more Worldwide attention is focused on the massive baby boom cohort as they move into their retirement years. The purpose of the focus group stage of this research project was to use the voices of Australian baby boom career women (women born from 1946 to 1964) to inform the development of a conceptual measure and model of psychosocial wellbeing for this cohort. This project addresses Australia's National Research Priority: Ageing well, ageing productively, by meeting the urgent need to assess the perceptions of baby boom women prior to retirement transitions. This paper reports on the findings from six focus groups: three conducted in Far North Queensland (n = 16) and three conducted in Melbourne (n = 14). The results of thematic content analysis confirmed five major themes: generativity; continuity of self-accomplishment; spirituality; autonomy and unknown caregiver roles. Results of content analysis of the Melbourne group added a sixth emerging dimension; concerns for personal saf...
Psychosocial wellbeing predictors of successful ageing of Australian Baby Boom Career Women: Primary findings from focus groups. 39th National Conference Australian Association of Gerontology – Diversity in Ageing. Sydney
Students learning in regional, rural and remote locations in Queensland are currently experiencin... more Students learning in regional, rural and remote locations in Queensland are currently experiencing a 'turn-off' in relation to school-based ICT in the first three years of high school. At the same time, students are experiencing increasing levels of interest and motivation from their use of ICT at home. Given the importance of ICT as an enabling factor in transforming pedagogy and bridging the barriers of distance, it is essential that educators connect with learners' experiences in order to devise strategies to ensure that students have increasing levels of engagement with ICT across the curriculum rather than the diminishing levels of satisfaction that are currently evident. This paper reports preliminary findings from the large study of Year 8, 9 and 10 students and focuses on data from students in regional, rural and remote schools (n = 629), which was extracted from the full dataset of 1,292. This research employed a case study approach using surveys, interviews and focus groups with students and teachers. This paper presents both quantitative and qualitative evidence indicating that homebased ICT usage was considered more interesting and preferred compared with school-based ICT usage. Explanations for why this trend is occurring will be discussed.
This paper reports on outcomes from the ‘CYScience’ project which was developed and used in North... more This paper reports on outcomes from the ‘CYScience’ project which was developed and used in North Queensland, Australia. This mainly ‘hands-on’ approachincludes teacher professional development, a Science Fair and a CYScienceexperiment kit, consisting of many of the components required for the completion of the experiments outlined in the manual. There is also a website where information about theproject and resources such as videos can be accessed. The prime motivation for development of the project was to contribute to addressing the problem of falling levels of interest in studying science in the state and nation’s student group, particularly in rural areas with an emphasis on Indigenous students. The founding proposition was that hands-on,inquiry-based science would boost student interest in science in ways that a didactic style of pedagogy failed to do. This paper outlines the evidence that interest in science has declined in Australia. It also examines the ongoing debate about...
Developing conceptual models of psychosocial well-being: pursuing better health outcomes
Subjective wellbeing (SWB), often referred to as quality of life (QOL) or satisfaction with life,... more Subjective wellbeing (SWB), often referred to as quality of life (QOL) or satisfaction with life, is a predictor of better mental health, improved overall health, superior prognosis in times of illness, reduced mortality, and increased longevity (Diener & Chan, 2011; Seligman, 2008). For more than four decades, the theoretical structure of SWB has been subjected to extensive empirical investigation in order to determine the dimensions that comprise SWB (see review Diener et al., 2009). However, the study of SWB is considered to be in its formative stages with little consensus on the theoretical structure, composition, conceptual characteristics, measurement, and consequences of SWB. This chapter has four objectives. First, this chapter will introduce SWB within a positive psychology framework (Seligman 1998, 2003) and the emerging field of positive health (Seligman, 2008). Next, to provide the context from which the field of SWB has emerged, a brief review of QOL and wellbeing is presented. Third, we will compare and contrast four well-established models and measures of SWB in order to elucidate some of the challenges that need to be resolved by SWB researchers. Finally, this chapter will present an argument for viewing SBW from an integrative, holistic perspective that takes into account the differing life contexts, histories, experiences, beliefs, values, perceptions, and expectations of subpopulations (e.g., gender, age, personality, culture). A holistic perspective of SWB would incorporate factors that have recently been shown to contribute to SWB, such as spirituality/religiosity (e.g.,McCullough et al., 2000; Strawbridge et al., 2001), generativity (e.g., An & Cooney, 2006; Cheng, 2009), and autonomy (e.g., Deci & Ryan, 2008). Precise, targeted conceptual models of SWB may facilitate the development of interventions that promote and enhance physical and psychosocial health.
This chapter describes an educational intervention to introduce and develop design thinking skill... more This chapter describes an educational intervention to introduce and develop design thinking skills with two groups of Australian Indigenous high school students in Far North Queensland and reports on the first phase of the data collection. The initial data collection involved interviewing key personnel at the two sites to gauge their perceptions about the feasibility of the project. This project represents the first time that Australian Indigenous students have participated in videogame creation with an emphasis on using Indigenous knowledge to develop design thinking skills along with literacy and numeracy skills. During the intervention, Year 10 students will be introduced to design thinking skills in the context of developing computer video games using Australian Indigenous knowledge (e.g., a simulation game involving a fictitious island in the Torres Strait).
This article reports findings of a national online survey of Australian women employed in Informa... more This article reports findings of a national online survey of Australian women employed in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-related careers. The Women in ICT Industry Survey was the culminating stage of a larger Australian Research Council Linkage Grant project investigating factors associated with low and declining female participation rates in professional-level ICT pathways. The survey comprised a mix of forced-choice and open-ended short-response items, and was completed by 272 Australian women. Application of K-means cluster analysis to forced-choice item responses revealed three discrete groupings of female ICT professionals. Overall, respondents reported that their ICT career was rewarding, provided opportunities and challenges, and was beneficial to society. Respondents generally disagreed with Queensland high school girls' perceptions that ICT is boring, sedentary, and not relevant to their future career directions. They also disagreed that the industry fit...
Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China, 2009
PurposeThis paper aims to address the mechanisms of, and barriers to, knowledge transfer between ... more PurposeThis paper aims to address the mechanisms of, and barriers to, knowledge transfer between Australia and China in the tertiary sector.Design/methodology/approachIndividual focused interviews are conducted with one Chinese and ten Australian senior academics engaged in supervisory roles at all levels of knowledge transfer. Content and sociolinguistics analysis is conducted on the questions: How is knowledge transferred between key academic/research staff? What is the potential for commercialization of research findings between Australia and China? What role does information and communication technology (ICT) play in knowledge transfer?FindingsKnowledge transfer between Chinese and Australian universities consists of research partnerships, collective publications, and joint degree programs. One‐way transfer of knowledge from Australia to China, rather than the desired reciprocal transfer of knowledge, appears to be most common. Barriers to bi‐directional knowledge sharing includ...
PurposeThis paper seeks to identify aspects of work environment, culture or expectations that con... more PurposeThis paper seeks to identify aspects of work environment, culture or expectations that contributed to women's comfort or discomfort within the information and communication technology (ICT) industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study is empirical in nature and addresses the perspectives of 178 professional women currently working within the Australian ICT industry who responded to the “Women in ICT” survey conducted through James Cook University. Likert‐scale responses were subjected to principal component analysis and then K‐mean cluster analysis, distinguishing four groups of respondents. Explanations for group membership were then sought from responses to open‐ended survey questions.FindingsThere was common agreement among respondents that, when making their career decisions, they had expected to enjoy good community image, and that their work would be socially useful, satisfying and flexible. Respondents also agreed that careers in ICT are rewarding, and provide opp...
The current paper details results from the Girls and ICT survey phase of a three year study inves... more The current paper details results from the Girls and ICT survey phase of a three year study investigating factors associated with low participation rates by females in education pathways leading to professional level information and communications technology (ICT) professions. The study is funded through the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Linkage Grants Scheme. It involves a research partnership between Education Queensland (EQ), industry partner Technology One and academic researchers at (affiliation removed for review purposes). Respondents to the survey were 1453 senior high school girls. Comparisons were drawn between Takers (n = 131) and Non Takers (n = 1322) of advanced level computing subjects. Significant differences between the groups were found on four questions: ''The subjects are interesting''; ''I am very interested in computers''; ''The subject will be helpful to me in my chosen career path after school''; and ''It suited my timetable''. The research has demonstrated that senior high school girls tend to perceive advanced computing subjects as boring and they express a strong aversion to computers.
Voices of Australian baby boom career women: preliminary findings from focus groups
... Voices of Australian baby boom career women: preliminary findings from focus groups. Courtney... more ... Voices of Australian baby boom career women: preliminary findings from focus groups. Courtney, Lyn (2006) Voices of Australian baby boom career women: preliminary findings from focus groups. ... ID Code: 4291. Item Type: Conference Item (Refereed Research Paper - E1). ...
Australian baby boom career women reject'retirement'and embrace're-evolvement
... Australian baby boom career women reject 'retirement' and embrace 're-evolveme... more ... Australian baby boom career women reject 'retirement' and embrace 're-evolvement'. Courtney, Lyn, Caltabiano, Nerina, and Caltabiano, Marie (2008) Australian baby boom career women reject 'retirement' and embrace 're-evolvement'. ... ID Code: 7819. ...
This paper reports on two questions from a survey of year 11 and 12 girls' perceptions of th... more This paper reports on two questions from a survey of year 11 and 12 girls' perceptions of the two advanced computing subjects available within Education Queensland (EQ). These two subjects are Information Processing Technology (IPT) and Information Technology Systems (ITS). The Queensland experience is similar to trends in other western countries; numbers of girls enrolling in these subjects are declining to a level which causes concern. Therefore engaging girls in advanced level computing subjects has become a priority. Girls from 26 ...
If you want to advance in the ICT industry, you have to work harder than your male peers." Women in ICT Industry Survey: preliminary findings
This paper provides early findings from the 'Women in Information and Communication Technolo... more This paper provides early findings from the 'Women in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry'survey, which is the final stage of a large research project into low participation rates of girls in ICT. Preliminary results from 289 women in ICT industries, Australia-wide, suggest that ICT career women are extremely satisfied with their career choice overall. However, further findings, and comparisons with a study conducted in the United Kingdom (UK), suggest that subtle discrimination, a 'glass ceiling'effect, in the ICT ...
Girls and information communication technology (ICT)
INTRODUCTION: The ICT Industry and Designing the Future-As in other modern Western societies, Aus... more INTRODUCTION: The ICT Industry and Designing the Future-As in other modern Western societies, Australian businesses, financial institutions, industries and governments have become increasingly reliant on Information Communication Technology's (ICT) capacity to provide effective, operational and cost effective solutions across a rapidly growing array of applications. The ubiquitous and seemingly indispensable nature of ICT in modern societies has spawned a hydra-like industry that is difficult to define and is highly dynamic (Moore, ...
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