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Masculinity in a corporate boys' schoolKay, Geoffrey Ernest, n/a January 1994 (has links)
This thesis is a report of a study of masculinity at Canberra
Grammar School, a corporate boys' school. The data were collected
during 1991 and 1992. The thesis questions the conventional wisdom
that a school like Canberra Grammar produces a particular
hegemonic masculinity. Indeed, it identifies the production of a
hierarchy of exalted, multiple masculinities.
There were limitations to what could be investigated in this
study, as well as to how it could be investigated. However, the ideas
and work of several people were blended in order to provide a way
into the questions of masculinity in this school. This eclectic
approach drew upon the literature of Popkewitz, Lather, and Parlett
and Hamilton, who called for narrative descriptions and
interpretation, as well as Beare, Caldwell and Millikan, whose
framework of school culture, albeit modified, provided very rich
information. This method resulted in an emphasis on what was
observed and read within the school, rather than on what might have
been heard, but, nevertheless, a great deal of relevant and useful data
were generated. The data were then interpreted with the help of
questions and insights formed by immersion in the literature on
masculinity and schools, particularly that of corporate boys' schools.
It was possible to identify multiple masculinities in the school,
and arrange them into a hierarchy based on the degree to which each
of them was exalted. These masculinities were fluid and the
hierarchy was dynamic. During the time of the study greatest
support was for "the man as scholar", "the sportsman" and "the man
as leader", three notions of masculinity traditionally associated with
these schools. There was also considerable support for the notion of
"the sensitive man", a notion that has been promoted in schools like
this for many years, but which draws upon traits and qualities less
traditionally associated with these schools. One area of fluidity was
an official move by the school's leaders towards the notion of "the
person", rather than the man. Contestation was evident as changes
occurred within this hierarchy, as well as within the notions
themselves.
These findings are significant for several reasons. Firstly,
they challenge the conventional wisdom about corporate boys'
schools. Secondly, for those working in this school and schools like
it who are searching for ways to bring about different gender and
social relations, the findings offer an encouraging, optimistic picture
of what this school is trying to do. The findings also identify those
within the school who might support or oppose counterhegemonic
practice, as well as areas of the school's culture that should be
targeted in the future. Thirdly, for those wanting to find out about
notions of maculinity in these schools, they show that the method
used here can be very productive, despite its limitations.
The first chapter of this thesis explains the reasons for this
study in more detail, and the second chapter describes and accounts
for the nature of the study. The main body of the thesis is in
Chapters Three, Four and Five, where findings about the school's
setting, curriculum and rituals are described and interpreted. The
thesis concludes with a chapter containing reflections on the reasons
for this study, as well as possible ways forward for those wishing to
investigate questions of masculinity in corporate boys' schools in the
future.
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Movement patterns and prey habits of house cats felis catus (l.) in Canberra, AustraliaBarratt, David, n/a January 1995 (has links)
House cat movements in Canberra suburbs adjacent to grassland and forest/woodland
areas were examined using radio-telemetry over 9 months. Information on the
composition of vertebrate prey caught by house cats in Canberra was also collected by
recording prey items deposited at cat owners' residences over 12 months.
Home range areas of 10 suburban house cats, and a colony of seven farm cats, were
examined using 95% convex polygons. Nocturnal home range areas of the suburban
cats varied between 0.02 and 27.93 ha (mean 7.89 ha), and were larger than diurnal
home range areas (range 0.02 to 17.19 ha - mean 2.73 ha). Nocturnal home range areas
of cats from the farm cat colony varied between 1.38 and 4.46 ha (mean 2.54 ha), and
were also larger than diurnal home range areas (range 0.77 to 3.70 ha - mean 1.70 ha).
Activity levels were greater at night than during the day, though diel activity patterns
varied seasonally in response to ambient temperature. Four suburban house cats moved
between 390 m and 900 m into habitat adjoining the suburb. Movements further than
100-200 m from the suburb edge were always made at night. Polygons describing the
home ranges of these animals were strongly spatially biased away from the suburban
environment, though the cats spent the majority of their time within the bounds of the
suburb.
In addition to nocturnal and diurnal effects, home range areas, and subsequently habitat
utilisation, appeared primarily determined by the density and spatial distribution of cats
utilising separate food resources, and the dominance of individual cats in local social
hierarchies, rather than gender or neutering effects. Home ranges of cats in the farm cat
colony overlapped extensively, as did those of cats living at the same suburban
residence. There was little or no overlap between the home ranges of cats from different
residences. Barriers, in the form of busy roads, appeared to also significantly influence
home range size and shape.
Within home range areas, house cat movements during the day appeared strongly
influenced by available cover (drains, tall grass, fences and shrubs etc.), and the location
of resting/sunning spots and hunting sites close to home. At night, movement patterns
appeared influenced by the location of favoured hunting sites toward the outer edges of
home range areas (in this study, tall grass and scrub/forest habitat, and farm buildings).
Nineteen hundred and sixty one prey items representing 67 species were reported or
collected. Sixty-four percent of the prey items were introduced mammals, with native
birds comprising 14%, introduced birds 10%, unidentified birds 3%, reptiles 7%,
amphibians 1% and native mammals 1%. Predation appeared to be largely
opportunistic with respect to spatial and temporal (daily and seasonal) prey availability
and accessibility. All amphibians and 62% of mammals taken by cats not confined at
night, were caught at night. In contrast, 70% of birds caught, and 90% of reptiles, were
taken during the day (45% of birds between 0600 h and 1200 h, and 61% of reptiles
between 1200 h and 1800 h). There was some evidence that small mammals are
preferred prey of house cats.
The mean number of prey items reported per cat over 12 months - 10.2 � 2.66 (2SE,
n=138) - was significantly lower than mean predation per cat per year - 23.3 � 6.16
(2SE, n=138) - estimated by cat owners before the prey survey began. Seventy percent
of cats were observed to catch less than 10 prey items over 12 months, but for 6% of
cats, more than 50 prey items were recorded. Because counts of the amount of prey
caught per house cat per unit time were highly positively skewed, data assumptions and
statistical parameters used to extrapolate results from the study sample of cats, to the
house cat population of Canberra, had a significant effect on estimates of total predation
in Canberra. The precision of the total predation estimate was low (± 25%), from a
sample of 0.3% of the Canberra house cat population. The accuracy of such estimates
are dependent on how representative the study cat sample is of the wider house cat
population, and on the proportion of prey items not observed by cat owners.
The total amount of prey taken was not significantly influenced by cat gender, age when
desexed, or cat breed. Nor did belling or the number of meals provided per day have a
significant influence on predatory efficiency. Cat age and the proportion of nights spent
outside explained approximately 11 % of the variation in the amount of prey caught by
individual cats. House cat density and distance to prey source areas (rural/grassland
habitat) explained 43% of variation in predation on introduced mammals and birds.
The impact of predation beyond suburb edges is likely to be most significant on
populations of small to medium sized arboreal and ground-dwelling mammals, because
of their nocturnal nature, and because they appear to be preferred prey types of house
cats. Impacts on diurnally active prey, such as most birds and reptiles, are likely to be
confined to within 200 m of residential housing (possibly further where good cover is
available). Properly enforced nocturnal confinement should restrict the range sizes of
cats that roam widely and utilisation of habitat beyond suburb edges, and also reduce
predation on mammals and amphibians. Night-time curfews however, are unlikely to
greatly reduce predation on diurnally active species, including most birds and reptiles.
Curfews are currently neither widely adopted nor effectively practiced in Canberra.
Estimates of predation by house cats, particularly extrapolated estimates, should be
treated with caution. They do not necessarily reflect relative impacts on different prey
types. Nor do high rates of predation prove prey populations are detrimentally effected,
particularly in urban environments. Nonetheless, on a small (backyard) scale in
suburban environments, and in habitat within 1 km of residential housing, including
isolated private properties, predation by individual cats may threaten populations of
native wildlife. Hunting by house cats is particularly undesirable in relatively
undisturbed habitat because of fundamental differences in the ecological processes
operating in these areas (especially isolated remnants) compared with contrived and
modified suburban environments. Adverse impacts on native fauna will always be
potentially greatest in undisturbed habitat adjacent to new residential developments
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The CCAE mathematics laboratoryEdwards, Jo, n/a January 1978 (has links)
Many students undertaking courses at tertiary institutions find that lack
of basic mathematical skills, or lack of confidence in these skills, is
impeding their progress. This can arise with students in science,
administration, geography, nursing, computing, education and many other
courses. The problem can be anticipated with mature age students who
are often admitted to courses lacking formal entry qualifications, but
younger students are increasingly involved. The problem is not a static one but has been developing rapidly in recent
years. This Field Study commenced by analysing the extent of the problem
at CCAE, its past development and possible further developments in the
near future. A search was then undertaken for instances of recognition of,
and response to, the problem in other institutions.
Instances of responses elsewhere, and of theory relating to adult learning
and mathematical learning, were assessed for relevance to the CCAE
situation. A response appropriate to the CCAE situation was designed,
implemented, and its initial success evaluated. This response was based
upon an individualised approach, involving diagnosis of individual problems
and needs, self-learning materials in modular form, one-to-one tutorial
assistance in a "Maths Lab", self-paced learning, testing for mastery of
modules using criterion referenced tests.
The evaluation undertaken indicates that this response is basically
successful in the CCAE situation. However, some recommendations for the
future development of the response follow from the evaluation; the most
important of these involves a requirement upon students with weaknesses
in their basic mathematics, to use the Lab.
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Behind the landscape of Lake Burley Griffin : landscape, water, politics and the national capital 1899-1964Firth, Dianne F., n/a January 2000 (has links)
The Australian Constitution of 1901 required Parliament to establish its seat of
Government in territory in New South Wales, but distant from Sydney. Interpreted as
cause for building a new city it was, from the earliest deliberations, conceived as a city
beautified by landscape and enhanced by water.
Despite Australia's variable climate, particularly it's unreliable rainfall, the Canberra
site on the Molonglo River provided an opportunity for storing a large body of
ornamental water in a picturesque landscape setting, provided storage reservoirs were
built to maintain water levels. Walter Burley Griffin's design gave the Lake form as a
chain of ornamental lakes and parklands through the centre of the city. However,
developing the Lake was complex and costly and although Parliament met at Canberra
from 1927 it was not until the early 1960s that work began on implementing the Lake.
Lake Burley Griffin was inaugurated in 1964.
Inquiring into the significance of landscape setting and ornamental water for Australia's
National capital the thesis reviews designed landscapes in cities that Australia aspired to
emulate and the role of the professions in these designs. Using Canberra's lake as a
focus this thesis examines the national and international context of landscape ideas,
analyses the processes of landscape implementation in the public domain and evaluates
the design outcome. The thesis also highlights the role of national aspiration, the rivalry
between Federal and State governments, the power of government bureaucracy, the
influence of the design professions and the ascendancy of Modernism as a design force
in the built environment.
The thesis establishes that over the sixty-year period Australian perceptions and
expectations of landscape underwent a fundamental change. From the idea of landscape
as a part of the aesthetic and moral high ground of national consciousness and
international discourse, landscape, particularly landscape with water, became a device
to consolidate power, bolster national pride, garner international recognition and
enhance recreational opportunity. The thesis establishes the fundamental importance of
the Lake landscape in creating a distinctive image of a visually unified National capital
as well as a public place for people.
As an empirical thematic history the thesis articulates landscape ideas and practice with
the creation of a place of national significance. Through links with cultural context, the
history of cities, and the history of design the research and its findings extend the
knowledge base of the profession and practice of landscape architecture in Australia.
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Overseas students and library use : a study at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra of patterns of use and difficulties encounteredGithiomi, Jane, n/a January 1994 (has links)
The present study attempted to investigate the usage of libraries by overseas
students. The research was carried out in two universities in the ACT, namely,
the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Canberra (UC).
The study investigated two main aspects: the use of institutional as well as other
libraries in the ACT, and the difficulties encountered in utilising institutional
libraries. These two aspects were also treated as the dependent variables.
Relationships between these two dependent variables and the following
characteristics, which were regarded as the independent variables, were tested: the
institution attended (ANU or UC), having had library orientation in the
institution attended, previous use of libraries, mediums of instructions in
previous educational institutions, level of study, year of study, period of time
spent in Australia, gender, and age.
The research used survey methodology. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of
521 overseas students and a response rate of 72 percent was obtained.
With regard to the use of institutional libraries, it was found that most students
visited their libraries more than once a week. The three most used library
facilities were borrowing books, use of library staff for assistance and the short loan
service, while the three least used facilities were inhouse information sheets,
abstracts and indexes, and CD-ROM databases. The three most used libraries in the
ACT in descending order were the ANU library system, the National library of
Australia, and the University of Canberra library.
Difficulties encountered in utilising institutional libraries included difficulty in
utilising library facilities, difficulty with library rules and regulations, difficulty in
looking for required materials in the libraries, unsuccessful library visits,
difficulties as a result of English being a second language, difficulty following the
layout of the libraries and perception of the libraries' atmosphere.
Relationships were found between some of the independent variables and the
dependent variables. In some cases, the findings were expected while in other
cases they were unexpected. With the unexpected findings, it is possible that one
or more independent variables, other than the ones under consideration,
influenced the findings thus leading to surprising results.
The study concludes with recommendations and suggestions for further research.
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An evaluation of a programme in which parents assist their chilren to acquire literacyKissling, Maxine, n/a January 1987 (has links)
In 1983 a programme was initiated by the School of Education, Canberra College of Advanced Education (CCAE) and the Australian Schools Commission
to enable parents to assist their own children in literacy. The children had
previously been identified as experiencing difficulties in acquiring the
skills of literacy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of
the parents' intervention on the children's achievements in literacy, and to
assess the quality of the programme by examining particular subskills taught
in the course. The methods of assessment were also evaluated for their
appropriateness for the circumstances.
The thirty nine children in the study were the sample of fifty two children
for whom there was complete information. Parents of these children began
the programme in July 1985 or in March 1986. They attended a course of ten
sessions over thirteen weeks in a semester. The following semester they
were allocated to a teacher who was a post graduate or fourth year degree
student in education, and given individual assistance from six to ten
sessions, and longer if necessary.
Aspects of oral reading, comprehension, writing and spelling were tested at
the beginning of the programme and again in November 1986, and the results
compared. Observational records were also kept and changes evaluated. In
addition, oral reading was measured at the end of the parents' course, and
before individual assistance commenced. Case studies were built up for
every child, and the findings grouped to observe the effect of the
intervention on the population.
The results showed that the programme achieved its aim of giving parents the
skills to assist; their own children in the acquisition of literacy. The
content of the course and the subskills taught were also justified by the
outcomes. Furthermore, the method of evaluation revealed specific and
succinct information on which to base the intervention and to monitor
progress.
The research took place over 18 months, during which time teaching and
progress were continual. A longitudinal study over several years would
confirm the results of the research.
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Case study : green education in an Australian universityNilsson, Anna, n/a January 2000 (has links)
This thesis contends that conservative academic culture and the predominance of
science-based courses can block the inclusion of green education into tertiary
curricula. In the study, I used a participatory action research approach, embedded in a
critical research paradigm, in order to work with interested students and community
groups as well as academia at the University of Canberra. During the research period,
I aimed to further develop green education on the campus, while observing responses
of academia, students and environmentally related community groups. Data were
analysed using an analytical model linking education with social change.
The thesis addresses the following questions: how do students demonstrate their
interest in environmental sustainability; why are formal studies within an institution
unable to respond to student interest; what characterises the gap between formal
university studies and non-formal environmental education in relevant community
groups; what is green education, how is it put into practice, and does it bridge the gap
between formal studies and community-based environmental education.
The study found that the environmental science-based course at the university was
focussed on the transmission of knowledge rather than the teaching of contemporary
problem solving in the form of green education. The formal environmental education
of the university setting varied greatly in terms of purpose, culture, values and
philosophy from the environmental education of the community, which was
compatible with the theory of green education. Communication between academia
and community groups was minimal. The study also demonstrates that following
student activities, green education has now been implemented in many universities
around the globe, resulting in a breakdown of the barrier between formal and nonformal
education sectors. Students have set-up and maintained links with the green
education practiced by community groups, and have then brought ideas of green
education into universities. Recommendations are made for green education at the
University of Canberra.
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Consensus, decision-making and the Anglican Church : a case study of decision-making in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and GoulburnPaul, Ross G., n/a January 1988 (has links)
decisionmaking
in a free-associative, or non-imperative, organisation,
focusing on the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn as a
case study. Because people choose to participate in the Anglican
Church as a religious community, it is postulated that they may
perceive its decision-making as being characterised by consensus.
Through an analysis of the organisational elements and the
participants involved in the decision-making process, their
inter-relationships are examined. By survey the biographical
nature of synod participants is specified and elites identified.
Finally, by case-decision analysis the process of decision-making
is explored, and the presence and use of consensus examined.
The study draws upon those members attending the 1988 session of
the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn as the
population to be surveyed. Members of synod are also members of
the various decision-making groups in the diocese. Two recently
implemented decisions are used as case studies in order to
examine the process of decision-making in the diocese.
Results of the Synod survey are detailed at Chapter 4, and the
analysis of the case decisions is at Chapter 5. The study found
that there was an indication of an elite in the decision-making
structure and that a strong administrative agenda was promoted by
that group.
The study concludes by suggesting that there are similarities in
function between public, commercial and free-associative bodies
of comparative size in regard to elites, professionalism and the
lack of consensus in the decision-making process. The study also
concludes that the nature of elites may be similar to that
portrayed by the community studies school where the organisation
is sufficiently like a community in the nature of its interpersonal
relationships. The researcher suggests that the study
provided illumination about church management procedures and a
framework applicable to the study of other organisations.
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The establishment and development of the Canberra Teaching Resources Centre, 1968-1976Price, Barry, n/a January 1976 (has links)
The concept of the Canberra Teaching Resources Centre was
derived partly from the teachers' centre movement which originated
in England and to a lesser extent from the American educational
materials centre concept. This field study uses historical method
to trace the establishment and development of the Centre with an
emphasis on the role of its first Director.
The planning initiative lay with the Commonwealth Department
of Education and Science from 1968 to 1972 although considerable
teacher input was invited and received in 1970. Originally seen
as a regional centre in the N.S.W. education systemf the Centre,
when its Director took up duty in 1972, was influenced by educational
reports of A.C.T. and national significance and in 1974 became part
of the Interim A.C.T. Schools Authority. It operated in a limited
way in 1973 but was ready by 1974 to act not only as a teachers'
centre for the A.C.T. but as an agency of the new education system.
The Centre's activities, involving integration of five main
functions, expanded rapidly in 1974 and 1975. Demand as a meeting
place for teachers soon overtaxed accommodation in the City Education
Centre and additional space was acquired in Griffith Infants' School
late in 1975. Displays of educational material evoked the least
response from teachers. Demands on the multi-media Library's
loan service grew so quickly that related services could not be
developed. The entrepreneurial in-service education activities
expanded quickly in volume and range and played an important part in
establishing a new system. Audio-visual services developed more
slowly and production of curriculum materials was just beginning in
1976.
While teacher demand continued to grow, the Centre's development
was held back from late 1975 by government economic policy and in
mid-1976 it faced serious staffing and accommodation constraints.
Closer integration with the Authority's Curriculum Branch selmed the
Centre's most likely future path.
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Evaluation of the impact of the University of Canberra library's CD-ROM hands-on instruction program : an experimental studyRamaoka, Elizabeth, n/a January 1995 (has links)
This experiment was designed to investigate the effectiveness of the CDROM hands on instruction program provided by the University of Canberra library by comparing it with demonstration only sessions and a
group that received no instruction at all. The results indicated that the
hands-on instruction program evaluated did not prove to be superior to a
demonstration in providing students with necessary skills to search CDROM
databases. A sample of 98 novice users enrolled in Research Skills
were randomly allocated to three groups. The first group received hands
on instruction on CD-ROM searching. The second group watched a
demonstration using a liquid crystal display. The third group acted as a
control group and received no instruction. Each group conducted a search
on three pre-determined questions.
The experiment was conducted in three stages. The first stage was a pretest
in which students searched the three search questions. The second
stage was instruction. Two groups of students were instructed, either
hands on or demonstration. The final stage was a post-test which involved
searching the three questions used in the pre-test.
The following databases were used in the study: ERIC, MEDLINE and
Sports Discus. The results were measured in terms of a number of search
terms used, number of retrieved records, number of Boolean operators
used, and a appropriate choice of a database. The statistical significance
level among the groups was tested by the means of the technique of oneway
analysis of variance to test The F test was used to compare differences
between the different groups.
The results of this experiment indicated that groups of students instructed
on either method of instruction, hands-on and demonstration, performed
significantly better than the control group. However, there was no
significant difference between the two methods of instruction. This
research confirms the need for CD-ROM instruction for novice users if
CD-ROM databases are to be used effectively by students. Furthermore,
this result shows that demonstrations can be used as alternative methods
of instruction.
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