Engaging, exploring, and experiencing multicultural music in Australian music teacher education : the changing landscape of multicultural music education

ln multicultural Australia, the development of positive intercultural attitudes is essential in the creation of a harmonious society. Music education is a powerful medium to address cultural inclusivity. The 2005 National Review of School Music Education challenges Australian higher education institutions to prepare programs that explore multiculturalism to engender tolerance.This research explored how final year teacher education students at Monash University and Deakin University (Victoria, Australia) engage with music of other cultures and how this affects their understanding of cultural diversity in school music. From 2005 to 2008, teacher education students undertaking music methodologies were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews.The data collected from the interviews were transcribed and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, and from these data, we developed patterns of meaning that are reported thematically; student teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and understandings of multiculturalism and the classroom realities of multiculturalism.The findings contribute to how we, as tertiary educators, evaluate our role and programs.

Social transformation and curriculum reform in Chinese physical education

This thesis examines how Chinese physical education teachers are experiencing curriculum reform within the context of broad social change. Using a qualitative framework the research findings reveal how structural, personal and cultural factors converge to limit the extent to which teachers are able to embrace and implement the new curriculum.

Accounts of developing absolute pitch in young children's music education

The retrospective case study investigations highlighted the important role of parents, family members and significant others in the community in providing a nurturing environment, a variety of learning opportunities, necessary support resources, and expertise which, it is argued, contributed to the development of the participants' absolute pitch abilities.

Case study of the integration of ICT's into the school curriculum

This study, conducted in a laptop environment, found many factors mediate teachers' integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) into the curriculum. Successful integration of ICTs was not so much related to pedagogical style and teachers' self-sufficiency with computers, as to the principle of 'teachers first' and professional development which utilizes a 'situative-learning' model.

An evaluation of the Victorian Certificate of Education common study of English

This paper traces the development of the Victorian Certificate of Education and in particular the common English Field of Study demonstrating that the VCE is the culmination of many forces acting both within and from outside education. Changes in education are traced and the stimuli for these changes are shown to be economic, social, political and educational.

Maori culture in physical education

This research is a narrative inquiry into the phenomenon of workplace experiences with Maori culture in the training of physical education teachers. The outcomes show that offering challenging learning and teaching environments of lived experience of Maori culture created opportunities for people to become open to accepting cultural difference.

Thirnda ngurkarnda ityrnda : ontologies in indigenous tertiary education

When Indigenous knowledge production is shifted through critical work in curriculum, Indigenous employment and authority underpinned by stronger Indigenous philosophies and cultures, resistance emerges. A storied descriptive and reflexive approach from within Arabana philosophy and ontologies - Yalka - brings understanding for a new old way in tertiary education and life.

Contact with nature and children's mental, emotional, and social health

This research investigated the benefits of children's contact with nature as perceived by adult educators. It was found that contact with nature is perceived to: increase self-confidence and self-esteem; provide opportunities to experience mystery, privacy, and sensory engagement; connect children with school; and accommodate different learning styles and abilities.

The role of practical activities in primary school science

The roles, patterns of use and emphases of practical activities depend fundamentally on teachers' backgrounds and beliefs. Students' intense engagement with real objects was found to encourage exploration and enjoyment, and support recall. The study also identified the variety and value of science conducted outside the normal classroom.

Physical education curriculum reform in Singapore (1997-2005)

Recognising physical education curriculum reform to be a complex and challenging process, the thesis provides new insights into such an undertaking in Singapore by providing an 'insider' perspective from the author as the designer and implementer of the new curriculum supported by the 'local voices of the teachers'

What is international about international education?

International education is meeting the needs of students in a variety of educational contexts. The thesis examines the influence international education has on schools and concludes that there is the possibility for a better understanding of globalisation and, in doing so, the potential to improve our global civil society.

Higher education and the labour market in Oman

This study aimed to investigate whether there is a mismatch between higher education and the labour market in Oman, the types of this mismatch that exist, and the reasons for this mismatch as they appeared from statistics and interviewees' responses ( the higher education providers, principals from the public sector, and employers from the private sector)

Implementation of ICTs in primary music education in Hong Kong

This study investigated the present state of IT policy implementation in relation to music education. The current status of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration in music curriculum in primary schools in Hong Kong has been assessed to provide references and recommendations for enhancing the state of integration, and for subsequent and sustainable development.