'Homescapes' and identity reformations in Australian multicultural drama

A consideration of identity formation in contemporary Australian multicultural theatre is offered through a re-assessment of the unsettled (and unsettling) constructions of Australia as 'home' in the work of three playwrights. William Yang's Sadness disrupts a localized perception of home, space, and cultural communities to amalgamate two disparate communities (the queer/homosexual community in Sydney and the Asian-Australian, or 'Austasian' community) into a reconfigured Australian identity. Janis Balodis's The Ghosts Trilogy uses many actors who play across the unsettled lines of history, amid numerous voices, homes, and homelands that indicate the enormity of what 'Australia' comes to signify. Noelle Janaczewska's The History of Water constructs a way of locating the self by means of a metaphoric home as each character establishes herself on a psychic plane rather than choosing the strictly physical locations to which she has access. In their interrogations of home and homeland, these plays challenge assumptions regarding identity, disrupt notions of the ultimate ownership of land/culture by anyone, and problematize the idea of settlement as it is currently articulated in Australia.

Defining 'underwater cultural heritage'

The newly adopted United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage provides the first universal protection regime for this value archaeological resource. A central difficulty in concluding this Convention was defining underwater cultural heritage. This article considers the development of the definition agreed upon and analyses its utility in providing for a pragmatic and effective protection regime.

An international perspective on sunken state vessels as underwater cultural heritage

On 2 November 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations Scientific, Economic and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted the convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Among the many complex issues addressed in the convention is the legal status of sunken state-owned vessels, including warships. Prior to the adoption of this convention, no conventional or customary international law existed with regards to the question of abandonment of state-owned vessels or the application of the principle of sovereign immunity to sunken state vessels. While difficulties between coastal states and maritime and former colonial powers resulted in a regime that does not comprehensively address the issues, the convention does provide some guidance in this regard and may provide a basis for further development.

Democracry and the Individual

The main question informing this paper is whether it is possible to extend democracy beyond its liberal forms. The paper reflects upon this question with regard to its implications for the individual. For the radicalization of democracy implies a need for self-transformation, if the everyday egoism of contemporary citizens is not to thwart reasonable discussion and participation. Theorists such as Richard Rorty argue that the philosophical resources required to guide such self-transformation can be made available only by sacrificing the political freedom and cultural diversity liberalism has been able to precariously establish. Other theorists insist that the thresholds of pluralism and tolerance that existing liberal democracies are struggling to maintain actually require an extension of democracy. The paper evaluates two different theoretical strategies that aim to identify potentials for democratization without falling prey to the dilemma identified by Rorty: a ‘ deliberative’ strategy explicated with reference to Jürgen Habermas and an ‘existential’ approach represented here by William Connolly.

A matemática na constituição de um currículo integrado : possibilidades e desafios para o ensino médio e a educação profissional de jovens e adultos

O universo que circunda a Educação de Jovens e Adultos nos sensibiliza e nos provoca. Observar que estes alunos e alunas estão em busca de conquistas e sonhos que não puderam se concretizar quando foram gerados nos impulsiona a conduzir esta pesquisa com seriedade e esperança. Este estudo investigou que conhecimentos matemáticos utilizados por professores do Curso Técnico em Metalurgia Integrado ao Ensino Médio na modalidade de Educação de Jovens e Adultos. Influenciam diálogos entre matemática e outras disciplinas do curso considerando a perspectiva da formação integral dos estudantes. Assim, nos propomos a analisar conhecimentos matemáticos que estão presentes em ações e materiais didáticos utilizados por professores em diferentes disciplinas do Curso Técnico em Metalurgia Integrado ao Ensino Médio na modalidade de Educação de Jovens e Adultos. No intuito de responder a questão proposta e alcançar os objetivos expostos, este estudo torna-se mais relevante por estar diretamente envolvido no processo de consolidação do Programa Nacional de Integração da Educação Profissional com a Educação Básica na Modalidade de Educação de Jovens e Adultos – PROEJA do Curso de Metalurgia ofertado pelo IFES/Vitória, pautado na idealização de integração do seu currículo. Portanto, discutir o projeto de integração curricular que norteia o PROEJA tornou-se uma meta em movimento dessa investigação. Nesta direção, observamos o reflexo de como as práticas e materiais didáticos utilizados por professores, que atuam nesta modalidade, puderam contribuir para discussões que nos ajudaram na compreensão do processo de ensino e aprendizagem dos educandos participantes, com vistas ao desenvolvimento no trabalho ou na formação profissional, como na constituição de conhecimentos científicos, escolares/tecnológicos e culturais. Optamos por direcionar a reflexão teórica deste capítulo em conceitos específicos. Assim, ao tratar da Educação de Jovens e Adultos seremos conduzidos pelos estudos e pesquisas de Paulo Freire (1996, 2000, 2005), Maria da Conceição Fonseca (2007) e Jane Paiva (2009); ao direcionarmos para a Teoria do Ensino Integrado e a Educação Profissional faremos uso dos estudos de Gaudêncio Frigotto (2010) e Marise Ramos (2010); quanto às discussões que refletem acerca da Educação Matemática Critica recorremos às ideias de Ole Skovsmose (2001, 2007).

Travel preferences of the residents of Guimarães: a revised model of push and pull motives

The historic center of the Portuguese city of Guimarães is a world heritage site (UNESCO) since 2001, having hosted the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) in 2012. In this sense, Guimarães has made a major effort in promoting tourism, positioning itself as an urban and cultural tourism destination. The present paper has two objectives. The first, to examine if an existing push and pull motivation model finds statistical support with regard to the population of the municipality of Guimarães, a cultural tourism destination. The second, to study the role that important socio-demographic variables, such as gender, age, and education, play in determining travel motivations of residents from this municipality. Insight on tourism motivation may be an important policy tool for tourism planners and managers in the development of products and marketing strategies. The empirical analysis is undertaken based on questionnaires administered in 2012 to residents of Guimarães. The present study shows that gender, age and education make a difference with regard to travel motivations.

Design de Ações Culturais Participativas: um Caso de Estudo no Centro Histórico da Cidade do Porto

In this paper we present the methodologies and preliminary conclusions of the first phase of the work of construction of audiovisual narratives related to the project “Manobras no Porto”, which will serve as a case study for the main research project entitled: “The Museum of All: Institutional Communication Practices in a Participatory Networked World”. The main objective of this research project is to understand how the use of collective and participatory creation of identities and narratives can contribute to get audiences engaged with cultural institutions and events. We intend to identify the effects and measure the dynamics of participation of audiences in the construction of audiovisual objects, and understand how these may influence the reconfiguration of the missions of the institutions and cultural projects, in the development of societies.

Residents’ perceptions on impacts of hosting the “Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture”: comparisons of the pre-and post-2012 ECOC

Residents tend to have high expectations about the benefits of hosting a mega‐event. So, it was not surprising that the nomination of Guimarães, Portugal, as the 2012 European Capital of Culture (2012 ECOC) had raised great expectations in the local community towards its socio‐economic and cultural benefits. The present research was designed to examine the Guimarães residents’ perceptions on the impacts of hosting the 2012 ECOC approached in two different time schedules, the pre‐ and the post‐event, trying to capture the evolution of the residents` evaluation of its impacts. For getting the data, two surveys were applied to Guimarães` residents, one in the pre‐event phase, in 2011, and another in the post‐event phase, in 2013. This approach is uncommonly applied to Portugal data and it is even the first time it was done to a Portuguese European Capital of Culture. After a factor analysis, the results of t‐tests indicate that there were significant differences (p<0.05) between the samples from the pre‐ and post‐2012 ECOC on two positive impact factors (Community’ benefits and Residents’ benefits) and one negative impact factor (Economic, social and environmental costs). Respondents also showed a negative perception of the impacts in all dimensions, except Changes in habits of Guimarães residents.

Residents’ perceptions on impacts of hosting the “Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture”: comparisons of the pre-and post-2012 ECOC

The nomination of Guimarães, a small city located in the northwest of Portugal, as European capital of culture (ECOC) in 2012 raised great expectations in the local community towards its socio-economic and cultural benefits. As noted by various authors, namely Kim and Petrick (2005), Kim, Gursoy and Lee (2006) and Gursoy, Chi, Ai and Chen (2011), residents tend to have high expectations about the benefits of hosting a mega-event, although they tend to recognize that some costs will result from it. Therefore, the present research was designed to examine the Guimarães residents’ perceptions on the impacts of the 2012 European capital of culture (2012 ECOC) on the city and the municipality of Guimarães before and after the mega-event and the differences found between the two time periods.

Residents’ perspectives on tourism impacts of portuguese world heritage historic centers: Angra do Heroísmo and Évora

The aim of this study is twofold. First, the study analyzes local community perspectives of the importance of the World Heritage Site (WHS) classification of the historic centers of Angra do Heroísmo and Évora. Second, the study analyzes local residents’ perceived tourism impacts on the municipalities of Angra do Heroísmo and Évora. The methodology comprises quantitative research based on a self-administered survey applied to convenience samples of local residents of the two Portuguese municipalities in 2014. The main results reveal that local residents have a strongly positive perception of the WHS designation in both municipalities. With regard to the perceived tourism impacts, residents from Angra do Heroísmo have a stronger agreement about the impacts of tourism on their city than the residents of Évora, except for the negative social and cultural impacts. The comparison of the mean scores of these impacts across residents that live near and far from the historic centers reveals that the most valued and least valued impacts in the three categories of impacts (economic, social and cultural, and environmental) are common to all groups of residents. Nevertheless, residents living in or near the historic center of Angra do Heroísmo have higher means in the majority of tourism impacts (in all categories), with only one negative impact to concern the majority of respondents. Among the residents from Évora, residents living in or near the historic center have higher means in the majority of economic impacts but lower means in almost social and cultural impacts. With regard to the environmental impacts, residents living in or near the historic center have higher means scores in the positive impacts and lower means scores in the negative environmental impacts.

O estágio supervisionado no curso de Educação Física da UEPB/Brasil: concepções e contribuições na formação dos(as) alunos(s)

RESUMO: A formação profissional em Educação Física vem sofrendo mudanças significativas ao longo da história. Após a década de 1980, com a Lei de Directrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDBEN, Nº9394, de 20 de Dezembro de 1996), emergiram novos olhares para o curso. Neste novo contexto, o curso de Educação Física da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba – UEPB – vem redimensionando sua prática com vista na formação de um profissional comprometido com a educação em sua dimensão ética, política, social e cultural. Assim, tivemos como objectivo, investigar a contribuição do Estágio Supervisionado na formação inicial do licenciado em Educação Física. A pesquisa molda-se como um estudo de caso, com abordagem qualitativa. A unidade selecionada para o estudo foi o Curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Paraíba-Brasil. Participaram da pesquisa dez alunos(as) egressos(as) do referido curso. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas e analisadas a partir da Análise de conteúdo. Os resultados apontam a persistência da dicotomia teoria e prática no estágio docente; deficiências no trabalho de supervisão do estágio, bem como na insatisfação dos(as) entrevistados(as) frente aos aspectos teórico-práticos do referido curso para atuação no mercado de trabalho . ABSTRACT: Vocational training in physical education hás undergone significant changes throughout history. After the 80’s, with the Lei de Directrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDBEN) nº 9.394/96, nem perspectives have emerged for the course. In this new context the course of Physical Education, State University of Paraiba – UEPB – redefined its practice in order to promote the formation of a professional committed to education in its ethical, political, social and cultural aspects. Thus, we aimed to investigate the extent to which supervised training has a relevant contribution for the initial degree in Physical Education. This research project is a case-study using a qualitative approach. The participants were ten students from Bachelor of Physical Education, State University of Paraiba, Brazil. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicate that the dichotomy between theory and practice in teacher training is quite evident. The results also demonstrated deficiencies in the supervision of the training and a level of dissatisfaction concerning the applicability of the theoretical and practical aspects the course for the labour market.

Accountability and co-production of information and control: social observatories and their relationship with government agencies

Abstract:Through the development of a proposal to categorize accountability into four stages - classical, cross-sectional, systemic, and diffused -, this article aims to identify characteristics of co-production of information and socio-political control of public administration in the work of Brazilian social observatories in relationship with government control agencies. The study analyses data from 20 social observatories and, particularly, three experiences of co-production of information and control, based on a systemic perspective on accountability and a model with four categories: Political and cultural; valuing; systemic-organizational, and production. The conclusions summarize characteristics of these practices, specific phases in the accountability processes, as well as the potentialities and challenges of co-production of information and control, which not only influences, but it is also influenced by the accountability system.

Virtual communities of practice: investigating motivations and constraints in the processes of knowledge creation and transfer

With accelerated market volatility, faster response times and increased globalization, business environments are going through a major transformation and firms have intensified their search for strategies which can give them competitive advantage. This requires that companies continuously innovate, to think of new ideas that can be transformed or implemented as products, processes or services, generating value for the firm. Innovative solutions and processes are usually developed by a group of people, working together. A grouping of people that share and create new knowledge can be considered as a Community of Practice (CoP). CoP’s are places which provide a sound basis for organizational learning and encourage knowledge creation and acquisition. Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP's) can perform a central role in promoting communication and collaboration between members who are dispersed in both time and space. Nevertheless, it is known that not all CoP's and VCoP's share the same levels of performance or produce the same results. This means that there are factors that enable or constrain the process of knowledge creation. With this in mind, we developed a case study in order to identify both the motivations and the constraints that members of an organization experience when taking part in the knowledge creating processes of VCoP's. Results show that organizational culture and professional and personal development play an important role in these processes. No interviewee referred to direct financial rewards as a motivation factor for participation in VCoPs. Most identified the difficulty in aligning objectives established by the management with justification for the time spent in the VCoP. The interviewees also said that technology is not a constraint.