Forensic students are getting their hands dirty

Final year research projects are an important part of undergraduate chemistry courses, allowing students to enhance transferable skills in teamworking, problem solving and presentations, at the same time as learning valuable practical skills. Several recent reports have highlighted the importance of research based studies as part of undergraduate courses. ‘We need to encourage universities to explore new models of curriculum. They should all incorporate research based study for undergraduates to cultivate awareness of research careers, to train students in research skills for employment, and to sustain the advantages of a research teaching connection,’ wrote Paul Ramsden from James Cook University, Australia, in a 2008 report for the UK’s Higher Education Academy.1 A 2010 report published by the Biopharma Skills Consortium – that promotes collaboration across the higher education sector in the area of biopharma – also stated that: ‘Companies seek recruits well placed to acclimatise quickly to the work environment. They are looking for recruits who can deploy a range of generic skills in the application of their knowledge.’2

The bubbles or the boiling pot? An ecosystemic approach to culture, environment and quality of life

For the diagnosis and prognosis of the problems of quality of life, a multidisciplinary ecosystemic approach encompasses four dimensions of being-in-the-world, as donors and recipients: intimate, interactive, social and biophysical. Social, cultural and environmental vulnerabilities are understood and dealt with, in different circumstances of space and time, as the conjugated effect of all dimensions of being-in-the-world, as they induce the events (deficits and assets), cope with consequences (desired or undesired) and contribute for change. Instead of fragmented and reduced representations of reality, diagnosis and prognosis of cultural, educational, environmental and health problems considers the connections (assets) and ruptures (deficits) between the different dimensions, providing a planning model to develop and evaluate research, teaching programmes, public policies and field projects. The methodology is participatory, experiential and reflexive; heuristic-hermeneutic processes unveil cultural and epistemic paradigms that orient subject-object relationships; giving people the opportunity to reflect on their own realities, engage in new experiences and find new ways to live better in a better world. The proposal is a creative model for thought and practice, providing many opportunities for discussion, debate and development of holistic projects integrating different scientific domains (social sciences, psychology, education, philosophy, etc.).

Computer and IT skills of Australian first-year university undergraduate students

The use of computers and information technology is becoming more widespread in chemical education and in the wider community and workforce. Universities are increasing the use of computers and information technology in their teaching and learning programs. The Australian situation, reported here, can be viewed as a microcosm, reflecting a world-wide trend.

The penetration of general IT literacy and ability amongst Australian undergraduate students is rising rapidly. This paper reports surveys of the detailed IT skills of Australian undergraduate students. To the best of our knowledge, apart from our own work, there have been no other published surveys of specific IT skills. Most students have some reasonable computer skills at the start of their university studies, but the level of skill is not uniformly high. In fact, many IT literate students lack a sufficient level of skill to use the new technologies, including full use of web-based flexible learning. There is an urgent need for IT training for university students in order to achieve successful learning outcomes using IT and to satisfy the needs of future employers.

This article, which is the second in a series (1) of investigations on the computer skills of undergraduate students at the start of university, is an expanded version of a paper presented at the World Chemistry Congress held in Brisbane (Australia) during 1-6 July 2001.

Book review : Rethinking public relations : pr propaganda and democracy

This outstanding book should be compulsory reading for anybody concerned with the research, teaching, study, or practice of public relations. It is also an essential reference for anyone who critiques public relations and wants to be taken seriously. The book is a milestone event in public relations scholarship. It places Moloney on the same level of authority with other leading public relations theorists.

Playing with reggio spaces in higher education for teacher education

In its attention to how space can be thoughtfully arranged, Reggio Emilia has “reconceptualised space as a key source of educational provocation and insight” (Strong-Wilson & Ellis, 2007, p. 40). Such an approach advocates that educators pay close attention to the myriad of ways that space can be made to speak and invite interaction. Theorists recognise eight key principles (aesthetics, transparency, active learning, flexibility, collaboration, reciprocity, bringing the outdoors in, and relationships) which are considered essential to the notion of environment as third teacher. Drawing upon a successful capital rebuilding grant, this presentation outlines the process of reconceptualising and building a space for flexible research, teaching and learning within higher education. This presentation interrogates the successes and challenges which arise when innovating within a traditional space.

The story of Australian agricultural economics 1900-1975

The growth of the agricultural economics profession in Australia is evaluated within the context of government policy. Particular economists and agricultural economists were instrumental in questioning the government's policy approach to agriculture. Their life work is assessed to ascertain their legacy to this country through their research, teaching and writing.

Re-Imagining Practical Legal Training Practitioners – Soldiers for ‘Vocationalism’, or Double Agents?

I adopt a constructivist approach in order to study Australian PLT practitioners’ engagement with scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in institutional practical legal training (PLT). Drawing on Bourdieu’s reflexive sociology and Certeau’s heterological science, I argue PLT is enclosed by discursive operations that constrain PLT practitioners’ engagement with SoTL. I contend SoTL could address a knowledge gap in practice research in law and legal education. I propose to re-imagine PLT teaching work by conceptualising it as an emergent professional trajectory, engaged in practice research, teaching and learning. By considering ways in which structures are inscribed into legal education practice, and conversely, whether practice can modify such structures, I re-imagine PLT practitioners as double agents or resistance fighters, enriching legal education through SoTL as practice research.

Measuring organisational capabilities in the higher education sector

Purpose – Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), the purpose of this paper is to develop a framework and instrument to measure the organisational capabilities of university schools/ departments. In doing so, this study provides evidence of the way competitive resources are bundled to generate organisational capabilities that give university schools/departments a sustainable competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire to measure the resources that contribute to the capabilities of university schools/departments was developed. Constructs were determined, and the questionnaire was refined based on an analysis of responses from 166 Heads of schools/departments across all 39 Australian public universities. Findings – Heads conceive of the development of capabilities within their schools/departments along the core operating functions of research, teaching, and networking. Reliability and supplementary analysis confirm these constructs have strong convergent and discriminant validity as well as internal consistency. Research limitations/implications – The findings confirm that effective management and coordination of research, teaching, and networking with important stakeholders are keys to success. The framework and instrument developed in this paper also provides the opportunity to investigate university performance through the perspective of the RBV, which will enhance the understanding of the determinants of universities’ performance. Practical implications – The framework and questionnaire developed in this study can be utilised by Heads as a diagnostic tool to gain an understanding of their department’s/school’s organisational capabilities in the areas of research, teaching, and networking. Originality/value – This paper is the first study to develop a framework and questionnaire to measure organisational capabilities for university academic schools/departments.

As condições do trabalho docente: um estudo em escolas da rede municipal de Currais Novos-RN (2009 a 2012)

This work, named Teaching conditions: a study in municipal schools of Currais Novos RN (2009 to 2012) aims to analyze the status of teaching in schools in the municipality of Currais Novos RN in the period ranging from 2009 - 2012, considering infrastructure, initial and continued training and intensification and casualization of teaching factors in the context of the 1990s educational reformations. It, also, assumes that teaching is a constitutive part of capitalist society, and has been reconfigured with based on the new requirements demanded by the labor market. In order to conduct this study the considered data included the survey research Teaching Work in Basic Education in Brazil (2009 to 2010) , held in seven Brazilian states being: Pará, Rio Grande do Norte, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Espírito Santo. Specifically selected for deepening of the study, there were schools in the municipality of Currais Novos in which semi-structured interviews were performed with teachers of the said municipality. This research is constituted of a qualitative and quantitative approach whose survey instruments adopted were, namely: documental research, literature review, interviews and surveys. The obtained data analysis allows us to infer that the teaching work performed by teachers in the states which participated in the survey has been influenced the changes in the labor market and educational reformations and has been taking on characteristics such as flexibility, tendency to precariousness and intensification; and this trend is also present in schools that were surveyed in the municipality of Currais Novos. As pertaining to the teachers conditions in classroom, these signs are more evident, considering that they had their duties and responsibilities extended beyond the classroom environment. The data also show that in general working conditions of teachers in national, state and local levels are unprofitable and heterogeneous, increasingly deepening the gap between school units and education networks. Therefore, the implantation of public policies that enhance the teaching work and improve their working conditions in all dimensions that directly interfere in their work are crucial

Inclusão escolar pela via da colaboração entre educação especial e educação regular

A preocupação sobre as práticas inclusivas nas escolas públicas no Brasil começou após a Declaração de Salamanca, com desafios e dúvidas. Ainda hoje, passados cerca de 15 anos, os professores do ensino regular se queixam dizendo que não têm conhecimento suficiente ou preparo formal para lidar com crianças com necessidades educacionais especiais, especialmente quando estas apresentam disfunções graves, como paralisia cerebral, deficiência intelectual e comportamentos desafiadores. A colaboração entre profissionais da Educação Especial e Regular pode ser uma alternativa para enfrentar tais desafios. O objetivo deste relato foi o de apresentar um breve histórico de um programa de pesquisa, ensino e extensão que busca aproximar a Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) dos professores do ensino comum que têm alunos com necessidades especiais em suas salas de aula. Iniciado em 2004, este programa está na atualidade em seu sétimo ano de execução e envolve professores da universidade, estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação e professores do ensino comum. Os resultados parecem apontar essa via de colaboração entre Educação Especial e Regular como um caminho promissor para a construção de escolas mais inclusivas.

Challenges in Assessing Fish Welfare

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fundações privadas e precarização do trabalho docente na UNESP: 1995-2008

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Conhecimento prévio e aprendizagem significativa de conceitos históricos no ensino médio

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

Trabalho docente na educação básica na rede municipal de ensino em Belém

A pesquisa trata sobre o trabalho docente na educação básica na rede municipal de ensino em Belém. O problema que conduziu a investigação foi a procura da possível relação entre as condições de trabalho e a precarização e intensificação do trabalho docente na rede municipal de ensino de Belém. O objetivo geral foi analisar a partir de dados da pesquisa nacional Trabalho Docente na Educação Básica, as condições de trabalho dos docentes que atuam na rede municipal de ensino fundamental em Belém; de modo mais específico se buscou: analisar as políticas educacionais entre os anos de 2003 a 2010 e suas possíveis repercussões no trabalho docente; investigar, a partir dos dados da pesquisa Trabalho Docente na Educação Básica, a precarização e a intensificação do trabalho docente nas escolas pesquisadas. Para consecução da pesquisa foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica referente às condições de trabalho, intensificação e precarização do trabalho docente. O procedimento teórico-metodológico consistiu em uma pesquisa documental, na qual utilizou-se os dados secundários da pesquisa Trabalho Docente na Educação Básica referente ao estado do Pará, estabelecendo relações com as legislações que tratam sobre a valorização, remuneração e as condições de trabalho desse profissional. As conclusões a que se chegou permitem inferir que o trabalhador docente não está satisfeito com vários aspectos relacionados às condições de trabalho, o salário, a carreira, a infraestrutura da escola, dentre outros. A análise dos dados indica que os professores pertencentes à rede municipal de ensino em Belém estão passando por processos de precarização e intensificação do trabalho em função das condições materiais e objetivas que perpassam a profissão docente nesse município.

Pedagogia Anarquista e ensino de Geografia: conquistando cotas de liberdade

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)