Learning from the story of a great leader

This paper reports on research findings from a larger study which seeks to understand leadership from the experiences of well-known and well-recognised Australian leaders across a spectrum of endeavours such as the arts, business, science, the law and politics. To date there appears to be limited empirical research that has investigated the insights of Australian leaders regarding their leadership experiences, beliefs and practices. In this paper, the leadership story of a well-respected medical scientist is discussed revealing the contextual factors that influenced her thinking about leadership as well as the key values she embodies as a leader. The paper commences by briefly considering some of the salient leadership literature in the field. In particular, two prominent theoretical frameworks provided by Leavy (2003)and Kouzes and Posner (2002) are explored. While Leavy’s framework construes leadership as consisting of three “C’s” – context , conviction and credibility, Kouzes and Posner (2002)refer to five practices of exemplary leadership. The paper provides a snapshot of the life forces and context that played an important role in shaping the leader’s views and practices. An analytical discussion of these practices is considered in the light of the earlier frameworks identified. Some implications of the findings from this non-education context for those in schools are briefly noted.

ENSINO MÉDIO, LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA E PORTAL EDUCACIONAL: percepções emergentes das narrativas de alunos inseridos em práticas de letramento digital

A educação contemporânea está inserida num contexto de velozes e dinâmicas transformações sociais e culturais, principalmente com o avanço e incorporação das Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TDIC) no cotidiano das pessoas. Na Sociedade da Informação, na Era do Conhecimento, é preciso ir além do saber ler, escrever e digitar. A escola, por sua vez, de maneira ainda morosa, busca adequar-se às exigências do universo digital do qual participam seus agentes. O Ensino Médio, foco de preocupação e reflexão por todos os envolvidos no processo educativo dessa modalidade, tenta alcançar sua proposta de formação integral dos jovens para o exercício do trabalho e da cidadania. À disciplina Língua Portuguesa reserva-se a missão de conciliar o ensino da norma-culta com os gêneros discursivos de tal forma a promover a inclusão digital dos alunos nas diversas circunstâncias de letramento às quais são submetidos. Nesse âmbito, este trabalho investigou: Que percepções dos processos formativos emergem quando os alunos refletem acerca das práticas pedagógicas e das vivências nas aulas de Língua Portuguesa em atividades mediadas por portal educacional? O objetivo geral da pesquisa é provocar a reflexão nos professores, de tal forma que repensem suas práticas pedagógicas e seu papel no processo educativo a fim de promover uma experiência educativa mais condizente com a realidade dos alunos. A metodologia adotada foi a pesquisa qualitativa de cunho investigativo, na modalidade narrativa, sob a luz de Clandinin e Connelly (2011). Pela inserção no cenário e proximidade afetiva com os participantes, assumiu-se o desafio de desenvolver uma pesquisa-ação, para isso, os instrumentos investigativos adotados foram: entrevista semiestruturada, diário de bordo, atividades realizadas no portal, conversas informais e caderno de campo. A análise dos dados permitiu a elaboração de oito categorias de análise, emergentes das narrativas dos participantes: interação e comunicação; sala de aula ampliada; gestão da aprendizagem; o registro de si e do outro; aprendizagem colaborativa e transformadora; incentivo à pesquisa; estudo autônomo; e, desafios. Os resultados alcançados apontaram para reflexões que não se encerram nas páginas deste trabalho, dentre elas destacam-se: a importância de ouvir o aluno para que as propostas pedagógicas sejam revistas e melhoradas; o testar, nas práticas diárias, é fundamental, é o buscar algo além do tradicional, em prol de um objetivo de aprendizagem definido; o desejo de aprender pode despertar no aluno o interesse pelo conhecimento, tornando-o mais autônomo em suas escolhas e caminhos; as TDIC podem colaborar com o processo de ensino e de aprendizagem, porém exigem envolvimento dos sujeitos, pois elas, enquanto instrumentos, não configuram o conhecimento, são os agentes que ao apropriar-se delas têm condições de obter o melhor de suas potencialidades. Futuros trabalhos poderão dar continuidade a este estudo e trazer grandes acréscimos ao contemplar as influências do uso das TDIC no cotidiano da escola, o que, certamente, será de grande contribuição para o cenário atual da Educação brasileira.

Critical practice and the public pedagogy of environmental and conservation media

Natural History filmmaking has a long history but the generic boundaries between it and environmental and conservation filmmaking are blurred. Nature, environment and animal imagery has been a mainstay of television, campaigning organisations and conservation bodies from Greenpeace to the Sierra Club, with vibrant images being used effectively on posters, leaflets and postcards, and in coffee table books, media releases, short films and viral emails to educate and inform the general public. However, critics suggest that wildlife film and photography frequently convey a false image of the state of the world’s flora and fauna. The environmental educator David Orr once remarked that all education is environmental education, and it is possible to see all image-based communication in the same way. The Media, Animal Conservation and Environmental Education has contributions from filmmakers, photographers, researchers and academics from across the globe. It explores the various ways in which film, television and video are, and can be, used by conservationists and educators to encourage both a greater awareness of environmental and conservation issues, and practical action designed to help endangered species. This book is based on a special issue of the journal Environmental Education Research.

Undergraduate research training and graduate recruitment

Purpose – Formal opportunities for psychology undergraduates to carry out research training are starting to emerge. In spite of the fact that such training programmes would have a high authentic learning component little is known of undergraduate expectations and attitudes towards such programmes. This paper aims to focus on the issues. Methodology/design/approach – In total, 108 undergraduate participants were surveyed in two experiments that recorded both the prospective and retrospective attitudes towards research training participation. Questionnaires and focus groups were employed and the data were triangulated together to converge on an understanding of student expectations towards authentic learning programmes. Findings – While psychology undergraduates expect to be trained in contemporary research techniques it is the sense of community development that is the prime motivator for participation. Originality/value – The paper places these findings within the context of increasing the employability profile of the undergraduate cohort.

Developing a Mobile Distance Learning System

This article considers the basic problems of client-server electronic learning systems based on mobile platforms. Such questions as relational learning course model and student’s transitions prediction through the learning course items are considered. Besides, technical questions of electronic learning system “E-Learning Suite” realization and questions of developing portable applications using .NET Framework are discussed.

Design Standardized Web-Components for e-Learning

In this paper a flexible approach to design LMS with QTI Ready component based on the e-Learning standards AICC and IMS QTI is described. This system and component permits a dynamic learning and assessment process. QTI Ready component can provide these facilities to other real world virtual learning management system.