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An Industry Training Organisation perspective of strategic planning for future workplace learning and assessment innovation in New Zealand
No full textRESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. In what ways do Industry Training Organisations interpret Tertiary Education Commission’s strategy with reference to future workplace learning and assessment innovation?
2. What is the strategic planning for future workplace learning and assessment innovation in Industry Training Organisations?
3. What are the challenges experienced by Industry Training Organisations in relation to the strategic planning for future workplace learning and assessment innovation?
Industry Training Organisations support workplace training by engaging with employers to provide training that meets industry needs. Research alludes to a changing workplace environment that is characterised by technological innovation, globalisation and changing demographics. The government is encouraging the tertiary education sector to be flexible and adaptive in responding to change.
However, research points to today’s workers having less than five minutes a day to devote to professional development, yet learners are expected to have additional skillsets. This study aims to understand how middle-level and senior-level management interpret the Tertiary Education Strategy in the context of future workplace learning and assessment innovation, to explore strategic planning for future workplace learning and assessment innovation and to understand the challenges in implementing future workplace learning and assessment innovation in Industry Training Organisations in New Zealand. An interpretive approach was adopted for this qualitative study involving an in-depth investigation of eight participants’ views across five Industry Training Organisations.
The research method used was semi-structured interviews. This research identifies innovation was unanimously defined as, “different ways of doing things”. However, it was applied subjectively. A key finding is that Industry Training Organisations believe they work closely with employers, clients and learners as part of their role despite there being no legislative requirement to plan for skills leadership. Another key finding confirms that Industry Training Organisations have experienced changes through advancements in technology, a changing workforce and globalisation themselves or within the industries they work with.
Findings also indicate that regulatory quality assurance processes are viewed as one of the barriers to innovation. An implication of the study is that the government’s intended outcomes for innovation may or may not be met as innovation is applied subjectively. The study concludes that stringent regulatory quality requirements could stifle innovation and instil fear of the consequences of non-compliance within the Industry Training Organisations
Teacher perspectives on augmented reality : the potential of Metaverse for learning
No full textAugmented Reality (AR) assumes that virtual content is intermediated between the viewer and the real world, but the extent of that intermediation, and the ways in which it is intended to enhance the real-world experience, can vary between tools and contexts. The links between an overlay and the physical world may be weak or strong, and the roles of location, collaboration and mobility may differ widely between AR experiences. This variety of options within the AR space means that educators need to be guided in understanding how AR might be used in the classroom and impact on student learning. In this article we report on a study involving teachers, both in-service and pre-service, investigating their attitudes to the application of AR in their practice. The participants were given the opportunity to create mobile AR experiences using the Metaverse AR tool and were invited to respond to a survey designed to capture their responses to its educational potential. Their responses revealed that the evolving nature of AR tools is leading to new ideas about how they may be applied in education, but that generating these new ideas requires a degree of experience that pre-service teachers do not have. We also found that even experienced teachers tended to focus on content rather than on how AR can help students learn. There is therefore a need to provide suitable professional development to teachers of all levels of experience if they are to fully realise the educational potential of AR in their practice
In the space : creating a vibrant community through architecture in Levuka, Ovalau Island,Fiji
Get PDFRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can the history and cultural identity of the community inform an architectural proposition for a contemporary community and cultural centre in Levuka, Fiji?
ABSTRACT
Levuka town is located on the Island of Ovalau, Fiji. It possesses a small but culturally diverse population made up of indigenous Fijians, descendants of indentured labourers from India brought by the British in the 19th Century, and settlers from around the world. Levuka was the first capital of Fiji during the colonial period in the late 19th century. This lasted for six years before Suva became Fiji’s capital in 1877. The administration moved from Levuka to Suva in 1882. Levuka town was established by the British and Americans in the early 19th century and the traces of this history are evident in the architectural fabric of the town. In 2013, Levuka was recognised by the United Nations Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a World Heritage cultural site and given the title ‘Levuka Historical Port Town.’
Despite its colonial history and the recognition by UNESCO of Levuka as an important cultural site of world heritage, there has been minimal work done to preserve its rich architectural and cultural history. The recent cyclone, Winston, in early 2016 destroyed major heritage buildings leaving the town in an irreparable state and contributing to the decline of its tangible heritage.
Moreover, many of the cultural artefacts that used to be housed in a small section of a community building have been taken to Suva for better preservation and safekeeping as the current facility in Levuka has deteriorated. These items range from early Fijian warriors’ weapons such as carved wooden war clubs, spears, and cooking utensils, clay pots, to mention but a few. There were also cannon guns that were used on British ships, soldiers’ uniforms and paintings. The removal of most of these artefacts from Levuka has in some way removed the cultural identity from its original birthplace.
Through the review of relevant literature about the history of Fiji , the cultural identity of the multi-ethnicities, and the analysis of several key precedents including cultural and community buildings in the South Pacific and the Oceania Regions, an architectural design process was undertaken which has led to the design of a Community and Cultural Centre which closely responds to the multi-ethnic community in Levuka, Ovalau Island, Fiji.
Reclaiming Levuka’s cultural heritage and identity has been realised through this research project with an architectural proposition which responds by fusing the past and present cultural values into a contemporary complex, preserving them where current and future generations can visit and be proud of their history, cultural heritage and identity which was the focus of this architectural research study
Human capital in the banking sector : cross cultural definition
No full textBusinesses around the world proclaim their employees as being the corporation’s most valuable resource. The field of human capital (HC) is not a new one and, studies focussing specifically on HC and its importance to organisations have been published in the academic press for several decades (Amit & Zott, 2001; Barney & Wright, 1998; Otoo & Mishra, 2018; Wernerfelt, 1984). However, despite continuous research attention, HC remains underdeveloped and an under- researched concept (Gambardella, Panico, & Valentini, 2015; Lewis & Heckman, 2006; McDonnell, 2011). Specially, there is an absence of uniformity in the meanings of term human capital, thus, this exploratory research inquired from those who make use of the concept to define it. Research methods will include interviews with 10 banks in Sri Lanka and New Zealand and secondary sources. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis. The findings revealed that there is a greater likelihood of banks in both countries defined the term HC in a similar way to a greater extent though the differences exist. The findings further, offered an insight for future investigations on how the definition of a developing country differ from that of a developed country
Auckland 2017-2018 : a year in the life of an international student from Beijing
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can illustration visually communicate an experience of living in a different culture in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ)?
ABSTRACT:
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful island countries in the South Pacific; it is a former British colony and so is considered a “westernised” society. Auckland is NZ’s largest city, and is the most diverse and multicultural in the country. China is one of the largest countries in Asia, and is my homeland. With 55 minorities, China is a multiethnic country. Beijing is the capital of China, and it is one of the most densely populated cities, and in recent times, it is becoming increasingly multiethnic and multicultural.
In the globalized world, different forms of art, culture and social life are increasingly accessible whether through travel or through the Internet. The coexistence of multiple cultures makes the world more meaningful and also more diverse, and as more groups express themselves in a shared society, issues like prejudice or stereotype can arise. In my personal opinion, stereotypes or prejudices are caused by people who reject or have no chance to understand other cultures. On the other hand, when people travel or migrate to a different country, they are exposed to cultural differences in a way that demands understanding and adaptation; experience of difference plays an important role in cultural acceptance. Stereotypes and prejudices can be challenged or undone if people step out of their cultural “bubbles” more to experience and communicate across cultures.
"What is the use of the arts in the actual globalised world? One
may begin answering this by pointing out that in the Greek
world, in antiquity, the arts occupied a very special place and
were defined as the manifestation of beauty. Thus, art had its
own function, to serve the aesthetic aspect of society. To the
Greeks, art corresponded to metaphysics and its role was to
beautify, improve the life of society, and thus they lived. Oliveira
and Silva (2011, p. 471)"
[Oliveira, J. A. & Silva, A. J. (2011). Arts, Culture and Science and Their
Relationships. Syst Pract Action Res. 24, 565–574
. doi: 10.1007/s11213-011-9209-5]
More and more people have begun to use illustration as a tool to express a spiritual dimension to their lives today. Illustrations are a form of visual communication that does not depend on words; it can engage audiences and communicate experiences of cultural difference (to a degree) regardless of language. This book communicates a highly personal experience of intercultural exploration, expressed as a unique combination of image and text. It invites the audience to experience life through my psyche, to see New Zealand through the eyes of an illustrator who has come from China. My hope is that this project contributes to an increased understanding of the role illustration can play in making sense of crosscultural encounters and cultural difference in a globalized world
Head, heart, and gut in decision making : development of a multiple brain preference questionnaire
No full textThere is a growing body of literature that supports the idea that decision making involves not only cognition, but also emotion and intuition. However, following extant “dual-process” decision theories, the emotional and intuitive aspects of decision making have predominantly been considered as one “experiential” entity. The purpose of this article is to review the neurological evidence for a three-factor model of head, heart, and gut aspects of embodied cognition in decision making and to report on a study carried out to design and validate a psychometric instrument that measures decision-making preferences across three separable interoceptive components, representing the complex, functional, and adaptive neural networks (or “brains”) of head (analytical/cognitive), heart (emotional/affective), and gut (intuition). Development and validation of the Multiple Brain Preference Questionnaire (MBPQ) instrument was carried out in three phases. Translational validity was assessed using content and face validity. Construct validity was undertaken via exploratory factor analysis of the results from the use of the instrument with 301 subjects from a global sampling, and reliability tests were performed using internal consistency and test–retest analysis. Results confirmed extraction of three factors (head, heart, and gut) was appropriate and reliability analysis showed the MBPQ to be both valid and reliable. Applications of the tool to coaching and leadership are suggested
Factors that influence the efficacy of professional development in digital technologies for New Zealand primary school teachers
Get PDFRESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. What are the recommended factors for the design and implementation of effective PD as identified by the literature?
2. What are teachers’ perceptions of the key factors of the design and implementation process for effective PD in Digital Technologies for a New
Zealand primary school?
3. What are teachers’ perceptions of the transferability and relevance of the findings for the recommended factors for effective PD?
ABSTRACT:
“With digital technologies now accepted as an integral part of our society, our workplaces and our homes, the challenge has been to ensure they also become an integral part of our education system” (Education in New Zealand, 2017). Recently, the Ministry of Education revised the New Zealand Curriculum and emphasised the need for teachers of years 0-10 to integrate the Digital Technologies Curriculum in all schools. In order to do this, teachers require effective professional development (PD).
This study uses a practitioner-researcher approach to investigate teachers’ experiences and perceptions of the factors of the design and implementation of Digital Technologies PD that increase its efficacy. Further to this, the literature is explored and used to identify factors that impact its effectiveness. The study also examined teachers’ perceptions of the transferability and relevance of the findings to other educational contexts.
Teachers took part in seven compulsory Digital Technologies PD workshops and up to five optional workshops over two school terms. Through questionnaires and individual semi-structured interviews, 11 participants shared their perceptions and experiences of the PD, identifying the factors that influenced its effectiveness.
The findings of the study indicated that factors of collaboration, discussion, and ongoing time and support should be included in PD. The content and activities of the PD need to be hands-on, practical and meet the needs and contexts of the teachers in the programme. Further to this, the facilitators of PD programmes require strong communication skills, approachability, and passion. Strong relationships between the facilitator and teachers need to be made and maintained. In addition, the facilitator must be responsive and flexible to the needs of the teachers in the PD
Evaluating VANET Routing Protocols for Auckland Area
No full textThis paper provides a performance evaluation for several popular Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network (VANET) protocols, namely AODV, DSR, OLSR, DSDV, GPSR, CBRP, and ZRP with Nakagami fading propagation model for Auckland area. The impact of the shape factor of the Nakagami model on the performance is investigated for each of the studied protocols, and for three types of traffic: low, medium and high traffic. Two real scenarios are considered: urban area (central of Auckland), with a maximum speed of 50 km/h, and motorway, with a maximum speed of 100 km/h. Results show that the performance of the protocols varies and depends on several factors including the number and the speed of vehicles
From the external : landscape transformation
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can external objects based on the combination of eastern and western aesthetics be utilised in landscape design by photomontage?
Art and landscape architecture have a historical and close relationship, and art works, such as painting and sculpture, can provide inspiration for landscape architecture. I believe that an inter-cultural design process could provide more solutions than an approach based on a single culture. Ancient Chinese landscape painting has a philosophy about living environments, which may be useful in New Zealand, but it should be combined with local aesthetic orientations. To achieve that goal, I will investigate New Zealand’s painting and art works, attempting to build connections between painting and landscape architecture. The same feeling while seeing the original art works and the resulting landscape architecture is the goal of this experiment, and that feeling is addressed by the perspective system. To explore the relationship between landscape and external art work, montage will be investigated as a method. My research supports evidence that landscape architecture could be influenced by and benefit from the exploration of multicultural art works
What metaphors tell us about the market: reconciling linguistics, cognition and pragmatics in order to understand the impact of metaphor use on society
No full textIn the last 25 years, traditional approaches to the treatment of metaphor have been increasingly questioned on both theoretical and experimental grounds and, as a result, Metaphorology has become a flourishing academic discipline and research area. However, the study of the use of metaphor in NZ socio-economic and political discourse remains underdeveloped. We will overview various ways of identifying, researching and categorising metaphors, including the analysis of metaphor in cognitive linguistics (see Gibbs, 2008), in Critical Discourse Analysis (see Musollf, 2012), and in the recent Relevance Theory (Wilson, 2011), the latter shedding new light on the ongoing debates, and suggests fruitful directions for new research. We will then report on the application of an integrated corpus-based approach to an examination of the social impact of metaphors used in texts published in The New Zealand Herald in reference to the condition of the housing market in Auckland. Our study aims to contribute to a fuller picture of genre specific metaphor use in a traditional western newspaper. The analysis applied in the study seeks to unmask the persuasive ideological functions carried and hidden in discourse, the relative social positions of the text producer and the text recipient, and the factors that may influence the recipients’ decoding of the identified metaphors, including the crucial role of context in metaphor creation, interpretation and comprehension. Our findings include lists of metaphors used in the genres under examination and their classification based on latest cognitivist conceptualisations of metaphors