Study information graduation
Thursday, 2 October at 11am
Costa Hall, Waterfront Campus, Deakin University, Geelong.
Faculty of Arts and Education
Stage Party
The Chancellor, Mr David Morgan presided, assisted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor John Rosenberg.
The MC was the Acting Vice-President and Council Secretary, Ms Fofi Hronopoulos.
The Mace-bearer was Mr Dale Warren.
The Faculty Representative was Ms Tina Katopodis.
Presenters were:
The Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts and Education, Professor Ian Robottom.
Chair, Academic Board, Professor Philomena Leung.
The Student Response was delivered by Dr Raymond Meldrum.
Doctoral Degree Recipients
Dr Ehssan Abdallah - Thesis Title: "Culture and Trade: The Australian Education Sector and the Middle East."
Summary
This investigation emphasises the significant role socio-cultural considerations play in Australia's education sector initiastives in the Middle East, and the direct impact this has on wider Australian- Middle Eastern trade and strategic relations. In order to enhance these relations,there is an urgent need for Australia to develop a more sophisticated policy of engagement that moves away from historical and contemporary misconceptions.
Dr John Robert Bensley - Thesis Title: "The Relationship Between Human Beings and Technological Systems."
Summary
By combining the ontological approaches to technology of Dessauer, Ortega y Gasset and Heidegger, with the psychology of Jung, the integrated and psycho-constructivist approach to technology demonstrates that the relationship between human beings and technological systems is a symptomatic, symbiotic and synchronistic factor of human well-being and adaptation.
Dr Jan Mary Bolton - Thesis Title: "Enhancing Music Composition Opportunities Through Technology in Upper Primary Classrooms."
Summary
The research contributes original knowledge about an e-learning model for music education delivery in schools. It found that the model offered a potentially viable way to make possible the expertise of music specialists online in primary classrooms where such expertise would not normally otherwise be available.
Dr Karina Joyce Butera - Thesis Title:"The Presentation of Gendered Selves in Everyday Friendship."
Summary
The research contributes original knowledge about an e-learning model for music education delivery in schools. It found that the model offered a potentially viable way to make possible the expertise of music specialists online in primary classrooms where such expertise would not normally otherwise be available.
Dr Sarah Jane Culican - Thesis Title:"Scaffolding Pedagogic Change in Middle Years Literacy."
Summary
This research investigated the impact on students and teachers of Reading to Learn, a discourse-oriented approach to middle years literacy. The research found that, despite challenges, teachers can improve student literacy outcomes by changing patterns of classroom interaction, particularly where a theorised approach is used to support teacher professional learning.
Dr Julie Lee Fletcher - Thesis Title:" Witnessing Tibet: Life Narrative as Testimony in the Tibetan Diaspora."
Summary
This thesis traces the development of diverse life-narrative practices in the Tibetan diaspora, arguing that these constitute a central form of non-violent transnational political action within which life-stories are presented as evidentiary and contestatory. In this, relationships of witnessing constitute an increasingly important, largely unrecognised, nexus between Tibetans and non-Tibetans.
Dr Henry Meghaizel - Thesis Title:" Aristotle on Wisdom: Knowledge of Wisdom and How to Acquire it."
Summary
Referring to Aristotle's Ethics and Politics, I argue that knowledge of wisdom entails knowledge of how to acquire it. Accordingly, becoming wiser involves the development of one¿s virtues, and becoming good human. I argue that Aristotle's ethical and political theory is applicable to present liberal democratic society: being a good citizen/administrator entails being good human.
Dr Raymond John Meldrum - Thesis Title: " A Curriculum for Entrepreneurial Creativity and Resourcefulness in New Zealand."
Summary
This thesis examines the mismatch between the passion and risk-taking in entrepreneurs' lives and the way education programs are typically organised as a linear sequence of discipline-based courses with prescribed content and outcomes. It proposes instead a curriculum based on six Cs: `currere,' complexity, cosmology, conversation, community, and, especially, creativity.
Dr Una Marian Murphy - Thesis Title:" Bhakti, Sankirtana and Gauòiya Vaisnavism: India to Australia Foucaultian Analysis."
Summary
The thesis investigates the socio-theological complexity of medieval Gaudiya Vaisnavism and its current development, the Hare Krishna Movement. The study is simultaneously critical and emic. It (1) uncovers medieval concepts not found in contemporary literature; and, (2) develops pathways through which religion can be sociologically and psychologically elucidated and clarified.
Dr Warren William Sellers - Thesis Title:" Picturing Currere Towards C U R A: Rhizo-Imaginary for Curriculum."
Summary
This critical inquiry in curriculum studies uses poststructuralist and Deleuzian rhizomatic approaches alongside an original `picturing' methodology. I genealogically map historical and contemporary curriculum theorising to deconstruct curriculum 'development' and foreground currere (curriculum reconceptualising). In performing Deleuzian philosophy, my proposed c u r a reimagines curriculum via currere to envision generatively living~learning.
Dr Muriel Wells - Thesis Title: " Being Academic: The Online Environment in a 21stc University."
Summary
This research draws on the theoretical resources of Foucault and Bourdieu to focus on the complex relationship between the introduction of a range of new technologies, the lived experience of being academic and the often contradictory subjectivities within the power relations of the managed university in the 21st Century.
Dr Gail Sharron Wilson - Thesis Title:" Using Information and Communications Technology in Higher Education."
Summary
A folio-based doctoral study comprising a dissertation, a major literature review, and a website. The dissertation identified key dimensions of blended learning environments created by the teachers in the study. These environments were characterised by different media blends and learning activities underpinned by resource-based learning approaches to teaching and learning.
Occasional Address
The Occasional Address (iLecture recording - requires broadband) was delivered by Ms Anne Hampshire, National Manager, Research and Social Mission Australia.
Anne Hampshire has a background in research, social policy, program development, advocacy and education. She is currently National Manager of Research and Social Policy for Mission Australia, a national non-profit organisation delivering a diverse range of community and employment services. Ms Hampshire is also on the Network Advisory Committee of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.
Ms Hampshire was previously Director of the Executive Strategy Unit at The Benevolent Society, Australia's oldest non-profit organisation. She has worked with a number of non-government organisations, including the Peak National Advocacy organisation in the multicultural sector, as well as for government departments.
Ms Hampshire has researched and written on a number of areas including children and young people, social capital, cultural diversity and rural and regional communities.
