http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26371 Sat, 25 May 2013 20:32:17 GMT 2013-05-25T20:32:17Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26560 Title: Following the leader: the social character of learning in the Australian Army Authors: Talbot, Steven; O'Toole, Kathleen Margaret (Paddy) Abstract: The complex environments in which modern soldiers operate require high functioning individuals who are able to adapt and apply their knowledge, skills and experience in a variety of contexts. In order to adapt to challenges associated with increasing complexity and take advantage of its various knowledge bases, the Australian Army has pursued a goal of becoming a learning organisation. Drawing on data collected from 20 unstructured group discussions conducted with over 150 Army personnel, this qualitative study explores the significance of leaders (usually commanding officers but also instructors) as ‘creators’ or ‘shapers’ of learning environments within their units, and the extent to which they facilitate learning by their staff. Findings suggest that the creation of learning environments (within units) often occurs in an ad hoc manner, reflecting the personalities or dispositions of leaders, rather than reflecting an organisational commitment to ‘empowered’ learners. Consequently, soldiers’ abilities to make and learn from mistakes, ask questions, and display initiative fluctuated according to their posting. However, in contrast to the top-down approach to facilitated learning and empowerment often reported in the literature, findings also suggest that subordinates facilitate learning for leaders. Thus, the paper extends the theory of facilitated learning through leadership by acknowledging the recursive nature of empowerment and the agency of subordinates in shaping their learning environment. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26560 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26505 Title: Finding the rainbow: reflections upon recruiting openly gay men for qualitative research Authors: Filiault, Shaun Michael; Drummond, Murray John Abstract: It has been suggested that greater attention needs be paid to the methods used when engaging in research with gay men, including enhanced focus on methods of recruitment. Pursuant to that argument, this manuscript reflects upon the methods of recruitment used in research about gay men, and the importance of recruitment with regards to research validity and reliability. It is argued that recruitment is best conceptualised as a dynamic process which influences the entire research program, rather than a static event, as recruitment is often characterised in the literature. The authors then engage in a critical self-reflection regarding the recruitment methods used in their body of research about gay men. Issues related to cyber-recruitment, emic and etic, and inclusion criteria are discussed. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26505 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26056 Title: All my students are reading the same book and they're successful: an inclusive teaching approach Authors: Bayetto, Anne Elizabeth Abstract: A model for programming proposed by Taylor, Short, Frye and Shearer (1992) was adapted and trialed by classroom teachers (R-9) to investigate how a single text could be used as a basis of instruction for all students in a class. The main focus, though, was to explore how an approach indicated by the model could support students with learning difficulties in the development of literacy skills. Teachers wrote summaries of the single texts and used them for teaching skills that included phonemic awareness, decoding and comprehension. The research provided positive indications that this approach could successfully be used as part of a whole class literacy program. Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26056 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26039 Title: The fallacy of availability Authors: Jewell, Paul Damian Abstract: I propose to identify and describe an example of fallacious reasoning which I call the Fallacy of Availability. References to such a fallacy do not appear in standard lists of fallacies. Once alerted to it, however, critical thinkers will readily think of examples. The fallacious reasoning occurs when a “remedy” for a problem is adopted or proposed on the grounds that the remedy is seen to be available rather than considered to be efficacious. The practice of critically reading argumentative passages with a view to identifying and classifying fallacies has, quite rightly, lost favour in recent years as a core exercise in thinking and critical reasoning courses. In its place the construction (as opposed to deconstruction) of chains of reasoning is preferable. To this end, however, it is useful for advanced thinkers to be aware of effective reasoning techniques and of inferior, ineffective substitutes. The Fallacy of Availability is a case of inferior, ineffective reasoning. Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2328/26039 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z