Background: Math engagement research has been largely limited to examining the unique and additive relations of engagement dimensions with outcomes. However, an emerging perspective is that students may simultaneously invest varying degrees of their distinct energetic resources (e.g., cognitive vs. emotional) in their interactions with the math…

Many great cultures of the world have recognised the impossibility of teaching. Governments in various colonial countries continue to spend huge sums of money on 'closing the gap' in Indigenous education, yet national assessment figures would support the claim that teaching is indeed an impossibility. This paper draws on some of Biesta's recent…

Universities seek to promote student learning, but assessment and credentials can undermine students' intrinsic motivation to learn. Findings from research on how people learn, mindsets, expert performance and good health are seldom incorporated into the way universities organise learning experiences.

By the start of 2015 all University courses in Australia were required to be compliant with the new the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Quality in higher education seeks to achieve three goals - quality of design, quality of conformance and quality of performance. This paper brings together a number of higher education principles such…

In Australia and elsewhere, universities face increasing pressure to improve research output and quality, particularly through partnerships with industry. This raises interesting challenges for academic staff with considerable industry experience who are "new" to academe. Some of these challenges were faced by the authors who have been…

After leaving school, young people with autism spectrum disorder often struggle with social, educational and employment participation. A post-school transition programme underpinned by individualised case management, where mentees are guided to complete self-selected projects by mentors with multimedia skills, was evaluated using a qualitative…

Learning to become a teacher is a developmental process, part of which is learning to become a reflective practitioner. The authors have implemented a structured approach to developing the habits of critical reflection, the purpose of which is to guide their university students (who are pre-service teachers) to progress through the stages of…

In his book entitled "Teaching Defiance: Stories and strategies for activist educators," this author asserted that, although his book was not a discussion of the Iraq war, it was concerned with the way the war has been "waged" in the countries of the three invaders: the USA, the UK and Australia. For him, the fact that each…

This article contributes to current debates about professional doctorates from a lifelong learning perspective, focusing on those who choose to undertake a doctoral programme in mid- or late career and their responses to the challenge of demonstrating their "doctorateness" as evidenced in their previous and continuing professional work.…

To critique the adventure model of risk recreation, researchers surveyed three methods of assessing levels of participant engagement (skill level, self-reported experience, and perceived importance of the activity or involvement) in rock climbing. Experience and involvement demonstrated a relationship between level of engagement and motivations.…

A qualitative study investigated the role of motivation in academic achievement by gifted secondary students in five Australian schools. Results found that "personal pleasure in achievement and long-term goals" was the most significant motivational factor, positive links with a teacher was a high occurrence factor, and competitive…

A case study of an Australian gifted youth with a learning disability is reported. Aspects of his schooling, his family support and encouragement, and his own task commitment are discussed as factors related to his being able to transcend his disability to a large extent. (Author/JDD)

Describes a study that compares the achievement of biology students (N=48) under the conditions of self-regulation and a traditional approach. Concludes that higher measures of reported self-regulation were significantly associated with higher academic performance scores. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Examines whether students who are intrinsically motivated about learning procrastinate less than those students who are externally motivated and also explores the consequences of procrastination. Indicates that students whose motivation is external are more likely to procrastinate while procrastination is associated with poor academic performance…

A study examining university service delivery in isolated rural southwestern Australia interviewed 25 active and inactive distance students. Issues identified include isolation, lack of peer interaction/support, limited access to academic resources, and the need for motivation. Respondents indicated that methodology, face to face contact, and an…