This paper examines issues of Australian teachers' professional development and personal welfare, pressing issues Australian education as a period of unprecedented change has been paralleled by significant and rapid aging of the Australian teaching population. Noting that the average age of teachers is 44 and rising, the paper argues that a major…

The conference papers in this collection are grouped under the following topics: behavior problems in context; interpersonal relationships; initiatives by systems and schools; and programs in special settings. Papers included are: (1) National Trends in Discipline Policy Development (Roger Slee); (2) Balancing: The Protocols of Discipline (William…

This early childhood curriculum study focused on the practical understandings that teachers held about their classroom experiences, as a way of gaining access to the dynamics of curriculum implementation and innovation. Two problems were addressed: (1) the lack of knowledge about the dynamics of curriculum implementation in settings where early…

Traditionally, the teaching role has been one of nurturing and developing students' potential. However, teachers' work today comprises a complex mix of various factors that include teaching; learning new information and skills; keeping abreast of technological innovations and dealing with students, parents and the community. These are demanding…

Work-based learning (WBL) is one response of education and training institutions to criticisms they have failed to adapt to changing economic times and the changing nature of work. Formal educational institutions are challenged by the perception that they are inadequate to the task of preparing the present and future work force with the necessary…

This paper describes how multiple sources of information were used by two educators to develop new understandings about their roles as teachers of information technology research to a multinational class. The information was gathered from students who provided feedback via an asynchronous Web-based chat space, e-mail, written assignments, and…

The impact of competency-based training (CBT)on the role and responsibilities of instructors across Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector was examined. The study focused on the following: quality and nature of CBT instruction throughout Australia; ways VET instructors have adapted their practice to accommodate CBT; and staff…

Staff interviews addressed the changing roles and relationships between principals of one-teacher schools and administrators of the North West Region of the New South Wales Department of School Education. Over a five-year period, the approaches employed by administrators to implement departmental policy changes altered significantly and resulted…

Examines how teachers' perceptions of gender affect classroom discipline in Australia using case studies at 4 high schools and 2 secondary institutions; interviews with 86 students, 40 teachers, and 10 support staff; and questionnaires from 720 students and 110 teachers. Stereotyped masculinity and femininity attitudes exist in classroom…

The study with 238 Australian primary and secondary teachers found factors associated with stress arising from 4 aspects of the teaching role: time/work-load pressures, student factors, school administration/staff tension, and employment/community factors. All 4 areas of stress were positively associated with the use of emotion-focused appraisals.…

Interviews with Australian teachers educated in other countries raise questions about central issues of education, discipline, and the teacher's role. The dilemma faced by Australian teachers from overseas is to reconcile positive and negative aspects of both systems so that they can work in Australia without rejecting their own beliefs. (SLD)

Examines the role of the tutor in the problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at the University of Queensland (Australia) dental school, discussing changes in this role across the four years in which PBL is used. Explores different varieties of PBL, as well as group learning, tutor-free groups, the reflective role of tutors, and desirable tutor…

This paper explores teacher education through a self-study approach to researching practice. The development of the notion of tensions--in this case, the tension between confidence and uncertainty--is used as a way of understanding the complex nature of teaching and learning about teaching with a focus on teacher education practice. The paper is…

This paper explores the importance of interaction in the online teaching environment and the important role of staff development in developing teacher presence online. Professionally developing staff to use information and communication technologies is viewed from the standpoint of diffusion of innovation, moving from early adopters to mainstream…

The Queensland (Australia) Department of Education s "Corporate Plan 1994-98" identifies student learning and teaching as a key issue and includes effective learning and teaching as a corporate value. This document provides information on five guiding principles that have been formulated for the development and implementation of quality…