Alternative Entry Programs to University for Mature Age Students


Book Description

Australia has a long history of accepting unmatriculated, return-to-study and equity group mature age learners into undergraduate courses. Universities enrol mature age students on the basis of, for example, their equity background, prior learning, work experiences, scores on a mature age entrance test, or results in an alternative entry program. This study examined the nature and outcomes of four alternative entry programs (AEPs) to higher education for mature age learners (21 years plus). Alternative entry programs provide mature age students with a way to explore their academic aptitude for, and confidence to, study.




Adapting to Online and Blended Learning in Higher Education


Book Description

Higher education has undergone a massive transformation in teaching and learning in a very short period of time since the onset of Covid-19. Students, teachers and universities have had to adopt online and blended learning, often with little or no experience or models of good practice to draw upon. It is clear that blended and online learning are here to stay. This book draws on research from universities that have adopted online and blended learning to facilitate the expansion and diversification of their intake; which resulted in considerable experience and expertise in online and blended teaching. The book describes a model, tested with qualitative and quantitative data, which shows how teachers can support the retention and success of online and blended learners with four high-quality pedagogical elements: bite-sized videos of interest and relevance; learning materials that are well organised and provide a clear learning roadmap; discussion forums which are set up and moderated so as to result in lively student-student and student-teacher interaction; and, online teachers being approachable and responsive to communication with individual students through email, phone and online communication platforms. This model is explained and profusely illustrated with examples from the teaching of award-winning teachers. This book introduces the concept of a spectrum from traditional to contemporary models of admission and course delivery in higher education. It explains how universities which have adopted a contemporary model, with high levels of blended and online learning, have been able to expand their intake and markedly diversify the student body. It discusses how to support the retention and success of online and blended learners. Student support services are examined from the perspectives of service providers and online and blended learners and the case is made for support services being aligned with student needs. The book has a discussion of university management systems which utilise feedback at all levels to improve alignment between support service provision and student needs.




First-in-Family Students, University Experience and Family Life


Book Description

This book examines the university experiences of first-in-family university students, and how these students’ decisions to return to education impact upon their family members and significant others. While it is well known that parental educational background has a substantial impact on the educational levels of family and dependents, it is unclear how attending university as a first-in-family student translates into the family and community of the learner. With the continuing requirements for higher education institutions to increase the participation of students from a range of diverse backgrounds and educational biographies, this is a major gap in understanding that needs to be addressed. Exploring how this university participation is understood at an individual, familial and community level, this book provides valuable insights into how best to support different student requirements. This book will be of great interest to students and researchers in the fields of education and sociology, as well as policy-makers in education and diversity initiatives.




Widening Access to Education as Social Justice


Book Description

Among the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century is that of providing adequate educational opportunities to all citizens of the globe. This anthology – a tribute to the life and work of the Nigerian educationist Michael A. Omolewa – discusses the educational dimensions of social justice, reviews approaches to widening access, analyzes case studies from around the world, and considers future directions in education policy and research.




Early Career Teachers in Higher Education


Book Description

Early Career Teachers in Higher Education explores the experiences of Early Career Teachers (ECTs) through 13 personal teaching journeys from academics working across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and South America. This edited volume contains the subjective narrative of each contributor's entry into academia, their pedagogic practice and the development of their multiple teaching identities. Their personal narratives and testimonies presented here will provide a valuable resource for ECTs and academics around the world as they begin teaching in higher education. In addition, this edited book highlights contemporary issues, such as precarity, casualisation, fragmentation of academic responsibilities and intersectionality, that shape contemporary ECT workloads.




Graduate Attributes, Learning and Employability


Book Description

In these complex and challenging times, students, teachers and employers are all interested in the development of generic abilities as these typically make the difference between good and indifferent employees, successful and unsuccessful learners. This book explains why generic capacities have become so important and argues that the process of acquiring them is both lifelong and developmental.




Career Counseling Interventions


Book Description

Note to Readers: Publisher does not guarantee quality or access to any included digital components if book is purchased through a third-party seller. Goes beyond traditional "job hunt strategies" to provide innovative solutions targeted to specific populations This graduate text for courses in career counseling is distinguished by its emphasis on creative interventions tailored to the unique needs of diverse populations. With a focus on career as a cornerstone of personal identity, the book explores the specific meaning of careers within different cultures and examines the challenges faced by—and potential solutions for--individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs. It describes unique interventions that allow counseling students to visualize and actualize career counseling with a wide range of clients and demonstrates techniques targeted to each population that can be put into practice immediately. The text provides demographic information regarding specific job-seeking groups including such "traditional" populations as college graduates and working parents, as well as groups that encounter special challenges such as stay-at-home parents returning to work, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities, teen mothers, African American, Hispanic and Asian males and females, older adults, LGBT individuals, and many others. Over fifty creative, innovative interventions that have been successfully applied help counselors to provide effective career development strategies with each population. Chapters include a vignette representing each population, group demographics, a history of career paths and obstacles, unique needs of the group, supports already in place, and specific career counseling assessment and interventions. The book also provides abundant resources for additional study. In addition to its value to career counselors, the text will also be useful to personal counselors who often deal with their client’s career issues during treatment. Key Features: Provides in-depth exploration of underserved populations who hold unique career development needs Includes innovative career counseling interventions that move beyond standard "job hunt strategies" or "resume preparation tips" Explores life stage concerns related to career development across multiple diverse identities Gives readers step-by-step details on implementing over 40 innovative career counseling techniques Presents case studies that provide clear examples of the application of relevant interventions




Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education


Book Description

The second edition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education: An Introduction for the Teaching Profession prepares students for the unique environment they will face when teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at early childhood, primary and secondary levels. This book enables future teachers to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education within a social, cultural and historical context and uses compelling stories and practical strategies to empower both student and teacher. Updated with the Australian Curriculum in mind, this is a unique textbook written by highly regarded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics. Each chapter opens with a powerful anecdote from the author, connecting the classroom to real-world issues. This updated edition has also been expanded to include information on fostering the unique talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and allows the reader to reflect on classroom practices throughout.




Instructional Design: Case Studies in Communities of Practice


Book Description

Instructional designers hold the responsibility of selecting, sequencing, synthesizing, and summarizing unfamiliar content to subject matter experts. To successfully achieve legitimate participation in communities of practice, instructional designers need to utilize a number of communication strategies to optimize the interaction with the subject matter expert. Instructional Design: Case Studies in Communities of Practice documents real-world experiences of instructional designers and staff developers who work in communities of practice. Instructional Design: Case Studies in Communities of Practice explains the strategies and heuristics used by instructional designers when working in different settings, articulates the sophistication of communication strategies when working with subject matter experts, and provides insight into the range of knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics required to complete the tasks expected ofthem.




An Introduction to the Study of Education


Book Description

This fully updated, fourth edition of An Introduction to the Study of Education provides a comprehensive and reflective introduction to the study of education, inviting students to question what education is, who it is for and what purpose it serves. Taking the reader from the early years through to lifelong learning, it examines all forms of education and learning. This new edition includes ten completely new chapters and a step-by-step guide to essay writing. There is also a companion website to accompany the book, featuring additional chapters which can be visited at www.routledge.com/cw/matheson.This fully updated, fourth edition provides: a full exploration of the historical, sociological, philosophical and psychological roots of education; a clear focus on the individual levels of education – preschool, compulsory, post-compulsory and lifelong learning; the latest debates within special educational needs; an in-depth examination of learning styles; insights into the historical development of education and the role of, and background to, research in education; a focus on current educational practice and diversity across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Written in a clear and accessible style, this is the essential core text for all beginning students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Education Studies and all those interested in education today, where it came from and where it is going.