May 15th, 2012

Staff News

CHANGE IN MAIL SERVICE | 18th May 2012

David Myers, our Faculty Postie, is on leave 18th May 2012. Please collect your mail from level 3, Rm 318. A big THANK YOU to the Precinct Officers for their assistance during this time.

HALF MARATHON 20 MAY | Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick Centre for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders

Every year HMHE staff and students run the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon to raise money and awareness for an important cause. Please visit our website and sponsor us if you can: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/human_movers_university_of_sydney

This year we are running our 21.1 km for Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick Centre for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders.

The Centre for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCC&BD) at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick is an internationally recognised centre of excellence that has been caring for patients from Sydney, NSW and further afield for over 50 years. Our team is dedicated to finding new ways of treating and curing children with cancer. We conduct vital research into novel anticancer drugs, making survivors healthier, and improving the psychological health of children and their families treated by us. Childhood cancer is still the second most common cause of death in children. Whilst we can cure 80% of children with cancer, this comes at some physical and psychological cost to the child and their family. Our team remain dedicated to continuing improvements in both cure rates and the quality of life for affected children and their families, and continue to strive to reach our goal of 100% cure. We need your help to reach our goals!

Thank you!

Dr Kelli Burns

MORNING TEA | For a good cause!

Peter McAndrew our Faculty’s Campus Assist Officer is hosting a morning tea to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

Be a Foodie

When: Thursday 17 May
Time: 10.00am
Where: Outside the main glass doors of A35 Education Building
Moorish cakes kindly donated by Guy, Lolita’s Catering.

It’s a fun way to raise money for cancer research, prevention and support services for cancer patients and their families. It can be as big or as small as you want it to be.

Every Donation makes a big difference – Lead a Cancer Smart Lifestyle

HONORARIES IN ACTION | Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle

“Picture books are not just kids’ stuff”, say artists-in-residence. Children’s picture books are a specialised art form, and a public lecture by writer Nadia Wheatley and illustrator Ken Searle aims to encourage deeper appreciation of the genre among parents and educators. For more information, please visit:

http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=9192 to read the full story.

STAFF NEWS | News and Absences

Kelly Freebody is currently on maternity leave. Dr Ruth Fielding is Program Director of the Combined Degrees in her absence.

Learning and Teaching

FORUM DATES | L&T Fora

The following Learning and Teaching Fora are planned for June and July, so please note these dates in your diary. Further details and calls for RSVPs will be forthcoming. Any queries, please do not hesitate to contact belinda.chambers@sydney.edu.au

L&T Forum on ICTs – Thursday, 21st June, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm (plus lunch at 1.00 pm).
L&T Forum on Social Inclusion – Monday, 23rd July, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm (plus lunch at 1.00 pm).

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS | Call for Nominations – Semester 1, 2012

Nominations Close: Friday, 8 June 2012

Nominations are being sought for the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Awards. The purpose of these awards is to recognise the contribution made to teaching excellence by academic members of staff across the Faculty.

If you would like to nominate an academic member of staff for their outstanding teaching then please refer to the website below to source advice on eligibility: sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/learning_teaching/excellence_awards/faculty_excellence.shtml

In addition, please find attached a nomination form. All nomination forms can be sent to belinda.chambers@sydney.edu.au or delivered to her office, Room 329, Dean’s Unit, Education Building. Att.Nomination Form 2012

If you have any queries, then please do not hesitate to contact belinda.chambers@sydney.edu.au

RSVP DUE TODAY – ONE HOUR SESSION ON SUPERVISION | RHD students from non-English speaking backgrounds

This one-hour session will describe the difficulties faced by NESB students during their research higher degree programme. It will focus on educational differences, supervisory expectations and the linguistic proficiency of NESB students. The focus will be on international students from neighbouring Asian countries. To highlight these difficulties, data from past RHD students will be presented. By considering the difficulties faced by these students, some strategies will be presented that supervisors can use to can help international NESB students maximise their RHD experience. The session will include strategies for thesis and dissertation writing.

Target audience: Supervisors of research higher degree candidates in the faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, and Law

Presenter: Dr Lindy Woodrow, Faculty of Education and Social Work

Time: 4.00-5.00 pm

Date: Thursday, 17 May

Place: Education Bldg, Room 459

RSVP essential: By 15 May; please email: anastasia.stravopodis@sydney.edu.au.

About the presenter: Lindy Woodrow lectures in TESOL in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. In the Doctoral Division she teaches thesis and dissertation writing to RHD students. She has researched and published in the areas of academic writing and the adaption of international students to Western universities. She has a particular interest in students from Confucian heritage countries.

Faculty Upcoming Events

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE – DISCUSSION | What is a Picture Book?

The Faculty’s joint Artists-in-Residence, Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle, will be giving a talk on

When : Tuesday 15 May
From: 6-7 pm:
Venue: Room 612 Education Building A35

Nadia and Ken will be discussing and showing artwork from some of the books they have written, illustrated and designed together, including Playground (shortlisted for the 2012 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards) and the Papunya School Book of Country and History (winner of the NSW Premier’s History for Young People Award, 2002).

As well, Nadia will be showcasing some of the award-winning books she has done with other illustrators, including My Place (illustrated by Donna Rawlins), Highway (illustrated by Andrew McLean) and Luke’s Way of Looking (illustrated by Matt Ottley).

This is an opportunity to see artwork from a range of picture books and to find out about this complex and sophisticated form of literature.

Please RSVP here http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/what-is-a-picture-book-a-talk Or email: helen.loughlin@sydney.edu.au for further information.

LAUNCH | Turning the Tide … in Indigenous literacy – 17 May

http://sydney.edu.au/news/edsw/880.html?newsstoryid=9030

The Faculty of Education and Social Work in partnership with the University’s Koori Centre will launch Turning the Tide on Thursday, May 17, the first of three major events to be held this year that will showcase the work and contributions of Indigenous Australian writers and thinkers.

The event, which is being held in association with Sydney Writers’ Festival will take place in the Great Hall (E17), with a panel of searingly talented Indigenous writers – Larissa Behrendt, Lionel Fogarty and Ali Cobby Eckermann – facilitated by the Koori Centre’s coordinator of the Indigenous Australian Studies Peter Minter.

The faculty has long held strong links with the Indigenous Australian communities – comprising the descendants of the Eora Nation and the contemporary communities of Glebe and Redfern – and, in association with the Koori Centre, offers numerous courses focusing on Indigenous education. Indigenous engagement is a short- and long-term goal, which is highlighted in the faculty’s Strategic Plan 2011-15. The vision is to enhance the University’s goals of promoting Indigenous participation, engagement, education and research.

The Indigenous Writers and Thinkers series will continue in Semester Two 2012 with events planned for August 8 and September 5, which is Indigenous Literacy Day. Additional information will be published on the faculty’s website as it becomes available.

EARLY CAREER TEACHER | HALF-DAY CONFERENCE - 16 June

This half-day conference will provide early career teachers the opportunity to attend a range of workshops and connect with other early-career graduates.

Presenters will include; Professor Robyn Ewing, Associate professor Alyson Simpson, Associate Professor Janette Bobis, Dr Jon Callow, Kathy Rushton, Kate Smyth, Bill Spence and Dr Jenni Way.

The conference will take place on Saturday 16 June from 10am-1.30pm at Homebush West Primary School, Exeter Road Homebush West.

For all further information, and to register on-line, please go to: http://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/professional_learning/conferences/2012/early_career.shtml

TODAY – SEMINARS | Upcoming CoCo Seminar (Please note the room change)

Join us on 15th of May when Dr Begoña Gros presents Promoting innovation in online adult learners

Date and time: May 15th from 11am-12:30pm
Location: Room 612 of Education Building (A35)
Please note: This seminar will be available online live at http://webconf.ucc.usyd.edu.au/seminar-room

Future CoCo seminars

· 16th May, 11~12:30 p.m., Room 612, Education Building A35 – Jen Scott Curwood, PhD ‘Literacy in the wild: Tracing adolescent literacy practices in online affinity spaces’

· 23rd May, Room 230, Education Building A35 – Associate Professor Wan Ng ‘A framework for sustainable mobile learning in schools’

· 13th June, Room 230, Education Building A35 – Dr Beat Schwendimann

· 20th June, Room 230, Education Building A35 – Assistant Professor Erica R Halverson & Associate Professor Richard Halverson

Future CoCo-CHAI-LATTE seminars

· 30th May, Room 124, School of Information Technologies, Building J12, Professor Yannis Dimitriadis ‘How to support teachers with conceptual and technological tools’

· 27th June, Room 230, Building A35, Professor James Dalziel ‘Using Learning Design for Innovative eTeaching’

THIS WEEK - PRESENTATION | Ela Sjolie

Title: ‘Preservice teachers’ perceptions of theory in their teacher education program: lessons from Norway’

When: Wednesday, 16th May, 2012, at 1pm

Where: Room 551

ABSTRACT:

The role of theory in teacher education reconsidered in pre-service teacher perspective – lessons from Norway

The perceived gap between theory and practice is one of the most discussed topics in teacher education. In this seminar I aim to challenge some common conceptions of the role of theory and practice in teacher education through looking from the perspective of pre-service teachers.

Even though the relationship between theory and practice has been extensively discussed in the literature for decades, pre-service teachers still see theory as something that belongs to the university and school as something that represents “real life”. Theory is above and separated from practice, and when it doesn’t “work” or doesn’t concur with what they see in real life, it is rejected. The conclusion is more than often that the theory is erroneous, insufficient or just out of touch with reality.

This means that teacher education fails to communicate to the students that theory exists on different levels and to raise the discussion of the concepts of theory and practice. It also fails to communicate the (different) purposes of theory in the different parts of their education. According to my data, this failure seems to have an important impact on the pre-service teachers attitude to theory and hence also their learning process.

The results in this presentation are based on surveys and interviews with Norwegian pre-service teachers.

For more information about Ela’s PhD project, see the blog Pedagogy is just common sense

MEETING | Professional Learning Partners

The second Sydney University Professional Learning Partners meeting for this year will be held Wednesday, 30th May, 2012

5.00-7.00PM
Room 612, The Faculty of Education and Social Work, Building A35
Manning Road, University of Sydney
(nearest entrance Ross St., Glebe gate – Parking flat rate $6.00)

These meetings have been held, with interested schools, once a term since 2008. We have been developing a professional dialogue about issues related to mentoring including responses to the NSW Institute of Teachers’ guidelines and your involvement with the university in further developing mentoring in your school especially for preservice and early career teachers

Publications

Research Matters

DUE THIS WEEK – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION | Bachelor of Education (Honours) Program

The current Bachelor of Education (Honours) program has been re-structured, and the new structure will in 2012. (Copy of the presentation made to the Faculty on Thursday, May 10, is attached: BEd Hons Presentation 10-5-12.) Students will be seeking out supervisors over the next five weeks, to commence the program in Semester 2 of this year. In the new structure, preference will be given to students applying to entre the program who will be working with staff on existing or emerging projects.

To assist students make selections, we are asking staff provide a description of a project or projects that would be suitable for Bachelor of Education (Honours) students to participate, and support. In some cases, it could involve 2 or 3 students working on the same project from differing perspectives. These descriptions will be listed on the Bachelor of Education (Honours) web page.

Detail Requested

Name:
Max number of students you are prepared to supervise:
Project Area:
Description of project [100 words]:

Due Date: Friday, May 18, 2012

Return by email to: David Evans

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH | Support Scheme (PRSS)

All full-time and part-time postgraduate research students studying for the degrees of MPhil, MEd (Research) EdD, DSW or PhD are eligible to apply for funding as part of the University’s Postgraduate Research Support Scheme. Details about this scheme are attached and are also located on the university website sydney.edu.au/scholarships/research/prss.shtml.

Please study these guidelines carefully and then, if you wish to apply for funding this year, complete the attached application form and address it to Liz Gibson at the address below (hand-delivered applications, please leave in Liz’s pigeon hole in the faculty mail room A35.460). Applications must be received by Liz no later than 29 June 2012. Late applications will not be accepted. This may be the only opportunity to apply for funding under this scheme in 2012.

Please note: the University Accounts office will only accept the following:

original receipts for all expenditure
you must submit air-ticket(s), boarding passes if you want reimbursement for your travel expenses
you must provide a copy of your credit card statement and/or cheque account statement

Please DO NOT attach receipts on your PRSS application. Proof of expenditures will be requested later.

If you apply and are granted funds for this year they must be expended within 2012 in accordance with the guidelines. There is no ‘carry-over’ of funding possible from one year to the next year. Please note that funding for this scheme is competitive, and your application may not be successful.

All applicants who submit by the due date will be advised in writing by 27 July 2012 of the results of their applications. If you have any questions about the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme please contact Liz Gibson liz.gibson@sydney.edu.au

Post: Liz Gibson, Faculty of Education and Social Work, Rm 2a09, Education Annexe A36, The University of Sydney NSW 2006 OR Hand- elivered: Leave in Liz Gibson’s pigeon hole in the faculty mail room A35.460

ATTACHMENTS: PRSS_Letter PRSS2011_ StudentInfo PRSS2012_ProformaApp

RESEARCH SUPPORT | International Research Collaboration Award now open

Closing date: Friday 15 June 2012; 5pm Sydney time.

Internal Closing Date: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS): 4 June 2012; 5pm Sydney time

sydney.edu.au/research_support/funding/sydney/international_collaboration.shtml

For further information contact: Sherridan Blackman

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST | The Australia-Indonesia Institute

The Australia-Indonesia Institute is now calling for EOIs in selected areas. Closing date is Monday 14 May. They have an online application process and each applicant should register their own application on their website. Further details, including application form, guidelines and priority funding areas can be found on their website http://www.dfat.gov.au/aii/grant_download.html.

Thomas Soem and Kate Lollback from DVC-International Office can provide advice and support on this process and you are encouraged to do this if you are thinking of submitting and EOI.

FORUM | Registration for the Research Students Forum is now open

Thursday 14 June 2012

The Research Students Forum is a twice yearly event in which higher-degree-research students (HDRS) can showcase their research, and receive valuable feedback from academics and peers. It’s a great opportunity to meet fellow students, find out about the pioneering research they are working on, and network.

You can be involved in the forum by:

Submitting an abstract to present at the forum – deadline Wednesday 30 May 2012.
Submitting a full paper in consideration for the Outstanding Research Student Award – deadline 5pm, Friday 18 May 2012.
Attending to hear the latest details of our higher degree research students’ research – registration to attend deadline Friday 8 June 2012.

Volunteers needed to help out on the day – please email Liz Gibson by Monday 28 May 2012.

For full details and to register to present/attend go to:

http://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/doctoral_studies/research_students_forum/semester1_12.shtml

DFAT FOUNDATIONS | Councils and Institutes funding rounds for 2012-2013

Various Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Foundations, Councils and Institute grant funding rounds in 2012-2013 are now open . Please note that application procedures differ for each institute; however, most tend to fund small projects up to $20,000 and applications are generally submitted online.

Please see attachment: Memorandum_DFATfunding_2012-13

Scholarships

2012 Semester two APA/UPA | Applications now OPEN

2012 Semester two APA/UPA documents are now on the Scholarships Office website: http://sydney.edu.au/scholarships/research/postgraduate_awards.shtml#APAUPA.

Application are now open and will close Tuesday, 12 June 2012 and late applications will not be accepted.

ALAF | AusAID Australian Leadership Award Fellowships

These scholarships are opening on 14th May and closing on 20th June 2012, for programs from January 2013 onwards.

Application materials are now available on the website: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/pages/alafellow.aspx

An information session will be held on 14th May 2012 at 12pm in seminar room 243 in the John Woolley Building, DVC International. All staff are welcome to attend – slides will be available after the presentation.

ATTACHMENT: AusAID ALAF round 12[2]

Contact person is Danielle Somers

ENDEAVOUR AWARDS | For study in 2013

Endeavour Awards known as the Achievement Awards under the Australia Awards banner http://www.australiaawards.gov.au/. The Endeavour Awards open for applications on close 30th June 2012, for study commencing in 2013. See attachment : Memo to Deans re Endeavour scholarships in 2013

The Education and Social Work Society

Keep in touch with news & events from The Education and Social Work Society.

Alumni and Friends

TODAY - ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE | What is A Picture Book?

The Faculty’s joint Artists-in-Residence, Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle, will be giving a talk on Tuesday 15 May, from 6-7 pm: WHAT IS A PICTURE BOOK? to be held in Room 612 in the Education Building A35.

Please RSVP here http://whatson.sydney.edu.au/events/published/what-is-a-picture-book-a-talk Or email: helen.loughlin@sydney.edu.au for further information.

This is an opportunity to see artwork from a range of picture books and to find out about this complex and sophisticated form of literature.

THIS WEEK - TURNING THE TIDE 2012

Alumni & friends are invited to the inaugural event in ESW’s new series with Indigenous Australian Writers and Thinkers. In partnership with the Koori Centre and in association with the Sydney Writers’ Festival and the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, the inaugural event for Turning the Tide 2012 will be held in the Great Hall on Thursday 17 May, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. The event is free and bookings not necessary.

SYDNEY ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SAM

The March edition of SAM is available to view online or download here .

ESW | Alumni & Friends Stay in Touch

If you’re a graduate of ESW and would like to register or update your details please go to the Alumni & Events page. You will receive a number of benefits including an alumni card, opportunities to attend dedicated events, special offers, and copies of the Sydney Alumni Magazine (SAM) and eSydney. Not to mention the ESW eNewsletter! Or just send your details to Helen Loughlin including your full name, dob, degree(s) and year(s), email address, telephone number, and postal address.

Jobs, Notices and Miscellaneous

COURSE | eLearning Design

A course in integrated eLearning design is being offered for credit or professional development in Semester 2, 2012 by the Institute for Teaching and Learning through the Faculty of Education and Social Work. It is a series of seven face-to-face tutorials on Friday mornings and seven online sessions that will be held during second semester.

It will be possible to do this course simply to improve your approach to designing learning experiences supported by eLearning or alternatively, some past staff members have completed it for credit towards the Master of Education and the Master of Learning Science and Technology (in Coco). The course will address educational and technology issues related to addressing your students’ needs through the development of integrated eLearning environments appropriate for a campus-based university. Some of the issues that will be discussed throughout the semester include:

What are some useful design models for learning experiences in which eLearning is a key strategy?
What are some existing examples of how eLearning is being used successfully at Sydney?
How can I address the needs of my students with eLearning that extends and elaborates their face-to-face experience?
What are some of the technological strategies needed to develop my approaches to teaching effectively?

Places are limited to approximately 20 people. The course has a pre-requisite of the introductory workshop series for the new University LMS (Bb Learn) or equivalent experience. Teaching staff: Associate Professor Robert Ellis and Ricky Connor,Sydney eLearning. If you have sufficient technological ability and would like to register your interest for the course beginning on Friday 3rd August, 10.00am-12.00pm, please email Melanie Young by close of business 21st May, at melanie.young@sydney.edu.au. If you have any queries about the course, email Rick Connor .

The series includes the Upskill workshop, Tests, Assignments, Communications and Grade Book. If you are unsure whether you have sufficient technological ability to complete the course, please contact Rick Connor (Sydney eLearning) (phone 9036 6035).

Back to Top

Conferences and External Events

CONFERENCE | Registrations for NSW CDE Annual Conference

This is a reminder note to ensure staff register for this year’s NSW CDE Annual Conference, which is being held in Armidale on June 18-19th, with the Professional Experience Roundtable on June 20th. Currently Steve Tobias reports that we only have 28 registrations, and it is important that this number increases.

Steve also reports that the NSW Minister for Education, Hon. Adrian Piccoli MP, will address the conference on the morning of Tuesday 19th.

This is an important conference for us as it is the 25th anniversary celebration of our establishment. UNE has prepared a very good program for this year’s conference. Please see if you can organise good representation.

The URL link to the conference web site and registration form is at:

http://www.conferencecompany.com.au/nswcde2012/

LECTURE | 2012 Paul Bourke public lecture by Dr Linda Graham of Macquarie University Tuesday 22 May

(Click to enlarge)

SYMPOSIUM | Disrupting inequality? What has and what can sociology of education do to make a difference?

TASA is co-sponsoring a one day symposium with Deakin University (City Campus) on 8th June 2012

Professor Allan Luke (pictured, left)will deliver the keynote and panels and discussants will include next generation researchers and lead researchers

Professor Raewyn Connell will conclude the day as discussant

Final Thought

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW | Animals can be jerks too…..

Please see http://nedhardy.com/2012/05/10/19-hilarious-gifs-of-animals-being-total-jerks/#more-8484 for more “jerkiness”.

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