PENINSULA ONLINE

Issue 5
Monday, 14 May 2007 

Keypad technology testing students' knowledge

Students undertaking a range of health science based programs at Peninsula will pilot an innovative new teaching model using wireless keypads.

The project 'Can the use of wireless keypads facilitate interaction amongst health science students in interprofessional education contexts?' has received $50,000 in funding from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences' Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.

Project coordinator Mr Brett Williams from the Department of Community and Community Emergency Health & Paramedic Practice explains that it is critical for health science educators to develop innovative teaching strategies to keep up with the increasing diversity of students' needs.

"One educational change that has occurred is the shift towards the increasing use of teaching technology within the classroom contexts," he explained.  "Wireless keypads are an electronic teaching and learning tool that not only create interactive learning environments in the classroom but which also provides students with useful, timely feedback relevant to their academic progress."

The keypad system uses infrared student transmitters, an infrared receiver that collects student responses and software capable of embedding into PowerPoint. 

It is expected that the use of wireless keypads will improve students' teaching and learning practices in a range of ways including:

• Providing reflective reactive and anonymous student feedback;
• Providing an indication of students’ knowledge gaps;
• Reinforcing and linking concepts, theories and factual information;
• Allowing for pedagogical flexibility;
• Allowing for increased interactive engagement and involvement;
• Increasing student participation and discourse in tutorial groups; and
• Accommodating a broad range of instructional philosophies and goals.

Students participating in the project will include undergraduates from the disciplines of paramedics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and health science/social work.  "Ultimately, the potential target population could include students enrolled in other health science-related programs on other Monash campuses including nutrition and dietetics, radiography, radiotherapy, pharmacy, nursing & midwifery, social work and medicine," Mr Williams said

Students enjoying the immediate but anonymous results of the keypad technology being trialled in classrooms at Peninsula.

Tree planting provides great grounds for learning

First year Education and Sport and Outdoor Recreation students undertaking the Australia Ecology and Nature Studies unit recently spent half a day at Carrum Primary School planting 150 trees.

The focus of the day was 'school grounds for learning' with the aim of giving  Monash students experience in environmental education in a school setting. 

Program facilitator and Faculty of Education lecturer Dr Amy Cutter-Mackenzie said that for many students, this was their first experience as a student teacher in a school setting. 

Helen Quitten-Widdop, from the Gould Group, and Amy Cutter-Mackenzie at Carrum Primary school.

For the four weeks prior to the activity, the students had been learning about and experiencing the Australian environment on the Mornington Peninsula and this was project an opportunity for them to experience teaching about the environment in a school setting," she explained. 

The 80 students led four activities: mini beast exploration, indigenous tree planting, orient renting, and exploration of school as a Centre of Environmental Learning led by Carrum Primary School year 6 rangers. 

Amy worked on the project  together with Carrum Primary School and the Gould Group, which supports innovative environmental education and training projects while working with a range of partners to support sustainable lifestyles and protect the environment.  Amy said that such projects are an excellent way to bring cutting edge research and teaching together.

EndNote training sessions in the Library

The library is offering drop-in sessions for  Introduction to EndNote, a software package for managing citations and references and creating bibliographies. 

The software is available on all library PC's and is used by an increasing number of first year undergraduate students.  There are two categories of drop in sessions planned, both to be held in the IT training room in the Library.

The first two are aimed at undergraduates (but all welcome) and will be held on
Monday, 21 May and again on Wednesday, 30 May between 12 noon and 2 pm.

The second two sessions are aimed at postgraduate students (but again all are welcomed)  and will be held on Wednesday, 1 August and again on Tuesday, 7August  between 12 noon and 2 pm.

The sessions will be hands-on and there will be training notes to take away. The library would appreciate academic staff on campus to encourage their students to attend if they have not already had EndNote training. For further information contact Paula Todd on extn 44303.

Bollywood comes to Peninsula

The Peninsula Campus held its second midweek get together recently with the aim of promoting cross cultural interest, competency and friendships among local and international students at the campus.

To compliment the midweek get-together’s theme ‘Bollywood Night’, a free traditional Indian cuisine was provided with an Indian dancing session taught by a professional Bollywood dancer. The screening of a popular Bollywood movie and a free henna/body art created by Peninsula’s own International student, Carly Shanahan proved a hit amongst both the local and international students.

Around 50 local and international students made up the crowd, some participating in the dancing session, while others enjoyed the entertainment value and cheered their fellow students on.

Many of the students commented that the program was fun and interesting, and provided a good way to learn about a different culture in a relaxing environment.

The program is open to all students who are interested in meeting up with other students from other cultures and to simply have fun.

 Get SMART before exams

Staff are asked to encourages students to attend the 'Smart  Exam' preparation sessions being conducted by Health, Wellbeing  and Development (HWD) from the15 to 17 May.

The sessions are offered  between 12 noon and 1 pm in the HWD Group Room Level 1, A Building. Register  by telephoning  extn 44223  or email Helen Kotharkis.

 Prizes for students studying health science disciplines

Students in the health sciences disciplines are invited to apply for two new prizes being offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. 

One prize to the value of $500 is open to all undergraduate students enrolled in the Health Sciences for the best essay on Palliative care and second prize is a Research Study Scholarship to the value of $2000 for a Masters student.

Please see the attached flier for the specific information regarding the prizes. These awards will be presented for the first time at the 2008 awards ceremony, and will become an annual prize.

Performing arts at Monash

MONASH ACADEMY ORCHESTRA, Tuesday 22 May at 8 pm

Conductor: Jeffrey Crellin and Soloist: Ian Munro – Piano presenting:
GLINKA          Overture to “Russlan and Ludmilla”
MOZART        Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K.491
BRAHMS       Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Opus 68

Single Concert

Adult $35, Student $20, Pensioner $30, Senior $30, Children (Under 15) $20, School Group (10+) $15, Monash Staff $25, Monash student $10

Season Tickets – 2 concerts

Adult $60, Student $30, Pensioner $50, Senior $50, Children (Under 15) $30, School Group (10+) $24, Monash Staff $40, Monash student $20

Companion Card accepted. Children under the age of two, no charge if supervised by an adult

Where: Robert Blackwood Concert Hall, Building 2, Clayton campus

 Contact: Ticketing & Event Services through the Box Office, call extn 51111 or for online bookings visit http://monart.eventix.com.au/

Event on sale NOW!!!

 AKA & GGA in association with the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation present

The Fairies – Live on Stage – Returns by Popular Demand

School Holiday Entertainment

Adapted from the popular children’s television series, comes the enchanting and magical stage production. Full of sparkle and laughter with lots of sing-along songs and audience participation, the Fairies and all their friends in Fairyland will enchant audiences of all ages.

Join Harmony and Rhapsody along with the energetic, all-dancing Elf the Fairy Cake Maker, Barnaby the Bizzy Buzzy Bee and the slighty, flamboyant Wizzy the Wizard, who drops in for some hilarious wizardly magic…which as usual, doesn’t quite go to plan!

So, dust off your wings, wave your wand and sprinkle magic fairy dust everywhere as we get set for a spectacular, magical adventure – live on stage!

There’s only one way to describe the show… it’s “FAN-FAIRY-TASTIC!”

When : Thursday 5 th July 11:30am & 1:30pm
Where : Alexander Theatre, Building 7, Clayton Campus
Running time: 55 minutes – no interval
Ticket prices: All tickets: $23.90 per person

Note: Suitable for children under five years of age. Infants under one year of age admitted free of charge but every other person must have a ticket

For telephone bookings contact the Box Office on +61 3 9905 1111 or online Monart website. For further information contact boxoffice@adm.monash.edu.au or visit The Fairies website (www.hypervision.com.au/fairies/liveshow.html)

Tillandsia presents Il Dago

THE BIGGEST EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF ETHNIC COMEDY!

Featuring a star-studded line-up all on the one stage: the legendary stars of Acropolis Now, Simon Palomares and George Kapinaris; Sri Lankan Australian comic Nish and hosted by international comedy superstar Joe Avati.

Never before has the Australian ethnic comedy scene witnessed such a line-up of stars on the one night performing their own hilarious stand-up routines. Each a drawcard in their own right, the producers of Il Dago have spared no expense in bringing together some of the biggest names to ensure that no stone is unturned in respect to the quality and quantity of side-splitting humour.

When: Friday 22 June at 8 pm
Where: Alexander Theatre, Building 7, Clayton campus
Ticket prices: All tickets $35

Companion Card accepted. Not suitable for children under 13 years of age

Telephone bookings on extn 51111 or online at http://monart.eventix.com.au/ For further information visit www.monash.edu.au/monart or contact the Box Office.