This paper describes the types of support that teachers are accessing through the Social Network ... more This paper describes the types of support that teachers are accessing through the Social Network Site (SNS) ‘Facebook’. It describes six ways in which teachers support one another within online groups. It presents evidence from a study of a large, open group of teachers online over a twelve week period, repeated with multiple groups a year later over a one week period. The findings suggest that large open groups in SNSs can be a useful source of pragmatic advice for teachers but that these groups are rarely a place for reflection on or feedback about teaching practice.
In the pervasively connected world of the 21st century, creating and sharing knowledge has never ... more In the pervasively connected world of the 21st century, creating and sharing knowledge has never been easier. But the fact remains that many people still lack the skills required to access this information and an inequity gap is growing.
Apple’s ability to mesh technology with beautiful design will be put to the test when it finally ... more Apple’s ability to mesh technology with beautiful design will be put to the test when it finally releases the muchanticipated Apple Watch. The tech giant is taking a superadvanced piece of technology and packaging it as a fashion statement. Although the iPhonecompatible wearable watch is still more than a month from its official release date, the hype is building among Apple enthusiasts and fashionistas alike as they anticipate the first product Apple has designed to be worn.
The year just past saw many major business scandals including those at Volkswagen, 7-Eleven and T... more The year just past saw many major business scandals including those at Volkswagen, 7-Eleven and Turing Pharmaceuticals. All pointed to a business culture using the “end justifies the means” argument to justify unethical if not illegal practices. While hopefully the exception and not the rule, these cases all left the public asking whether getting caught was seen by some leaders as the worst crime of all.
An increasing reliance on digital technology in one’s everyday life necessitates the development ... more An increasing reliance on digital technology in one’s everyday life necessitates the development of digital literacy skills to enable one’s continued participation in the Internet information-age. As existing services, such as banking and shopping, move increasingly online, the likelihood of excluding certain demographic groups, such as the elderly and those living in rural areas, increases exponentially. The following article outlines the results of a pilot study that explored the perceived digital literacy skills of a group of adults in a rural community. It will be shown that despite relatively low confidence levels reported by the participants, they were nevertheless keen to learn how to use digital technologies. Based on participant feedback, the study concludes that there is a need to develop pedagogical strategies to teach digital literacy skills to older adults, particularly those living in rural and remote areas.
The engagement of students is one of the most pressing issues facing higher education in the 21st... more The engagement of students is one of the most pressing issues facing higher education in the 21st century. Around the world, participation rates in tertiary education are on the rise and one of the key challenges facing educators is finding ways to engage these students. We present the results of a project that assesses the impact of an engagement strategy in which a cohort of students entering their first year of university (1) establish and maintain a clear goal of their ideal future career and (2) make use of a web-based digital curation tool to research and present their findings. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy, which could arguably be applied to a broad range of disciplines given that the majority of students today are technologically literate.
This article argues that digital curation—the art and science of searching, analysing, selecting,... more This article argues that digital curation—the art and science of searching, analysing, selecting, and organising content—can be used to promote the development of digital information literacy skills among higher education students. Rather than relying on institutionally approved journal articles that have been pre-ordained as suitable for a given purpose, digital curation tools allow students to evaluate the quality of Web based-based content and then present it in an attractive form, all of which contributes to the cultivation of their digital literacy skills. We draw on a case study in which first- year information and communications technology (ICT) students used the digital curation platform Scoop.it to curate an annotated collection of resources pertaining to a particular topic.
As internet technologies make their way into developing areas, so too does the possibility of edu... more As internet technologies make their way into developing areas, so too does the possibility of education and training being delivered to the people living in those previously unserved areas. The growing catalogue of free, high quality courseware, when combined with the newly acquired means of delivery, creates the potential for millions of people in the developing world to acquire a good education. Yet a good education obviously requires more than simply delivering information; students must also receive high quality feedback on their assessments. They must be told how their performance compares with the ideal, and be shown how to close the gap between the two. However, delivering high quality feedback is labor-intensive, and therefore expensive, and has long been recognized as a problematic issue by educators. This paper outlines a case study that uses a Learning Management System (LMS) to efficiently deliver detailed feedback that is informed by the principles of best practice. We make the case that the efficiencies of this method allow for large-scale courses with thousands of enrolments that are accessible to developing and developed areas alike. We explore the question; is computer-mediated feedback delivery efficient and effective and might it be applied to large-scale courses at low-cost?
The idea of what constitutes core literacy skills continues to evolve. The importance placed upon... more The idea of what constitutes core literacy skills continues to evolve. The importance placed upon the function of social media in the new Civics and Citizenship curriculum reflects the expanding myriad of competences Australian citizens require to live and work in an increasingly digital society. This paper explores the particular facet of an assumed ubiquity of social media engagement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and the problems this poses for participation in both democratic processes and higher education. It addresses the implications for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with restricted internet access on their capacity to fulfill their civic responsibilities and to develop the digital information literacy skills required for employability. Finally, this paper outlines the parameters of a program of research that will explore how new and social media might be used to increase the participation of Australian Aboriginal youth in formal education and, by extension, how this contributes to civic engagement.
First year students face a daunting range of challenges as they make the transition to university... more First year students face a daunting range of challenges as they make the transition to university life. Their experiences in the first months of university have a defining influence on their success or otherwise in their studies. The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a case study that tests the efficacy of a student engagement and retention strategy aimed at first year students. The strategy encourages self-reflection and goal-setting by encouraging them to think constructively about their ideal future career. Once created, this idea is reinforced to become a firm goal. The student’s perception of university study is thus reframed from being an end in itself to being a means to an end. Instead of perceiving the future as endless assignments and exams, they see themselves moving purposefully towards their ideal career.
The adoption of social media technologies by higher education institutions reflects a significant... more The adoption of social media technologies by higher education institutions reflects a significant change in learning paradigms. The traditional classroom model in which instructors were the sole source of information and knowledge is being replaced by a social constructivist model that allows learners to work together to share and create content. This study explores the potential of the digital curation platform Scoop.it as a networking tool among a group of first year ICT students. It will be shown that Scoop.it is a useful platform for the creation and sharing of information resources with other students and the wider community. Scoop.it facilitates the creation of networks for information sharing and knowledge building, which will be referred to as educational networking, but was less successful as a platform for forming social connections.
Empirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower techno... more Empirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower technology participation rates than men; a result of entrenched socio-cultural attitudes about the role of women in society. However, as studies are beginning to show, when those women are able to engage with Internet technology, a wide range of personal, family and community benefits become possible. The key to these benefits is on-line education, the access to which sets up a positive feedback loop. This review gives an overview of the digital divide, before focusing specifically on the challenges women in developing countries face in accessing the Internet. Current gender disparities in Internet use will be outlined and the barriers that potentially hinder women’s access and participation in the online world will be considered. We will then look at the potential opportunities for women’s participation in a global digital society along with a consideration of current initiatives that have been developed to mitigate gender inequity in developing countries. We will also consider a promising avenue for future research.
This article aims to throw new light on the representation of women who cook as necessarily perpe... more This article aims to throw new light on the representation of women who cook as necessarily perpetuating a domestic ideology in which women are confined to the home. Traditionally, cookbooks written by women have disseminated both cooking information and rules and practices for running an effective household, which have contributed to the ideologies that underpin female domestic practice. However, the evolution of social media platforms, such as Pinterest, which enable the user to actively select and visually display culinary masterpieces on a digital pinboard, have provided a forum for women’s voices and a novel means of expression that is available to the amateur cook and professional chef alike. This article will argue that the creation of a virtual cookbook, via Pinterest, is a means of empowering women, which is central to the lexicon of feminist debate. Rather than being the victims of domestic servitude, this article will argue that the women who create virtual cookbooks do so by choice and as a means of pleasing the self, irrespective of achieving domestic or marital bliss.
This paper describes the types of support that teachers are accessing through the Social Network ... more This paper describes the types of support that teachers are accessing through the Social Network Site (SNS) ‘Facebook’. It describes six ways in which teachers support one another within online groups. It presents evidence from a study of a large, open group of teachers online over a twelve week period, repeated with multiple groups a year later over a one week period. The findings suggest that large open groups in SNSs can be a useful source of pragmatic advice for teachers but that these groups are rarely a place for reflection on or feedback about teaching practice.
In the pervasively connected world of the 21st century, creating and sharing knowledge has never ... more In the pervasively connected world of the 21st century, creating and sharing knowledge has never been easier. But the fact remains that many people still lack the skills required to access this information and an inequity gap is growing.
Apple’s ability to mesh technology with beautiful design will be put to the test when it finally ... more Apple’s ability to mesh technology with beautiful design will be put to the test when it finally releases the muchanticipated Apple Watch. The tech giant is taking a superadvanced piece of technology and packaging it as a fashion statement. Although the iPhonecompatible wearable watch is still more than a month from its official release date, the hype is building among Apple enthusiasts and fashionistas alike as they anticipate the first product Apple has designed to be worn.
The year just past saw many major business scandals including those at Volkswagen, 7-Eleven and T... more The year just past saw many major business scandals including those at Volkswagen, 7-Eleven and Turing Pharmaceuticals. All pointed to a business culture using the “end justifies the means” argument to justify unethical if not illegal practices. While hopefully the exception and not the rule, these cases all left the public asking whether getting caught was seen by some leaders as the worst crime of all.
An increasing reliance on digital technology in one’s everyday life necessitates the development ... more An increasing reliance on digital technology in one’s everyday life necessitates the development of digital literacy skills to enable one’s continued participation in the Internet information-age. As existing services, such as banking and shopping, move increasingly online, the likelihood of excluding certain demographic groups, such as the elderly and those living in rural areas, increases exponentially. The following article outlines the results of a pilot study that explored the perceived digital literacy skills of a group of adults in a rural community. It will be shown that despite relatively low confidence levels reported by the participants, they were nevertheless keen to learn how to use digital technologies. Based on participant feedback, the study concludes that there is a need to develop pedagogical strategies to teach digital literacy skills to older adults, particularly those living in rural and remote areas.
The engagement of students is one of the most pressing issues facing higher education in the 21st... more The engagement of students is one of the most pressing issues facing higher education in the 21st century. Around the world, participation rates in tertiary education are on the rise and one of the key challenges facing educators is finding ways to engage these students. We present the results of a project that assesses the impact of an engagement strategy in which a cohort of students entering their first year of university (1) establish and maintain a clear goal of their ideal future career and (2) make use of a web-based digital curation tool to research and present their findings. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy, which could arguably be applied to a broad range of disciplines given that the majority of students today are technologically literate.
This article argues that digital curation—the art and science of searching, analysing, selecting,... more This article argues that digital curation—the art and science of searching, analysing, selecting, and organising content—can be used to promote the development of digital information literacy skills among higher education students. Rather than relying on institutionally approved journal articles that have been pre-ordained as suitable for a given purpose, digital curation tools allow students to evaluate the quality of Web based-based content and then present it in an attractive form, all of which contributes to the cultivation of their digital literacy skills. We draw on a case study in which first- year information and communications technology (ICT) students used the digital curation platform Scoop.it to curate an annotated collection of resources pertaining to a particular topic.
As internet technologies make their way into developing areas, so too does the possibility of edu... more As internet technologies make their way into developing areas, so too does the possibility of education and training being delivered to the people living in those previously unserved areas. The growing catalogue of free, high quality courseware, when combined with the newly acquired means of delivery, creates the potential for millions of people in the developing world to acquire a good education. Yet a good education obviously requires more than simply delivering information; students must also receive high quality feedback on their assessments. They must be told how their performance compares with the ideal, and be shown how to close the gap between the two. However, delivering high quality feedback is labor-intensive, and therefore expensive, and has long been recognized as a problematic issue by educators. This paper outlines a case study that uses a Learning Management System (LMS) to efficiently deliver detailed feedback that is informed by the principles of best practice. We make the case that the efficiencies of this method allow for large-scale courses with thousands of enrolments that are accessible to developing and developed areas alike. We explore the question; is computer-mediated feedback delivery efficient and effective and might it be applied to large-scale courses at low-cost?
The idea of what constitutes core literacy skills continues to evolve. The importance placed upon... more The idea of what constitutes core literacy skills continues to evolve. The importance placed upon the function of social media in the new Civics and Citizenship curriculum reflects the expanding myriad of competences Australian citizens require to live and work in an increasingly digital society. This paper explores the particular facet of an assumed ubiquity of social media engagement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and the problems this poses for participation in both democratic processes and higher education. It addresses the implications for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with restricted internet access on their capacity to fulfill their civic responsibilities and to develop the digital information literacy skills required for employability. Finally, this paper outlines the parameters of a program of research that will explore how new and social media might be used to increase the participation of Australian Aboriginal youth in formal education and, by extension, how this contributes to civic engagement.
First year students face a daunting range of challenges as they make the transition to university... more First year students face a daunting range of challenges as they make the transition to university life. Their experiences in the first months of university have a defining influence on their success or otherwise in their studies. The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a case study that tests the efficacy of a student engagement and retention strategy aimed at first year students. The strategy encourages self-reflection and goal-setting by encouraging them to think constructively about their ideal future career. Once created, this idea is reinforced to become a firm goal. The student’s perception of university study is thus reframed from being an end in itself to being a means to an end. Instead of perceiving the future as endless assignments and exams, they see themselves moving purposefully towards their ideal career.
The adoption of social media technologies by higher education institutions reflects a significant... more The adoption of social media technologies by higher education institutions reflects a significant change in learning paradigms. The traditional classroom model in which instructors were the sole source of information and knowledge is being replaced by a social constructivist model that allows learners to work together to share and create content. This study explores the potential of the digital curation platform Scoop.it as a networking tool among a group of first year ICT students. It will be shown that Scoop.it is a useful platform for the creation and sharing of information resources with other students and the wider community. Scoop.it facilitates the creation of networks for information sharing and knowledge building, which will be referred to as educational networking, but was less successful as a platform for forming social connections.
Empirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower techno... more Empirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower technology participation rates than men; a result of entrenched socio-cultural attitudes about the role of women in society. However, as studies are beginning to show, when those women are able to engage with Internet technology, a wide range of personal, family and community benefits become possible. The key to these benefits is on-line education, the access to which sets up a positive feedback loop. This review gives an overview of the digital divide, before focusing specifically on the challenges women in developing countries face in accessing the Internet. Current gender disparities in Internet use will be outlined and the barriers that potentially hinder women’s access and participation in the online world will be considered. We will then look at the potential opportunities for women’s participation in a global digital society along with a consideration of current initiatives that have been developed to mitigate gender inequity in developing countries. We will also consider a promising avenue for future research.
This article aims to throw new light on the representation of women who cook as necessarily perpe... more This article aims to throw new light on the representation of women who cook as necessarily perpetuating a domestic ideology in which women are confined to the home. Traditionally, cookbooks written by women have disseminated both cooking information and rules and practices for running an effective household, which have contributed to the ideologies that underpin female domestic practice. However, the evolution of social media platforms, such as Pinterest, which enable the user to actively select and visually display culinary masterpieces on a digital pinboard, have provided a forum for women’s voices and a novel means of expression that is available to the amateur cook and professional chef alike. This article will argue that the creation of a virtual cookbook, via Pinterest, is a means of empowering women, which is central to the lexicon of feminist debate. Rather than being the victims of domestic servitude, this article will argue that the women who create virtual cookbooks do so by choice and as a means of pleasing the self, irrespective of achieving domestic or marital bliss.
This workshop will help researchers make the most efficient and effective use of three powerful a... more This workshop will help researchers make the most efficient and effective use of three powerful and free tools - ResearchGate, Academia.edu and Linked In. Social media networks are becoming more specialised, targeting specific groups, disciplines and audiences. There are a number of social media networks for academics. Foremost among these are ResearchGate and Academia.edu. LinkedIn is another professionally focused network helping academics to disseminate their research, find project partners and even facilitate data collection.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have found their way into virtually every aspec... more Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have found their way into virtually every aspect of our daily lives. But, for certain population groups, limited access to the Internet and ICTs prevents their participation in an increasingly digital society.
The digital divide is exacerbated by the prison context, where access to technology is highly restricted. But, once outside prison, digital literacy skills—the awareness of, knowledge about and ability to select and use digital tools—are necessary to function effectively in 21st century society.
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Papers by Amy Antonio
(SNS) ‘Facebook’. It describes six ways in which teachers support one another within online groups. It
presents evidence from a study of a large, open group of teachers online over a twelve week period,
repeated with multiple groups a year later over a one week period. The findings suggest that large open
groups in SNSs can be a useful source of pragmatic advice for teachers but that these groups are rarely a
place for reflection on or feedback about teaching practice.
access this information and an inequity gap is growing.
Apple Watch. The tech giant is taking a superadvanced
piece of technology and packaging it as a fashion statement.
Although the iPhonecompatible wearable watch is still more than a month from its official release date, the hype is building among Apple enthusiasts and fashionistas alike as they anticipate the first product Apple has designed to be worn.
literacy skills to enable one’s continued participation in the Internet information-age. As existing services,
such as banking and shopping, move increasingly online, the likelihood of excluding certain demographic
groups, such as the elderly and those living in rural areas, increases exponentially. The following article
outlines the results of a pilot study that explored the perceived digital literacy skills of a group of adults in a
rural community. It will be shown that despite relatively low confidence levels reported by the participants,
they were nevertheless keen to learn how to use digital technologies. Based on participant feedback, the study
concludes that there is a need to develop pedagogical strategies to teach digital literacy skills to older adults,
particularly those living in rural and remote areas.
(SNS) ‘Facebook’. It describes six ways in which teachers support one another within online groups. It
presents evidence from a study of a large, open group of teachers online over a twelve week period,
repeated with multiple groups a year later over a one week period. The findings suggest that large open
groups in SNSs can be a useful source of pragmatic advice for teachers but that these groups are rarely a
place for reflection on or feedback about teaching practice.
access this information and an inequity gap is growing.
Apple Watch. The tech giant is taking a superadvanced
piece of technology and packaging it as a fashion statement.
Although the iPhonecompatible wearable watch is still more than a month from its official release date, the hype is building among Apple enthusiasts and fashionistas alike as they anticipate the first product Apple has designed to be worn.
literacy skills to enable one’s continued participation in the Internet information-age. As existing services,
such as banking and shopping, move increasingly online, the likelihood of excluding certain demographic
groups, such as the elderly and those living in rural areas, increases exponentially. The following article
outlines the results of a pilot study that explored the perceived digital literacy skills of a group of adults in a
rural community. It will be shown that despite relatively low confidence levels reported by the participants,
they were nevertheless keen to learn how to use digital technologies. Based on participant feedback, the study
concludes that there is a need to develop pedagogical strategies to teach digital literacy skills to older adults,
particularly those living in rural and remote areas.
The digital divide is exacerbated by the prison context, where access to technology is highly restricted. But, once outside prison, digital literacy skills—the awareness of, knowledge about and ability to select and use digital tools—are necessary to function effectively in 21st century society.