RIPPLE - Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education
Recent Events
RIPPLE Symposium - Septemer 2009
On the 23rd and 24th September 2009, RIPPLE held its second Symposium on Wagga Wagga Campus. As a Centre of Research Excellence, these symposiums are important events providing the opportunity for RIPPLE members across the University to gather and discuss matters of importance, both individually and to RIPPLE. This year over 40 members attended the symposium. Agenda items addressed over the two day period covered:
Updates from the RIPPLE Research leaders on research currently underway and much discussion on researching professional practice. There was much discussion on the visioning of RIPPLE, what’s expected of Research Centres, what are the current political directions and also the implications of ERA for RIPPLE.
Members on RIPPLE fellowships also presented reports on their fellowships and the valuable opportunity these afforded them, plus updates on important international collaborations with Western Ontario and the Nordic Alliance.
RIPPLE staff also provided information on the support and advice provided by RIPPLE to RIPPLE members and a valuable question and answer session was held.
Looking to the future, information on the Body Conference (Bill Green) and Transition Conference (Bob Perry) – both of which are planned for 2010 was presented.
All in all a valuable two days. Click here to see some photos from the symposium.
Pedagogy, Education and Praxis meetings and seminars in the Netherlands
Professor Petra Ponte, from the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, organised a series of PEP meetings and seminars for October. A one‐day invitational symposium was held on 7 October, followed by Professor Ponte’s inaugural lecture as Professor at the university, then a two‐day conference on educational practice. Stephen Kemmis, Jane Wilkinson, Ian Hardy and Tom Lowrie attended.
October is a busy month for the PEP research group. During the month, Stephen Kemmis will be a Visiting Professor at Utrecht University. He will also present the keynote address at the Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) conference in Greece. Meanwhile, Jane Wilkinson will be a Visiting Scholar at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
Twilight practitioner forum on the Early Years Learning Framework
During September, preschool, long day care and Family Day Care centres and programs across Australia received print copies of the national early childhood curriculum document: The Early Years Learning Framework. A practitioner’s forum was held in Sydney on 20 August, to discuss the topic ‘Making sense of Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia: What does it all mean?’ Jennifer Sumsion and Sandra Cheeseman (from the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University) were part of this evening, engaging in active conversation with practitioners about the document.
Seminar on the concept of bildung
RIPPLE’s Visiting Adjunct Associate Professor, Karin Rönnerman (from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden), presented an August seminar on the concept of bildung. The term bildung is a European philosophical concept that involves the formation of the individual through the communities to which they belong. Karin described how a small course in action research has become an important key to a group of preschool teachers’ continuing professional development and their future actions in practice as a journey in bildung.
Seminar on information literacy
During August, Annemaree Lloyd led a seminar at Charles Sturt University on the topic of information literacy. UNESCO has proclaimed information literacy to be one of the twenty‐first century’s core literacies, and one that underpins other forms of literacy. Annemaree spoke about the importance of extending research in this area, and in a broader way than has historically been considered.
Investigating Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care writing retreat
The second annual IQECEC writing retreat was held in early July. Nine members attended for the five‐day program. Substantial progress was made toward compiling a literature review for the Developing Early Childhood Workforce Capacity project, funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Jennifer Sumsion has also booked the next two IQECEC writing retreats, to be held on Monday 22—Friday 26 November 2010, and Monday 14—Friday 18 November 2011.
Engaging reflection in health professional education and practice conference, University of Western Ontario, Canada (13-15 May 2009)
RIPPLE was represented at the recent conference on reflective practice at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, with the attendance of Stephen Kemmis, Bill Green and Franziska Trede. The conference was an outstanding success, with Stephen providing the closing address, titled 'Developing professional practice knowledge: Current trends, future directions'.
International information practice and information literacy research project
Annemaree Lloyd visited the University of Gothenburg in April to begin work on the development of a European Union-funded project. During 2008, Annemaree was part of an international team that received NordForsk funding to examine information practice and information literacy across three countries (Sweden, Finland and Australia). At the April meeting, researchers from Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Denmark and Australia came together to discuss the overall aims of the international group, and to consider potential research programs and funding sources. Stephen Kemmis, who was also visiting the university at the time, spoke to the group about practice theory, and offered suggestions about creating sustainable international networks.
Seminar series on education for sustainability
Over two days in February, Stephen Kemmis and Rebecca Mutton presented findings from their ARC Discovery research project 'Sustaining practice: Investigating the theory and development of educational practice/praxis in the context of education for sustainability' at a series of seminars. The seminars were presented at the Australian National University, Canberra, and were attended by representatives from schools, universities, TAFE, government departments, community groups and independent organisations. Case studies undertaken at ten regional educational sites with exemplary environmental programs were also showcased.