SOBSTDU Publications and Grants

Publications and Grants

Publications

The TDU and its members, both previous and current, have been involved in the production of a number of publications.

Conference Papers

Mackay-Wood, R., Yalcin-Athour, A., Professor Guldberg, O. H., (2000), “Raising the dead: Reptiles recovered from the brink of disaster”, Apple University Consortium Conference, University of Wollongong, 2000.
View (pdf, 300Kb).

Franklin, S., Peat, M & Mackay-Wood, R. (1998) "A Virtual Resources Room: A Model in Equity, Access and Communication" (poster, abstract published) Proceedings of the Workshop "University Science Teaching and the Web", UniServe Science, April, University of Sydney, 1998.

Peat, M., Franklin, S. & Mackay-Wood, R. (1997) “The Development of Self-Assessment Modules: use of tailor-made templates” CUBE97 International Conference (Computers in University Biology Education Internet Conference).

Franklin, S., Peat, M. & Mackay-Wood, R. (1997) Multimedia in the Teaching of First Year Biology: the Use of Graphics and Animations Proceedings of the Workshop “Putting you in the picture”, UniServe Australia, University of Newcastle, (31-32).

Franklin, S., Peat, M. & Mackay-Wood, R. (1998) “Virtual Learning Resources: The First Year Biology Way” OLA (Open Learning Australia) Virtual Conference.

Abstracts Only

Mackay-Wood, R., Yalcin-Athour, A., Wilkes, K., (2001) “Biology Today”: an issue based approach for non-biologists.” Apple University Consortium Academic and Developer Conference 2001 (e-Xplore 2001: A Face-to-Face Odyssey), James Cook University, Townsville, 2001.
View (pdf, 66Kb).

Franklin, S., Peat, M. & Mackay-Wood, R. (1997) “Assessment using Computers: the First Year Biology Way” Proceedings of the Computer Assessment Workshop, UniServe Science, University of Sydney, February, 1997.

Franklin, S., Peat, M. & Mackay-Wood, R., (1996) "First Year Biology - Using CAL to enhance the learning experience" (poster and software demonstration) IT FEST: Exploring Learning Technologies in the University of Sydney, 1996

Grants

Staff from the School of Biological Sciences have recieved a number of grants which have been made available to the TDU for the development of learning resources.

Carrick Competitive Grant

Status:: The grant application was successful. TDU Awarded $85,000 in 2007 - 08
Project:: Creating an integrated student-centred online learning environment for report writing in the sciences and engineering.
Details:: The project will create an integrated online learning environment (OLE) to provide students with relevant, discipline-based resources and activities targeting report writing in the sciences and engineering. The project will build on established team-based expertise in the design of online report writing resources and incorporate student feedback on existing print-based and online resources to form the basis for the innovative development of an enriched online learning environment. The OLE will be integrated into students’ writing contexts in science and engineering to support both the products and processes of their writing. The OLE will be accessed across the university sector, supporting a large number of student writers, many of whom, particularly in the sciences and engineering, are reluctant writers. Since the OLE is designed to cover a range of disciplines and levels, it will also support the development of students’ report writing throughout their undergraduate years. This move towards flexible, wide-reaching, technology-based delivery is in line with the strategic directions of both the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales and is also one of the main goals for the Carrick Competitive Grants Scheme.

Teaching Improvement and Equipment Scheme (TIES) Large

Status:

TDU Awarded $19,755 in 2007.

Project:

Biology online and hands-on – maintaining diverse learning experiences for the large first year cohorts. The project has three electronic developments

Report writing
Card games
Core biology

Faculty of Science Teaching Development Fund

Status:: TDU Awarded $3,500 in 2007.
Project:: Re-structuring the Human Biology Online component, HBOnline to accommodate major changes to the First Year Biology Curriculum in 2008.

Faculty of Science Teaching Development Fund

Status:: TDU Awarded $3,500 in 2007.
Project:: Extending/redesigning innovative resources for improving oral and poster presentations in the sciences to increase their accessibility and use.

Teaching Improvement Fund Grant

Status:: TDU Awarded $40,000 in 2004
Project:: Collaborative Teaching in the Plant Science Curriculum
Details:: The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (FAFNR) and School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science (SoBS) will jointly offer three Intermediate units of study in Plant Science from 2005 and Senior units of study from 2006. This is a major initiative within the College of Sciences and Technology and is a unique way of offering Plant Science in NSW. Funding is sought to develop self-directed integrated learning modules delivered electronically in the three Intermediate units of Plant Science and to improve collaboration between the faculties through an ongoing staff development program for those involved with the teaching of Plant Sciences.

Previous Grants

2001 - Peat, M., Quinnell, R., Franklin, S. & Hudson, S. $6,600 from Faculty of Science Teaching Development Fund "Pathways to becoming a professional biologist: empowering first year students".

1997 - Peat, M. Faculty of Science Student Progression Assistance Scheme "Web-deliverable formative mid-semester examination" $5,075.

1998 - Franklin, S. & Peat, M. NEAMS Trust Grant (New Educational Aids in Medicine and Science). $10,000 for development of CAL module "Circulation: an Interactive Exploration of Mammalian Circulation".