title: Compositional nonblocking verification with always enabled events and selfloop-only events

authors: Pilbrow, Colin

abstract: This paper proposes to improve compositional nonblocking verification through the use of always enabled and selfloop-only events. Compositional verification involves abstraction to simplify parts of a system during verification. Normally, this abstraction is based on the set of events not used in the remainder of the system, i.e., in the part of the system not being simplified. Here, it is proposed to exploit more knowledge about the system and abstract events even though they are used in the remainder of the system. Abstraction rules from previous work are generalised, and experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the resulting algorithm to verify several industrial-scale discrete event system models, while achieving better state-space reduction than before.

text: Compositional nonblocking verification with always enabled events and selfloop-only events This paper proposes to improve compositional nonblocking verification through the use of always enabled and selfloop-only events. Compositional verification involves abstraction to simplify parts of a system during verification. Normally, this abstraction is based on the set of events not used in the remainder of the system, i.e., in the part of the system not being simplified. Here, it is proposed to exploit more knowledge about the system and abstract events even though they are used in the remainder of the system. Abstraction rules from previous work are generalised, and experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the resulting algorithm to verify several industrial-scale discrete event system models, while achieving better state-space reduction than before.

year: 2013-10-29

title: How do new practitioners come to understand and effectively use supervision?

authors: Wolfe, Rachel

subjects: supervision

abstract: This project investigated how new practitioners come to understand and effectively use supervision. It was based on a collaborative inquiry with supervisors and new practitioners who had met for supervision, and who volunteered to reflect on their experiences in relation to the research question.  In particular the study explored how four participating new practitioners had been inducted into supervision during their studies and in their employment after graduating.  

The ways new practitioners induction experiences contributed to an understanding and use of supervision were investigated using a bricolage of narrative, action research and interviewing methods.  Participants were invited into a co-research position to meet together in their supervisory pairs and explore their responses to starter questions provided to them. These audiotaped conversations were then witnessed by me and responded to in the form of a letter sent back to participants with further questions for the participating pairs to engage with in a follow up conversation.  

The study highlighted the challenges new practitioners experience in developing understandings of what supervision is. Whilst a review of literature found attention by authors to the need to prepare new practitioners for supervision, this research found this was not reflected in the new practitioners' experiences of induction to supervision.

Knowledges produced by this research highlight the important role supervisor's play in assisting the development of understanding and use of supervision and a need for further discussion and professional education about supervision for both supervisors and new practitioners.

text: How do new practitioners come to understand and effectively use supervision? This project investigated how new practitioners come to understand and effectively use supervision. It was based on a collaborative inquiry with supervisors and new practitioners who had met for supervision, and who volunteered to reflect on their experiences in relation to the research question.  In particular the study explored how four participating new practitioners had been inducted into supervision during their studies and in their employment after graduating.  

The ways new practitioners induction experiences contributed to an understanding and use of supervision were investigated using a bricolage of narrative, action research and interviewing methods.  Participants were invited into a co-research position to meet together in their supervisory pairs and explore their responses to starter questions provided to them. These audiotaped conversations were then witnessed by me and responded to in the form of a letter sent back to participants with further questions for the participating pairs to engage with in a follow up conversation.  

The study highlighted the challenges new practitioners experience in developing understandings of what supervision is. Whilst a review of literature found attention by authors to the need to prepare new practitioners for supervision, this research found this was not reflected in the new practitioners' experiences of induction to supervision.

Knowledges produced by this research highlight the important role supervisor's play in assisting the development of understanding and use of supervision and a need for further discussion and professional education about supervision for both supervisors and new practitioners.

year: 2010

title: A cultural encounter through volunteer tourism: Towards the ideals of sustainable tourism?

authors: McIntosh, Alison J.

subjects: cultural tourism

abstract: International volunteering is increasingly recognised as a form of alternative tourism. However, the nature of the ‘alternative’ experience gained, and the ensuing narrative between host and volunteer, remains under-explored in published research, especially in volunteer tourism research within a cultural context in a developed nation. This paper examines the nexus between volunteer tourism and cultural tourism in the search for alternative and sustainable experiences through tourism. Qualitative research using in-depth interviews, diaries and participant observation was conducted to examine the pre-, during and post-trip experiences of 12 Australian visitors undertaking organised volunteer activities in an indigenous Maori community in the North Island of New Zealand during January 2005. Members of the indigenous Maori community were also interviewed to provide an important host perspective. Findings suggest that the nature of the interaction and cultural experiences gained were perceived as mutually beneficial and seemingly different from those gained from traditional cultural products. In particular, the volunteers experienced an alternative Maori cultural product and engaged in a different narrative with their Maori hosts through their volunteer work, one rich in authentic cultural content, genuine and reflective of modern Maori life in New Zealand society.

text: A cultural encounter through volunteer tourism: Towards the ideals of sustainable tourism? International volunteering is increasingly recognised as a form of alternative tourism. However, the nature of the ‘alternative’ experience gained, and the ensuing narrative between host and volunteer, remains under-explored in published research, especially in volunteer tourism research within a cultural context in a developed nation. This paper examines the nexus between volunteer tourism and cultural tourism in the search for alternative and sustainable experiences through tourism. Qualitative research using in-depth interviews, diaries and participant observation was conducted to examine the pre-, during and post-trip experiences of 12 Australian visitors undertaking organised volunteer activities in an indigenous Maori community in the North Island of New Zealand during January 2005. Members of the indigenous Maori community were also interviewed to provide an important host perspective. Findings suggest that the nature of the interaction and cultural experiences gained were perceived as mutually beneficial and seemingly different from those gained from traditional cultural products. In particular, the volunteers experienced an alternative Maori cultural product and engaged in a different narrative with their Maori hosts through their volunteer work, one rich in authentic cultural content, genuine and reflective of modern Maori life in New Zealand society.

year: 2007