title: Towards a smoother transition: A multiple case study of perceived teaching related issues and support for novice higher education teachers

authors: Conning, Stacey Ashleigh

subjects: novice higher education teacher

abstract: Individuals from various occupations are recruited into higher education based on their expert discipline knowledge, professional experience and currency of practice. However, little is known about the experiences of this academic subgroup in New Zealand. International literature evidences that this group of individuals experience teaching related issues and inadequate support to assist them to transition into academia and to master the teaching role. 
Using a multiple-case study research approach, this thesis reports on the main teaching related issues perceived and experienced by four novice higher education teachers in New Zealand. In addition, it reports on what they consider are the most effective/least effective structures and practices for supporting their teaching development, including tertiary teacher academic induction. Semi-structured interviews and participant details forms were used to gather data. A social ecological framework was used to interpret and contextualise the findings.
Ten themes arose from the analysis. Teaching related issues were found to be unclear expectations, resources absent/not up to standard, assessment development and marking, challenges engaging students, and issues affecting identity. Perceived effective support structures were conversations with colleagues, conversations with external contacts and the Teaching Development Unit or equivalent. Perceived ineffective support structures were induction and line management. Use of the social ecological framework identifies that most effective/ineffective structures and practices to support this group occurred in the interpersonal and intrapersonal contexts most proximal to the individual. Similarly, the teaching related issues arose from oversights of others and development needs of the individual. 
This research adds to what is known about the transition experiences of novice higher education teachers in New Zealand. It provides preliminary findings that suggest that the induction procedures within both universities and ITPs need to be reviewed and their implementation scrutinised. There is a need to support line managers to induct and support their new staff members more effectively. The study concludes with practical implications and recommendations for future research.

text: Towards a smoother transition: A multiple case study of perceived teaching related issues and support for novice higher education teachers Individuals from various occupations are recruited into higher education based on their expert discipline knowledge, professional experience and currency of practice. However, little is known about the experiences of this academic subgroup in New Zealand. International literature evidences that this group of individuals experience teaching related issues and inadequate support to assist them to transition into academia and to master the teaching role. 
Using a multiple-case study research approach, this thesis reports on the main teaching related issues perceived and experienced by four novice higher education teachers in New Zealand. In addition, it reports on what they consider are the most effective/least effective structures and practices for supporting their teaching development, including tertiary teacher academic induction. Semi-structured interviews and participant details forms were used to gather data. A social ecological framework was used to interpret and contextualise the findings.
Ten themes arose from the analysis. Teaching related issues were found to be unclear expectations, resources absent/not up to standard, assessment development and marking, challenges engaging students, and issues affecting identity. Perceived effective support structures were conversations with colleagues, conversations with external contacts and the Teaching Development Unit or equivalent. Perceived ineffective support structures were induction and line management. Use of the social ecological framework identifies that most effective/ineffective structures and practices to support this group occurred in the interpersonal and intrapersonal contexts most proximal to the individual. Similarly, the teaching related issues arose from oversights of others and development needs of the individual. 
This research adds to what is known about the transition experiences of novice higher education teachers in New Zealand. It provides preliminary findings that suggest that the induction procedures within both universities and ITPs need to be reviewed and their implementation scrutinised. There is a need to support line managers to induct and support their new staff members more effectively. The study concludes with practical implications and recommendations for future research.

year: 2020

title: Boat electrofishing of the Waikato River upstream and downstream of the Huntly Power Station: spring 2010

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate fish abundance and community composition upstream and downstream of the Huntly Power Station discharge by boat electrofishing in order to contribute to effects assessment of the thermal discharge. This limited sampling suggests that koi carp had the greatest biomass of any fish species, and were aggregated immediately downstream of the Huntly Power Station. Previous work would suggest that a single electrofishing pass catches about half of the fish present. The method is known to under-sample eels and catfish, but is a robust semiquantitative tool to estimate relative fish abundance.

text: Boat electrofishing of the Waikato River upstream and downstream of the Huntly Power Station: spring 2010 The objective of this investigation was to evaluate fish abundance and community composition upstream and downstream of the Huntly Power Station discharge by boat electrofishing in order to contribute to effects assessment of the thermal discharge. This limited sampling suggests that koi carp had the greatest biomass of any fish species, and were aggregated immediately downstream of the Huntly Power Station. Previous work would suggest that a single electrofishing pass catches about half of the fish present. The method is known to under-sample eels and catfish, but is a robust semiquantitative tool to estimate relative fish abundance.

year: 2010-11

title: !!!FR33D0M 0FF SP33CH!!!

authors: Smith, Hugh Lyal

subjects: Poetry

abstract: My title is “FR33D0M 0FF SP33CH”, a play on the saying “freedom of speech”. I write with the intent of voicing tough subjects that others haven’t or don’t, and often exposing things that I wouldn’t tell or share personally. “FR33D0M 0FF SP33CH” consists of 37 poems, 2 hooks and a chorus in this complete album. My earliest piece can date back to 2020 with the latest pieces being written in 2021. They express different visions of day-to-day life through points of view and alternating voices and perspectives. The topics range from anything like seeing a face in the smudge on a wall, to things like love, street styles and why I can’t sleep at night. They are to be read left to right, top to bottom -- but feel free to read them as you see fit, because it’s art after all and what you see is what you see. Those labelled “Mirrored” have been turned upside down to allow reading from either end and show the extent of form and variety my pieces can take. Some things may be explicit or hard to read, but I assure you that they are just certain views from different angles that I believe need to be shared. There is a strong political/cultural component to my mahi, a tough vocal attack on elements of society I believe are flawed and unjust, and an exposure of the addictions and abuses that colonial history and racial inequality lead to – but there’s also an intense celebration of the power of the Māori voice that remains, its beat and pride and resilience and ancestry, joined by a rich musical joy in the songs of the street I grew up in, their rhythms and rap, energy and power. It has taken me a long time to reach this level of writing in terms of technique, rhythm and content. I want the reader to see things through my shades and feel what it feels like to be me with an understanding of why I am and where I come from. To understand that, No, I don’t know everything, and I don’t expect anyone else to. But, Yes, this is what I saw, felt and how I interpreted it. So there it is and this is me, the bro Hugh. A lit ūrikā descendant of Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Rēhia, Te Rārawa, Te Aupōuri and Ngāpuhi. Bred in the streets I-roam and made home. A dreamer of the future. Last but not least, your son, your brother, your bro and he who wrote the killer book that you are about to read. Churrr!!!

text: !!!FR33D0M 0FF SP33CH!!! My title is “FR33D0M 0FF SP33CH”, a play on the saying “freedom of speech”. I write with the intent of voicing tough subjects that others haven’t or don’t, and often exposing things that I wouldn’t tell or share personally. “FR33D0M 0FF SP33CH” consists of 37 poems, 2 hooks and a chorus in this complete album. My earliest piece can date back to 2020 with the latest pieces being written in 2021. They express different visions of day-to-day life through points of view and alternating voices and perspectives. The topics range from anything like seeing a face in the smudge on a wall, to things like love, street styles and why I can’t sleep at night. They are to be read left to right, top to bottom -- but feel free to read them as you see fit, because it’s art after all and what you see is what you see. Those labelled “Mirrored” have been turned upside down to allow reading from either end and show the extent of form and variety my pieces can take. Some things may be explicit or hard to read, but I assure you that they are just certain views from different angles that I believe need to be shared. There is a strong political/cultural component to my mahi, a tough vocal attack on elements of society I believe are flawed and unjust, and an exposure of the addictions and abuses that colonial history and racial inequality lead to – but there’s also an intense celebration of the power of the Māori voice that remains, its beat and pride and resilience and ancestry, joined by a rich musical joy in the songs of the street I grew up in, their rhythms and rap, energy and power. It has taken me a long time to reach this level of writing in terms of technique, rhythm and content. I want the reader to see things through my shades and feel what it feels like to be me with an understanding of why I am and where I come from. To understand that, No, I don’t know everything, and I don’t expect anyone else to. But, Yes, this is what I saw, felt and how I interpreted it. So there it is and this is me, the bro Hugh. A lit ūrikā descendant of Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Rēhia, Te Rārawa, Te Aupōuri and Ngāpuhi. Bred in the streets I-roam and made home. A dreamer of the future. Last but not least, your son, your brother, your bro and he who wrote the killer book that you are about to read. Churrr!!!

year: 2021